Hot Pavement Can Harm Your Pet’s Paws – Protect Them This Summer

We love paws here at Paw Print!  That should be pretty obvious, considering the name of my blog!  I mentioned the risk of burned paws the other week, in my Keep Your Pet Cool – Summer Safety Tips post.  Since we moved out of the city, I love walking around outside barefoot.  It’s given me first hand experience to just how hot some surfaces can get outside in the summer sun.  Pavement and other large, dark surfaces seem to be the worst offenders.  It’s one thing for me, a person, to walk on hot surfaces in the summer.  If the temperature is too uncomfortable I can easily move to a cooler location.  Did you know that walking on hot pavement, as well as other hot surfaces, can actually burn pets’ feet?  Animals can be stoic when it comes to showing pain, and they can’t talk to tell us that their feet hurt during hot weather walks.  It’s up to us to keep them safe!

Signs of burned paw pads include paw pads that look darker than usual, redness, limping, unwillingness to continue walking, blisters, missing sections or loose flaps on the paw pad, ulcerated patches, and excessive licking or chewing of the foot.

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, the first step should be cooling his/her paws down.  Get your pet away from hot surfaces (grass is usually much cooler than pavement) and, if possible, gently rinse his/her paws with cool water.  Burns are very painful, so the best course of action if you think your pet may have burned paws, is a trip to the veterinarian.  Depending on how severe the burns are, your vet may prescribe antibiotics, salves, and/or pain medication.

The best option, however, is to prevent burns in the first place!  Try to avoid surfaces that commonly get excessively hot in the summer, such as metal, sand, and asphalt.  If possible, walk your dog early in the morning or at night after the sun goes down – times when the outdoor temperatures are cooler.  If you’re not sure whether or not the pavement is too hot for your pet, try testing the temperate with a bare foot or your hand.  If the pavement is too hot for you to comfortably stand on barefoot, or you cannot comfortably keep your hand pressed against it for at least 10 seconds, than chances are it’s too hot for your pet as well.

Practice good paw maintenance.  It’s easier to spot any potential problems on a paw that is clean and well kept.  If, for some reason, you have to take your dog out during the hottest parts of the day, consider using doggy shoes or boots to protect your dog’s feet.  You may get some strange looks from the neighbors, but at least your pup won’t have to deal with painful paws!