Careful! Hot Pavement Can Burn Your Dog’s Paws
It’s startling to realize how hot that asphalt under your feet can get beneath the direct summer sun.
Have a look at how hot the pavement can be with these ambient temperatures:
- If the air temperature is 25oC, the pavement could be as hot at 52oC
- If the air temperature is 30oC, the pavement could be as hot at 57oC
- If the air temperature is 31oC, the pavement could be as hot at 62oC
Here’s another fact, at 52oC, human and dog skin destruction (burns) can occur in as little as 60 seconds. At 55oC, an egg can fry in 5 minutes.
Test the pavement before walking your dog
To measure whether the pavement is safe for your dog to walk on, press the back of your hand firmly on the asphalt for 7 seconds. If that’s uncomfortable for you, get your dog off the asphalt! Look for a dirt path or cool grass instead. Many sidewalks have a median of grass along one side so this would be much more comfortable for your pooch.
Burned paws are nasty and take a long time to heal. If you’ve ever had sereious burns, you know how this feels. Think before you take your dog out for a walk in the hot summer. Do the hand test and ask yourself; how would I feel walking on this pavement in bare feet?
