The short answer
If the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand for seven seconds, it is too hot for paws. On humid days above about 80 degrees, walk at dawn or after sunset and keep it short.
Why do mountain summers catch dogs out?
Asheville rarely feels as hot as the coast, which is exactly the problem. Dogs cool themselves mostly by panting, and panting works poorly when the air is already humid. An 82 degree afternoon in July can be harder on a dog than a dry 90.
Rules of thumb, illustrative. Your dog's age, weight and coat change the numbers.
Short-nosed breeds, overweight dogs, seniors and thick-coated dogs all struggle sooner. So do young dogs who will happily play past the point of overheating, because nobody told them to stop.
When is the best time to walk?
Early morning wins almost every time. Pavement holds heat long after sunset, so an evening walk on asphalt can still burn paws at 8 pm. Grass, shaded trails and the river paths stay cooler.
How comfortable a typical July walk is by time of day, on a 0 to 100 scale. Illustrative.
On the hottest days, swap the long walk for a sniffy ten minutes and a puzzle feeder indoors. Mental work tires a dog out without the heat.
What are the early signs of heat stress?
Normal warm-day behavior
- Panting that settles within a few minutes of rest
- Seeking shade and lying down on cool ground
- Drinking eagerly, then resting
Stop, cool and call
- Heavy panting that does not slow with rest
- Thick drool, a bright red or pale tongue
- Wobbling, confusion, vomiting or collapse
The signs on the right mean your dog needs to cool down now and be seen. Heatstroke can turn serious quickly, and it is one of the situations where you should head to the nearest emergency hospital if we are closed.
How do I cool an overheated dog?
- Get out of the sunInto shade, air conditioning or a cool car, right away.
- Wet with cool, not icy, waterSoak the belly, armpits and paws. Ice-cold water can make blood vessels clamp and slow the cooling.
- Keep air movingA fan or an open car window speeds evaporation.
- Offer small sipsLet them drink a little at a time. Do not force water.
- Call on the wayEven if they seem better, heat can affect organs for hours afterward. Call us during open hours or go to an emergency hospital after hours.
The dog who most needs to stop is usually the one who would happily keep going.Dr. Claire Whitfield
Do booties and cooling vests help?
Booties protect paws from hot pavement, but many dogs need a few days of practice to walk normally in them. Cooling vests can help on a short outing. Neither replaces walking at the right time of day.
| Option | Helps with | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Booties | Hot pavement, rough trails | A week of practice first |
| Cooling vest | Short summer outings | Dries out and stops working |
| Kiddie pool | Backyard cooling | Change the water daily |
| Shaving the coat | Rarely a good idea | Double coats insulate against heat, too |
