My dog walks on hot ground. Can it burn their paws? What should I do?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The ground may not have been too hot for Rosco and dogs like to lay on warm surfaces many times. The fur will help protect their skin from the hot surface so this is likely why Rosco was able to lay down on the ground while it was too hot for your skin to directly come in contact with the ground. If you see any blisters or reddened areas on the abdomen then I would try and stop him from doing this if possible. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Yes, they can feel it if it is too hot. Some dogs have a higher tolerance for pavement depending on how tough their pads are. If you are worried and he likes to walk on the pavement you can use a product to keep his pads tough. We used this product on the working dogs I took care of in Iraq and Afghanistan - talk about hot pavement! ( https://www.gundogsupply.com/tuffoot.html ) I would not be too worried about him walking on the pavement if he wants to but check his feet regularly for any burns. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Lucky! Place the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can't hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk him. It does sound like he may have burned his paws on the walk, and I would limit his walking for now to allow his paws to heal. When you do walk him, do it on grassy surfaces. Keep him inside as much as possible. You might consider getting him doggie booties to protect his paws when walking. I'd leave his paws along for now, keep an eye on them. If they appear infected (red, swollen, warm to the touch), then I would take him to the vet. I hope this helps!

The main things to keep in mind our that hot pavement will cause significant injury to paw pads. The pavement can heat up very quickly in the afternoon sun and it doesn’t necessarily need to be very hot temperature wise. You must always check the pavement to make sure it is not too hot or take him out first thing in the morning before the sun has had a chance to warm the pavement. Hard stopping or hard turning also increase the risk of tearing the pads. Running on gravel or things like glass can also increase paw pad injuries. There are protective booties which will help to protect the pads. Also, start slow and short and gradually build up. Choose your route wisely. Use a harness for this activity to prevent injury to his neck. I hope this helps.

Poor Sky! Sure to always touch the concrete to make sure it is not too hot as pets can get serious injury. Avoid walking Sky during the hot time of the day. Walk in the very early mornings or in the evenings after the temperature has dropped. Booties can help as well to protect her feet from hot temperatures. Also make sure she does not lick at the feet (have her wear an elizabethan collar at all times) and keep her on soft surfaces with no walks, running or jumping until the tissue is fully healed. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well. Make sure she does not lick this as it can cause GI upset. You can also purchase the balm that mushers use on sled dogs. If the area does not start looking better or if it begins to look worse at any point, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ouch. Poor Skye. Paw pad burns can certainly happen on concrete in the summer. If she is very painful or a large area of the pad is missing she needs to see a veterinarian. If it's moderate you can clean with gentle warm water, apply antibiotic ointment and bandage her feet. Do not give any otc pain medication. If she is painful take her to a vet for prescription medication. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/first-aid-for-torn-or-injured-foot-pads-in-dogs

If they are healed now I recommend getting booties at the local pet store and put them on Coco when you walk him on the hot asphalt. If they are still red I recommend a veterinarian. Remember you can always upload up to 3 pictures when submitting a question. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.