When out with your dog during the summer, remember that surfaces including asphalt and sand can become very hot and may remain dangerously hot for several hours after sunset. On a sunny 90 degree day, the temperature of these surfaces can exceed 145 degrees. Skin damage can occur in less than a minute at surface temperatures of 125 degrees.

A quick way to test surface temperatures is to use the back of your hand; if you can’t hold your hand on a surface for 5 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog. Keep in mind that your dog’s paws will be more susceptible to burning after swimming due to softening of the foot pads.

Signs of burns include reluctance to walk, a pink or red color change in the paw pads, licking or chewing at the feet, or missing pieces of the foot pads. If you see any of these symptoms, immediately have your dog checked by a veterinarian.