Please prevent dog overheating and burning their paws

I’ve used the opportunity to draw again to brighten up the otherwise pretty serious matter about dog overheating.

Every year we hear about deaths or health issues of children and pets left unattended in the heat of a car. Please pay attention to your pets and children in the summer heat! The temperatures can become health and even life-threatening in some cases quicker than some people are expecting.

Printable temperature chart

I’ve gathered some interesting information on how different surfaces heat up in the summer.
Let’s start with the outside air temperature.

103 degrees Fahrenheit

The air temperature we are going to compare different surfaces with is 103 degrees Fahrenheit(= 40 degrees Celsius). Pjiu, that’s already pretty hot!

106 degrees Fahrenheit flat surface

While green grass does not get as hot as flat surfaces, it can still become quite warm in hot weather. 106 degrees Fahrenheit ( = 41 degrees Celsius ). Playing on the grass when the sun stands high can be quite exhautsing for dogs.

120 degrees Fahrenheit brown grass

Browned grass can even become warmer than green grass on a hot day. 120 degrees Fahrenheit (= 49 degrees Celsius).

143 degrees Fahrenheit concrete

On a hot summer day concrete surfaces, such as drive ways or pavements can reach 143 degrees Fahrenheit (= 62 degrees Celsius).

154 degrees Fahrenheit manhole cover

Metal surfaces, such as painted metal, car bodies or manhole covers can reach 154 degrees Fahrenheit (= 68 degrees Celsius).

167 degrees Fahrenheit tarred road

Tarred, black summer roads can reach 167 degrees Fahrenheit (= 75 degrees Celsius) and more. Walking on such surfaces can cause burns to a dog’s feet. Remember, they’re walking on that stuff barefooted!

>172 degrees Fahrenheit inside a car

In warm weather, even with the window rolled down 2 inches ( = 5 cm ) cars can heat up inside to health & life-threatening temperatures within only 10-15 minutes !!! At 80 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit (= 27 – 38 degrees Celsius) if parked in direct sunlight a car can reach up to 131 – 172 degrees Fahrenheit (= 55 – 78 degrees Celsius) inside. That’s hot enough to cook an egg!!!

What you can do

1. Consider buying Doggie Boots & take long walks with doggie in the morning or late evening

You may even consider purchasing shoes for your dog. I recommend Ruffwear because of the brand quality and the fact that shoes can be purchased in pairs.
Why is this important? It’s all about the correct sizing.
The front paws of a dog are different in size from their hind paws.
Therefore, it is a great idea to purchase one pair that perfectly fits the front paws and another one that fits the hind paws.
I also use the Ruffwear boot liners (even in warmer weather for short walks) because they prevent chafing inside the shoes.
The boots have a really good fit, if measured correctly. They seem a little bit pricey. But considering how long they last, it’s a longterm investment. I’ve used boots with Mila as well as our former dog Fancy because of her allergies. And they worked great!
I highly recommend to thoroughly read all of the instructions for correct measurement and how to find the correct type of show for your purposes before making a purchase.
Choosing the Right Dog Boots | Ruffwear

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Ruffwear, Grip Trex Dog Boots, Outdoor Booties with Rubber Soles for Hiking and Running, Obsidian Black, 2.0 in (2 Boots) Obsidian Black 2.00 in (2 Boots)

$39.96

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Ruffwear, Hi & Light Trail Shoes, On-The-Trail Paw Protection for Dogs, Rock Green, 2.25″ 2.25 in (2 Boots) Rock Green

$34.95

Buy on Amazon

Please still be aware that the suggestion to let your dog wear boots in warm weather refers to short potty trips outside on hot concrete and such. It is not a suggestion to let your dog wear the boots for prolonged periods of time in really hot weather. As dogs cool and sweat through their paw pads it is not a great idea to block this natural mechanism in hot weather for longer than a few minutes.

2. Check the ground with your own hand. You’ll be amazed how hot it feels. Keep the time your dog is walking on hot surfaces, such as concrete, as short as possible.

To cool your dog down, there is a host of useful accessories available. Sometimes just damping your dog’s fur with moderately cold water before going outside could do the trick. It’s not necessarily the temperature of the water but the process of the water evaporating from the fur that has a cooling effect.
There are also bandanas and harnesses available, especially designed to use that evaporation effect.
Inside the home: If you have tile in your home, your dog will likely look for a comfy and cool spot there in the summer heat. If you have carpet you may want to think about a cooling mat for your dog for hot weather.

SGODA Dog Cooling Vest Harness Cooler Jacket Grey…

$35.95

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EXPAWLORER Dog Cooling Bandana – 2 Pack Instant…

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The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad – Extra Small,…

$27.98

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3. NEVER leave your dog in the car when it’s hot outside! Not even for a few minutes! Heat can be deadly!

I’ve put together the info in a comic chart. Please feel free to share this chart, if you want to help others protect their dogs. Hope you like my drawings.

I have prepared two different printable versions – landscape and portrait in standard poster size of 11 x 17 in. If you want to help dogs and like to have the printable file, you can download it here for FREE.

Download’s not working? Contact me!