How Hot Is Too Hot to Safely Walk Your Dog Outdoors?

• While dogs do build up some tolerance on their paws to withstand hotter and colder temperatures, along with uneven terrain, pavement temperatures that are too hot can lead to burns and other injuries
• If the air temperature registers 86 degrees F, the asphalt temperature will be significantly hotter — 135 degrees F
• If it’s 85 degrees F outside or higher, it may be too hot for your dog to safely walk outdoors, particularly if the pavement hasn’t had an opportunity to cool down in between the hotter spells
• If the ground is too hot for you to comfortably hold your hand or bare foot on it for 10 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s pads
• Burns to a dog’s pads may appear as red, ulcerated skin or blisters; the skin on the pad may also fall off, leaving a raw and painful open wound
• Other signs of paw pad burns include limping, licking the paw or pads that appear darker in color than usual

During the summer months, keeping a close eye on your dog is essential to prevent hazards related to high heat, such as heat stroke and sunburn. An often-overlooked source of danger as temperatures rise, however, is hot pavement, which can quickly lead to serious burns on your dog’s paw pads.

Paw pads are made up of fat tissue and elastic fibers, along with thick skin that’s likely somewhat calloused, depending on your dog’s activity levels. Puppies’ pads will be less calloused, and therefore more sensitive, than adult dogs’ pads. One of the primary purposes of paw pads is to act as shock absorbers as your dog walks and runs.1 They can also help with temperature control — to an extent.

“Dogs have some sensitivity to hot and cold but they build up a tolerance much quicker than we do,” Dr. Greg Hammer, DVM former president of the AVMA in Dover, Delaware, told the AKC. “If you have an inside dog and you never walk that dog on hot streets, they are going to blister or ulcerate their feet. It would be just like if we went without shoes. So over time, usage and exposure helps dogs build up the tolerance needed to walk on hot and cold surfaces.”2

Signs of Burned Paw Pads

If you’ve been outdoors with your dog in hot weather, burns to their pads may appear as red, ulcerated skin or blisters, which may fill with fluid and rupture after several days. In severe burns, the skin on the pad may fall off, leaving a raw and painful open wound. Other signs that your dog has burned its paw pads include:

If your dog’s paw pads are burned, see your veterinarian right away, as medications may be needed to prevent infection and manage pain, and bandages may be necessary to keep out dirt and protect the pad’s surface (requiring daily disinfecting and changing).

You will need to restrict your dog’s activity while they heal, and surfaces that are hot or uneven should be avoided. With proper rest and wound care, mild burn injuries may heal within seven to 10 days, while more significant burns may take weeks to fully heal.