Just like you can burn your feet walking on hot sand, your dog’s paws can also get burned on hot pavement. At All Creatures Inn, the premier dog kennel and pet grooming facility in Nicholasville, KY, the staff is extra careful to protect the pads on your pet’s feet. Whether you’re traveling for a few hours and need pet daycare or you’re going on vacation and need to put Fido in a dog kennel while you’re gone, All Creatures Inn cares for every animal as if it’s their own. That’s why they take extra steps to protect your dog’s paws from hot pavement during summer months.

When you’re walking your dog this summer, here are four tips from the pet grooming experts at All Creatures Inn for protecting those paws:

• Adjust Your Schedule: If you normally take Fido out for a walk at lunch, consider adjusting your schedule during the summer months. Instead of walking your dog in the middle of the day when the pavement is hot, take your walks in the early morning or evening.

• Avoid Concrete: One way to make sure your pet’s paws don’t get burned is to get off the concrete. Instead, have your dog walk on surfaces that are much cooler, such as the grass or the dirt.

• Test It First: Before you take the dog for a walk, the pet grooming experts at All Creature Inn suggest trying it out for yourself first. Press the back of your hand onto the concrete or blacktop for at least 10 seconds to see how hot it is. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for for your pup’s paws.

• Add Protection: Consider covering up your dog’s feet with protective booties or paw wax. The dog groomers at All Creatures Inn will recommend a product for your furry friend.

• Going to an Event or Festival: leave your dogs at home at festivals, farmers markets, parades, etc. These are often in the hot part of the day and once they are at the event, it is too late to do anything, but subject your dog to the heat and sun. If it is unavoidable, they need to stay in the shade and have water or ice cubes available. But it is best not to risk it at these type of events.

If you notice your dog is limping, refusing to keep walking, or licking or chewing at their feet, they might have burned paws. Other signs are if their pads are darker in color, have blisters or redness on their feet, or are missing part of their paw pad. Check their feet for problems, and if you notice anything unusual, apply antibacterial ointment and loosely bandage minor burns. For serious burns, visit a veterinarian.

For more information about dog boarding and pet grooming, visit the All Creatures Inn website. You can also call the best dog kennel in Nicholasville at (859) 233-9000 today.