Ground Temperatures 10°C Higher Than Air: Warning Issued for Pet Dog Burns and Heatstroke

[I had to hold back the urge to meddle when I saw someone walking a puppy that looked less than 6 months old in the middle of summer.]

This is a comment left on a post titled "Why You Should Not Walk Your Dog During a Heatwave," which was recently uploaded to the online community Theqoo.

The post included a video of a dog standing on scorching asphalt, looking restless as it lifted its front paws one after another.

In the video, the dog was seen panting with its tongue hanging out, unable to stand still for even a moment.

Netizens left comments expressing concern about walking dogs in the heat, saying, "Their paw pads will get burned," "Dogs are barefoot, imagine how hot it must be," and "The owner seems thoughtless."

Pet owners taking their dogs for walks during the summer need to exercise extra caution.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the temperature of the ground surface directly exposed to sunlight during the afternoon in summer can be more than 10°C (18°F) higher than the general air temperature measured at a height of 1.5 meters.

In fact, there have been cases where the surface temperature of asphalt in the sun reached 45.5°C (113.9°F) on days when the air temperature was between 32°C (90°F) and 34°C (93°F).

While humans walk at a certain distance from the ground, dogs are much closer to the surface, making them far more susceptible to radiant heat.

Furthermore, because they walk barefoot on asphalt without shoes, the risk of paw pad burns increases significantly.

Their method of cooling down is also different from that of humans.

Dogs have almost no sweat glands, so they do not regulate body temperature significantly through their paw pads; instead, they release most of their heat through panting, which involves opening their mouths and breathing heavily.

Lacking sweat glands and covered in thick fur, dogs are particularly vulnerable to heat as their body temperature does not drop easily.

During a heatwave, there is a limit to how much panting can regulate body temperature, which carries a high risk of leading to heatstroke.

It is recommended to reduce the intensity of walks during the hot summer months.

For dogs that must go out daily due to outdoor urination habits, changing the time of the walk is one solution.

Just like humans, dogs develop habits based on their daily routines, so owners can help them adapt by gradually shifting those time slots.

Before a walk, it is a good idea to place the back of your hand on the asphalt for a few seconds; if it feels hot, you should postpone the walk.

If you must go out, choose grass or dirt paths instead of asphalt and keep the walk shorter than usual.

You should carefully observe your dog's condition during the walk.

If the dog is panting excessively with its tongue hanging out longer than usual or if its movements become noticeably sluggish, you should immediately move to a shaded area and let it rest until its breathing returns to normal.

If the dog shows symptoms of suspected heatstroke, such as excessive drooling or unfocused eyes, you should cool its body down with lukewarm water and head to an animal hospital without delay.

In particular, dogs with dark fur that absorbs light, brachycephalic breeds with narrow airways, and elderly or obese dogs are more vulnerable to heatstroke and require extra attention.

Do not forget to bring cool bottled water to help with hydration.

Lee Woong-jong, a distinguished professor in the Department of Companion Animal Studies at Dongshin University, advised, "Dogs are very vulnerable to heat because they have difficulty regulating their own body temperature." He added, "Even after the sun goes down, the ground heat that accumulated during the day does not cool off quickly, so it is best to stick to early morning or late evening hours for walks in midsummer."

Professor Lee added, "If you usually walk your dog for about an hour, it is recommended to reduce the walk time by at least 30%, or even up to 50% to 70%, during the summer."

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