Dog Safety Tips for Walks in the Texas Heat
When the sun shines down in Texas in the summer, it gets so hot you just don’t even want to go outdoors at all. But you still want to walk your dog, because you know exercise is important.
But what a lot of people don’t know is that extreme heat is also very dangerous for dogs. So much so that hot surfaces can burn their paw pads.
For one, dogs can’t sweat. They regulate temperate by panting and through the pads of their feet—the same ones that burn on hot surfaces. That means they have to work extra hard to stay cool when the mercury climbs. And sadly, Central Texas is the kind of place where the pavement can hit 150°F on a July afternoon. That’s 20 degrees hotter than you need to fry an egg.
So let's talk about how to keep walks safe when Austin decides it's going to be 103 for the ninth day in a row.
The Pavement Test
Put the back of your hand on the ground. Hold it there for seven seconds. If you can't do it, your dog can't walk on it and it’s not a good idea to try.
Asphalt absorbs and holds heat far beyond what the air temperature would suggest. When it's 95°F outside, pavement surface temperature can exceed 140°F. That's hot enough to cause burns in under a minute. And unlike you, your dog can't tell you their feet hurt until the damage is already done.
If you must walk in the heat of the day, grass, dirt, and shaded paths are the best alternatives. If you're walking in a neighborhood with sidewalks only, early morning or after sunset are really your only safe windows from June through September.
Walk When It’s Cooler
In the thick of a Texas summer, it’s best to walk early morning or late evening. So stick to walks before 8 AM or after 7 PM if you can. Morning is generally better than evening because the ground has had all night to cool. By late afternoon, concrete and asphalt have been absorbing heat for hours, and they hold onto it well past sundown.
If you're used to giving your dog a long midday walk, summer is the time to restructure. Two shorter walks—one early, one late—are safer than one longer walk in the middle of the day.
Carry water for your dog on every walk, even if you're just going around the block. Dehydration makes heat stress work, and dogs can really drink down water fast when they get hot. It’s a good idea to offer them water every 10-15 minutes when walking outdoors.
Know What Overheating Looks Like
Panting is normal. But when it becomes excessive, rapid, and loud, that’s a problem. We’re talking about the kind of ragged panting where they can't seem to catch their breath. That's the beginning of heat exhaustion.
Other signs to watch for include:
- Excessive drooling that's thick or ropy
- Bright red tongue and gums
- Stumbling or confusion
- Vomiting
- Collapse
If you see any of these signs of heat stroke, move your dog into shade and offer small amounts of cold (not ice-cold) water. Apply damp towels to their belly, groin, and paw pads to help them cool down. Then give your vet a call.
Not every dog handles heat the same way. Dogs with thick double coats (huskies, Great Pyrenees, Australian shepherds) are working harder to stay cool than a short-coated lab or pit mix. That doesn't mean they can't walk in summer, but it does mean their tolerance is lower and their recovery time is longer. Senior dogs and puppies have similar problems.
Small dogs are also closer to the ground, which means they absorb more radiant heat from the pavement. A chihuahua on a hot sidewalk is getting hit from below and above simultaneously.
Tired of Walking Your Dog in the Heat?
You can’t always rearrange your schedule because mother nature wants to broil everyone south of Oklahoma. That’s part of why a professional dog walker can also help. Experienced walkers time their routes around shade patterns, stick to grass, and know when to cut a walk short. For you, it means one less decision you need to make on a day when the weather is trying to melt everything.
Call Woofie's® of Austin Hill Country at (512) 649-2914 or book online to schedule walks that work around the weather.