Protecting Paws from Summer Heat

[DJ & Chance]

It is already heating up in my part of California, and I’ve noticed that Chance wants to avoid walking on the hot pavement.  By June through August, pavement temperature and the temperature of rocks on hikes, stone patios, etc. will be very unpleasant for barefooted humans and their pets alike.

Have any of you used products—dog boots, paw ointments, etc.—that have worked to protect your dog’s paws from summer heat?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I live in Southern California where it gets really hot in the summer.  I just try to avoid hot pavement when I have my guys, but I will be interested to read if others have some ideas.

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

I would love to know too. This'll be my first full summer in TX. I can already feel that my puppy's paws are chapped and have been thinking about some kind of lotion. I've read on here that some folks use them on paws.

[Leslie J]

When I've taken Cocoa where the pavement is really hot (asphalt can be especially hot) I put Muttluks on her paws first.
She's mostly a house dog and her paws can be quite sensitive.  If you google Muttluks you'll find them all over the web.

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks, Leslie.  

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Chicago gets some pretty good heat waves and whenever it got really hot we would do our walks early in the morning or wait until the sun started to go down or skip the walk and run in the sprinkler :)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I stick to morning/late afternoon walks in the Summer with Luna on really hot days.  It's either that or I take her to a park close by for some fetch in the grass instead of a walk.

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks, Sandy!  She looks so cute in her boots.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Rule of thumb I was given when we went through training was if it is too hot for my bare feet, it is too hot for theirs.  I just try to make our outings during the off hours when it isn't so hot or if I'm on a therapy visit and it is really hot I valet park.  Sophie wouldn't walk in the boots.  I tried them on her in the store.  She was a member of the NDC though!

[Melanie Steinberg]

Check out www.Pawsh Pads.com The boots are easy to get on and water-resistant neoprene. Great for hot pavements in the summer and snow and ice in the winter.

Dogs find them very lightweight and comfortable 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

We also live in Southern Ca. and bought Enzo a pair of muttluks....she hasn't had a chance to wear them yet...but has " practiced" wearing them in the house. First time...I thought I'd die laughing ! Talk about " high stepping" ;)
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=muttluks&tag=goog...

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

With 2 dogs and 8 paws to cover, buying and applying 8 boots to go for a walk would be torture for me! We go out early in the morning and they are on cement or grass all but during road crossing.  I can't imagine anywhere being hotter than Arizona in the summer, but my advice would be to do the same, just go early or late. And a barefoot test is a great idea. Have done that often myself.  

[Melanie Steinberg]

the key is too find an easy to get on dog boot...Pawsh Pads Paw protectors have a bellows tongue and neoprene material so easy to get on but the dog still needs to co-operate a little bit. LOL