Dogs are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather, so owners need to take every precaution possible
The safety of our furry friends is most important(Image: Getty Images)
People up and down the UK are sweltering in yet another heatwave, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down just yet. Temperatures as high as the mid 30s have been hitting Britain, with such baking conditions persisting through to the weekend.
With the mercury rising, pet owners often see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the good weather and walk their dog. But this might not be the best idea when it comes to the health and safety of our furry friends.
Humans have it easy when it comes to cooling down. They can turn on an electric fan, have a cold shower and wear loose clothing, but it’s not as easy for their best friends.
Sweating is a natural way for our bodies to cool down, but dogs can’t do this – and being covered in thick fur sure doesn’t make it any better. So it’s important dog owners do one thing before deciding whether they should take them out on a stroll.
Emergency vets chain Vets Now has provided a helpful test which takes just seven seconds. On the company website, it says: “For many, warm, sunny weather provides a great incentive to get outdoors. But it also brings its problems – such as roads melting and dogs getting their paws burnt on scorching hot pavements.
“Many of our emergency vets have treated dogs who have been the victim of severe burns to their paws. However, a large number of these cases could have been avoided if owners had followed some simple safety advice.”
Dog paws can be just as sensitive as human feet which means they’re equally as likely to be burnt by a scorching-hot pavement as their owner would be. Their advice is simple, see how hot it is for yourself.
“Vets in the US, where paw burns are common in many areas due to high summer temperatures, came up with a test to check when it’s safe to walk dogs on a pavement,” they explained. “Their advice is for owners to place the back of their hand on the surface for seven seconds. If they struggle to hold it down, it’s too hot to walk a dog.”
It continued: “Dogs can suffer burns to their paws on days most people wouldn’t consider searingly hot. If the outside temperature is a pleasant 25 degrees, there’s little wind, and humidity is low, asphalt and tarmac can reach a staggering 52 degrees. This can rise to 62 degrees when the mercury hits 31 degrees.
“It’s worth bearing in mind that an egg can fry in five minutes at 55 degrees, while skin destruction can occur in just one minute at 52 degrees. The reason pavements get so hot is they soak up heat all day and then retain that heat.”
Vets Now added that studies have shown artificial grass can also reach extremely high temperatures, alongside the rubber surfaces commonly used for running tracks and asphalt, the material most often used for roads and pavements across the UK.
