The Met Office has warned that temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the UK this week, prompting urgent advice for dog owners to protect their pets from burnt paws on scorching pavements. Emergency vets chain Vets Now has shared a simple seven-second test to determine if it is safe to walk your dog.
Seven-Second Pavement Test
Vets Now advises owners to place the back of their hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If they struggle to hold it down, the surface is too hot for a dog to walk on. The company's website states: "Dogs' paws can be just as sensitive as humans' feet. That means they're equally as likely to get burnt walking on a hot surface as their owner would be."
The guidance explains that even on a pleasant 25-degree day, asphalt and tarmac can reach 52 degrees Celsius, rising to 62 degrees when the mercury hits 31 degrees. For context, an egg can fry in five minutes at 55 degrees, and skin destruction can occur in just one minute at 52 degrees.
Why Pavements Get So Hot
Pavements absorb heat all day and retain it, making them dangerous for dogs. Vets Now noted that research shows artificial grass and running track materials also become extremely hot, while natural grass remains the coolest surface. The company recommends walking dogs on natural grass during hot weather, but strongly advises exercising dogs before 8am or after 8pm when temperatures are lower.
Additional Safety Tips
To keep pets safe in hot weather, Vets Now suggests: follow the seven-second rule before leaving the house, keep to natural grass, walk early morning or late evening, and consider investing in dog booties to protect paws from burns.
Vets Now added: "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."
