In summer, don't walk your pet in the middle of a heat wave when the sidewalks are hot, at the risk of seriously injuring your dog's pads! The warning of 30millionsdamis.fr.
If you love your pet, do not walk it in the middle of the day during the heat wave! Did you know that a dog's paws can be badly burned by the heat of concrete sidewalks? Indeed, when the ambient temperature is 25°C, the temperature of a sunny sidewalk reaches 52°C… When it rises to almost 31°C, the concrete peaks at more than 61°C! Moreover, the Swiss police equip their dogs with suitable shoes.
Watch out for bitumen
In addition to sidewalks, you will also need to take care of other surfaces: tarmac roads, gravel and sand on beaches… which can also be extremely hot.
serious consequences
A walk of a few minutes on one of these surfaces can injure your dog's paws. Redness, blisters or even ragged skin are symptoms of a burn.
In 2016, Debbie French, a Facebook user, posted photos of a dog that walked on the sidewalk when it was 26°C outside in order to expose unknowing owners. The result is shocking…
If your animal is concerned, a visit to the veterinarian is urgently needed because it is extremely painful!
Anti-heat wave advice
- Absolutely ban walks in the sun. Stick to walks limited to a few minutes, very early in the morning and late in the evening.
- Beware of asphalt even at night, as sidewalks absorb heat during the day and release it at night.
- To assess the heat of the bitumen, put your hand on the ground. If you can't hold it for more than 10 seconds, the surface is too hot for your pet!
- If you absolutely have to go out, you can use special dog shoes, which protect you from both snow and heat!
- After a walk, a dog will also like having its pads refreshed: “ So you can soak compresses with water and put them on their pads. Immediate effect guaranteed! “, suggests Laetitia Barlerin, veterinarian.