Vet Shares Warning With Owners After Dog’s Paw Pads Are Burned Off


We waited all year for summer to arrive and now that it is here, we remember just how hot it can get. We also know that it is a time of year when we need to pay particular attention to our pets.

One of the cardinal rules of pet ownership is to be careful about leaving your pets alone in the car during the summer weather. It turns out that you also need to be careful about the pavement when you are taking your dog for a walk.

A veterinarian in Medical Lake, Washington posted something on Facebook recently that is going viral. It is a warning for dog owners about the possibility of severe burns happening to your beloved pet. It seems as if they had to treat a dog with severe burns to the pads of his paws. Jeanette Dutton, the practice manager for the veterinary hospital had the following to say:

“Olaf walked over a mile on the Fish Trap Trail before his owner realized his pads were burned, and even then he wasn’t whining or limping! He is one tough cookie (and exceptionally sweet cookie).”

Hot weather means hot pavement!Olaf walked over a mile on the Fish Trap Trail before his owner realized his pads were…

Posted by Medical Lake Veterinary Hospital on Monday, June 10, 2019

Dutton has some advice for dog owners:

“A good rule of thumb is if the pavement is too hot for your hand it’s too hot for your dogs’ pads.”

She also spoke to KEPR and told them that raw muscle was even exposed because of the severity of the burns.

Further advice was offered in 2017 by PETA. They tell dog owners about the dangers of the hot pavement and just how bad it can get.

“On a hot day, pavement can heat up to between 130 and 180 degrees – hot enough for dogs to incur severe burns. Limping or refusing to walk could mean that your dog’s paw pads have been burned.”

Here are temperatures outside our shelter using a laser thermometer on different surfaces. The next week will be…

Posted by Front Street Animal Shelter – City of Sacramento on Thursday, June 15, 2017

The following tips were also offered by PETA:

  • Check the asphalt: as mentioned above, if the pavement is too hot for your hand, it’s also too hot for your dog’s paws. Temperatures in the 80s can cause asphalt to get as hot as 140 degrees.
  • Find somewhere else to walk: “Dog parks, grassy meadows, wooded paths, wet beaches — these are all easier on dogs’ paws than burning-hot asphalt. Probably more enjoyable, too,” PETA said.
  • Get your dog some footwear: PETA recommends getting your dog a pair of paw-protecting dog boots found at most pet stores.
  • Stay indoors: On the hottest days of the years, it’s probably just best to skip the daily walk.

There were also others who had comments about Olaf’s paws:

“Poor pup,” one user wrote. “I’m constantly reaching down and touching the pavement before our walks. Just ordered some dog boots for this summer.”

Another added: “I’m in Houston and am VERY careful about walking my boys in the heat. We all need to be mindful of the risks of walking our pups on hot pavement… it’s easy to forget.”


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