Veterinarian Primrose Moss warns that hot surfaces can cause severe burns to paw pads, and a dog named Olaf walked a mile and a half without a single sign of pain until owners noticed the damage after the walk.
Dog owners often monitor air temperature in the summer, but few think to check how hot the surface their pet walks on is. The difference is huge. When the thermometer reads thirty degrees, asphalt can reach up to 57 degrees Celsius, enough to cause severe burns to paw pads.
Dark surfaces absorb the sun's energy all day and turn it into heat. During this process, the air constantly moves and mixes, keeping it cooler, while asphalt retains heat even after the sun sets. As a result, a person walking in shoes feels a temperature of thirty degrees, while a dog walking barefoot feels nearly double that heat.
Figures from professional literature show how big the difference is. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, when the air temperature is thirty degrees, asphalt heats up to about 57 degrees, and when the air is thirty and a half, asphalt reaches roughly 62 degrees. A 2020 study in a journal on burn treatment recorded asphalt at 74 degrees and sand at 62 degrees on an exceptionally hot day.
For comparison, skin starts to suffer damage at significantly lower temperatures, and with prolonged contact, even below fifty degrees. The most problematic surfaces are dark ones: asphalt, concrete, and brick. Sand on the beach poses an equal danger, though it's less expected.
There's a simple check recommended by veterinarians that requires no equipment. Place the back of your hand on the asphalt and hold it for seven seconds. If you can't endure that period, the surface is too hot for the dog.
Primrose Moss, a veterinarian from the UK, says it's recommended to press your palm or foot firmly against the surface for seven seconds.
"If it's hot to your hand, it's hot to his paw pads,"Moss tells N1 BiH. She adds that even at an air temperature of thirty degrees, the surface can reach 57.
A veterinary hospital in the US state of Washington reported the case of a dog named Olaf, who walked more than a mile and a half on a hot surface during a walk. The owner noticed the burns only after the walk ended. The dog showed no signs of pain or limping during that entire time.
The reason is that dogs, when excited-and walks excite them-often don't show pain while active. Symptoms appear later, once the dog calms down.
Signs of burns on paw pads are recognizable once you know them. Limping or reluctance to continue walking are the first signals. The dog slows down, stops, or favors one paw. Frequent licking of paws is its way of easing pain, so increased licking after a walk is a warning sign. Redness or discoloration of the paw pads, as well as blisters or peeling skin, indicate a more serious burn.
If you notice any of these signs, take the dog to a cool place and cool its paws with lukewarm water. Without veterinary advice, do not use human ointments or creams. In case of blisters, bleeding, or more pronounced limping, consult a veterinarian because even minor burns can become infected.
The solutions are simple and mostly cost nothing. Plan walks for early morning or late evening, and avoid midday and early afternoon. Whenever possible, walk on grass, dirt, or in the shade because grass stays significantly cooler than asphalt. Shorten walks during the hottest periods and replace them with shorter outings.
Another lesser-known fact: if a dog has been in water, the paw pads soften and become more sensitive, so the risk of burns after swimming is higher than usual. Additionally, in hot weather, a dog can suffer heatstroke, so bring water and watch for signs like excessive panting, heavy drooling, and weakness.
