The high heat of summer can becomes extremely hazardous for your dogs paws. There is a simple test in which you can do to check whether the pavement is too hot for your pet's paws by doing the “seven-second test”. 

Simply touch the pavement with the back of your hand for seven seconds. If you can’t hold out for the full seven seconds because the surface is too hot, then it’s also too hot for your dog’s paws.

If the air outside is pleasantly warm, you may think there is no risk that your dog’s paws will get burnt. But the ground can get much hotter than the surrounding air⁵. The table below compares the temperatures of the air and asphalt under similar conditions:

What’s more, is some surfaces get hotter than others. A study by Frostburg University has shown that when concrete reaches a temperature of 104 °F / 40 °C, under similar conditions brick can get as hot as 109.4°F / 43 °C and asphalt 124 °F/ 51 °C.

• The affected area is reddened and swollen (1st degree)
• Clear blisters are visible (2nd degree)
• The skin is charred (3rd degree)⁷ 

If your dog has burns on its paws, you should always consult a vet as soon as possible, and in the meantime, you will need to cool down the affected paws. The following first-aid measures are the ones most commonly recommended by vets:

1. Cool the affected paws under slow running water (the water should not be ice-cold).
2. Bandage each affected paw or, failing that, protect it with a clean sock.⁸