Estimates are based on published surface-temperature research and general veterinary guidance. Conditions vary — always confirm with the 7-second test below, and never leave a dog in a parked car at any temperature.
✋ The 7-second test — do this every time
Press the back of your hand flat against the pavement and hold it there for seven full seconds. If you can't keep it there comfortably, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Your dog can't tell you it hurts until the damage is done — pads blister and peel, and burns often aren't noticed until hours later.
Questions people ask
How much hotter than the air is asphalt, really?
Far hotter than most people expect. In published measurements, asphalt in full sun reached about 125°F when the air was only 77°F, and about 143°F when the air was 87°F. Skin contact at 125°F can cause damage in roughly 60 seconds. That is why a pleasant-feeling afternoon can still burn paws.
What does a paw burn look like?
Limping or refusing to walk, licking or chewing at the feet, pads that look darker than usual or unusually red, missing patches of pad, or visible blisters. Burns are often noticed hours later, once the dog is home and settled. If pads are blistered or peeling, that's a vet visit — burned pads get infected easily.
My dog is a Bulldog — is heat worse for them?
Considerably. Dogs cool themselves by panting, and flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds move air far less efficiently through their shortened airways. Bulldogs, Pugs, Frenchies, Boxers and Persian cats can overheat in conditions other pets handle comfortably. Thick-coated breeds, seniors, puppies, overweight dogs and any pet with heart or airway disease are also at higher risk.
What are the first signs of heatstroke?
Heavy, frantic panting, thick drooling, bright red gums, wobbliness, confusion, vomiting or diarrhoea, and collapse. Move your dog to shade, offer cool (not ice-cold) water, wet the belly, armpits and paws with cool water, and go to a vet immediately — heatstroke damages organs internally even after a dog looks better.
When is the best time to walk in summer?
Early morning is better than evening, because asphalt holds heat for hours after sunset — a road can still be dangerous at 9pm even though the air feels comfortable. Walk on grass where possible, keep to shade, bring water, and shorten the route on hot days rather than skipping it entirely.