GUIDE · PAVEMENT

Is the pavement too hot for my dog?

Often, yes — even when you are comfortable in shoes. Dark asphalt in sun can sit 20–30°C above the air temperature. Your dog's pads are on that surface the whole walk. The forecast will not tell you that. The ground will.

The 7-second hand test

Place the back of your hand on the pavement your dog will walk on. Hold it there for 7 seconds. If you pull away, it is too hot for paws. Test the sunny stretch and the shaded stretch. They often disagree on the same block.

Recheck if you change surfaces — parking lot to sidewalk to playground rubber. Each one heats at a different rate.

Which surfaces burn first

Dark asphalt and open parking lots heat fastest. Metal grates and dark playground surfaces can be worse. Light concrete in shade is cooler. Grass stays safest in hot weather. Sand can still scorch in midday sun.

That is why PawsOut asks about shade and ground type, then shows "Check Pavement" when surface heat is in the caution or dangerous range.

What burned paws look like

Limping, licking pads, refusing to walk, or darker/redder pads after a walk are warning signs. Get off the hot surface, onto grass or into the car, and cool the paws with room- temperature water — not ice. This guide is educational. If pads look blistered or your dog will not bear weight, contact a veterinarian.

Walk when the ground has cooled

Early morning and later evening are usually safer than midday, but only if you retest. Pavement can stay hot after the air has dropped. In winter the opposite problem shows up — ice and salt — which we cover in is it too cold to walk my dog.

PawsOut is free on iPhone. It times a walk window from weather, breed, and pavement risk so you are not guessing from the air temperature alone.

PawsOut is an educational weather tool, not a medical diagnosis. Always use your own judgment for your dog's safety.