April 28, 2017 pedalgoa

Dogs in summer heat: How to protect dog paws on hot pavement :: dog stuff. dog walking. travel with pets.

Dog paws on hot pavement: Best dog paw protectors

You want to give your dog a fun life, so you get him outside often… or at least you try to. 😉

Summer with dogs may include your normal walks around the neighborhood, and it may include fun summer activities like a trip to the beach!

But the fun can become not fun really quick for your dog in the summer. That’s because with summer brings higher chances of injured paws. And injured paws can make for a very not fun experience for your dog… which then makes for a not fun experience for you.

So you want to think about how to take care of dogs in summer.

Part of taking good care of your dog is taking good care of your dog’s paws. And part of being able to do that is thinking about what type of conditions the different seasons bring. You want to think about how those seasonal conditions can affect your dog so you can prevent dog paw injuries.

For summer, it means hot weather. And hot temperatures can also mean really hot pavement, and it can also mean really hot sand.

Why hot pavement is bad for dog paws

The hot pavement and hot sand can become problems for your dog, so it’s important to take measures so that it doesn’t cause a lasting issue.

What hot pavement and hot sand have the potential do is to cause your dog’s paws some external burns. You can kind of consider it a dog’s version of sunburn.

And you definitely don’t want that to happen!

If the dog paws get burned, not only will it be uncomfortable for your dog, but your dog may make adjustments in the way he walks.

Just like with people, when forced into an altered gait, or a change in the way you walk, it can lead to other problems like hip and joint issues if that change lasts long enough.

Basically, you want to make sure your dog is able to walk without any impairment!

You can do this by helping to protect your dog’s paws from from hot pavement! There are a couple ways to do this.

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Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!


Dog shoes

One of the obvious choices is probably dog boots on hot pavement.

If you already have dog boots you used for winter walks on the snow and ice, you still may want to look to getting summer-specific dog shoes depending on the type of material the winter shoes are made of.

The shoes your dog wore in the winter may have been designed to protect against the cold temperatures. Since the paws are one of the only places your dog sweats, you don’t want his paws to get unnecessarily hot when wearing them in the summer heat.

For this reason, you may consider looking for dog shoes that are made with mesh material. This allows breathing room for your dog’s paws so the sweat isn’t completely trapped.

You can also look for dog sandals! Since dog sandals are more open air, they can allow your dog’s paws to breathe better than enclosed shoes.

Dog paw protector wax

Another way to protect dog paws from the hot pavement is by using dog paw protection wax.

The dog paw wax may be more comfortable for your dog than shoes when walking in general.

How does the paw wax work as dog paw protectors in the summer?

Once you apply the wax to your dog’s paws, the wax provides a layer of coating over the paws. This helps to protect dog paws from hot temperatures or any potential irritants on the ground that they may step on. And that includes walking on hot pavement and hot sand.

The wax also makes it so your dog doesn’t slide no matter the surface of the floor when inside the house.

The dog paw protector wax is natural and made with organic materials. It’s also non-toxic.

How to tell when your dog’s paws need protection from the heat

To see if you should whip out the summer dog shoes or the paw protection wax, there’s a pretty simple non-scientific way to figure it out!

Here’s how:

  • Go outside.
  • Place your hand on the pavement. If you’re wearing sandals, you can place your bare foot on the pavement instead.
  • Leave your hand or foot on the pavement for more than a few seconds.
  • Was the pavement too hot for you? If so, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws!

If you find it to be borderline really hot, go on the side of caution and protect those dog paws!

If you’re at the beach, do the same test on sand.

Take care of those dog paws in the summer!

Whether you go with the dog shoes or paw protector wax, it will accomplish your goal of making it so your dog won’t even notice the hot surface he’s walking on! 😉

It’s definitely an essential to protect your dog’s paws in some way in hot weather. If you’re hitting the road in the summer with your dog, always pack it in your dog travel bag that’s full of convenient features just in case! 😉

HAPPY DOG PAW PROTECTING!

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Do you hike with your dog? >> Hiking with dogs!

Do you get on the open water with your dog? >> Boating with dogs!

 



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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!


I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.

Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.

There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.


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