Every year it’s easy to forget just how hot it gets in Las Vegas, and every year the temperatures rise and we’re back to 100+ degree weather that has us wishing for those fall numbers. As humans, we simply throw on cooler clothes and crank the air conditioning to regulate our systems, but our pets don’t have that same luxury. While their coats are meant to help them regulate, too, they can get a lot warmer than us, a lot quicker. What feels like a pleasant 77 degree day to us could potentially cause them heatstroke. So when it comes to going on walks, it’s important to stop and consider how hot the ground is on their paws.
Hot Surfaces
No matter what the temperature reads on your phone, asphalt and concrete run about 20-30 degrees warmer than that, and these materials absorb the heat throughout the day.
As your pet walks on these surfaces, they can burn their paws and injure the pads. It’s easy to forget that these tough toe beans are still skin, especially after they’ve blackened and calloused over, but their paws are still incredibly sensitive. Left too long on hot pavement, they can incur serious injuries and burns that could even result in a vet visit.
Puppy Paws
If you have a puppy or a young dog, it’s even more important to avoid taking them outside without booties or socks, preferably something that has a solid barrier between their pads and the ground. However, while baby paws haven’t quite hardened as much as adult paws, you should still use protection on older pets, too.
The best rule of thumb is to place your hand on the ground when you go outside and determine if it’s too hot by counting seven to ten seconds. If you can’t keep your hand on the pavement for that long, it’s too hot for your pup’s paws, too.
Tips for Walking
Mornings and evenings are certainly cooler in Las Vegas, but the ground can still hold onto the heat, so check no matter what time of day it is. You can find dog booties at Brick and Mortar stores like Petsmart and Petco, or local dog supply shops around town. You can also order some off of Amazon, just make sure to measure your dog’s paws to get the correct size. Sometimes telling your pup “no” is harder than avoiding that late night snack, so if they do bound outside or happen to burn their paw pads, help them heal by trying to keep them off their feet as much as possible for a few days. Apply paw ointment to help the process, and if they don’t seem better after a couple days, take them to your vet.
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