Experts agree that it is generally safe to take your canine pal for a walk in temperatures of up to 68F, while anything over 77F is considered very risky. This is because even at temperatures as low as 70F dogs can be at risk of developing heatstroke, a high temperature that isn't caused by a fever.
The hotter the temperature, the higher the risk to your dog. As the temperature increases, even by just 1C, the risk to your dog increases too. Any temperature over 25C is a definite NO when it comes to walking! Stick to the rule of walking below 20C to be safe.
If it is over 25 degrees, it is a good idea to do a sidewalk 'test. ' Before heading for a walk, try and hold the palm of your hand on the pavement for five seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog's paws to walk on.
In general, temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit can quickly get extra risky, so try to avoid going outdoors if it's anything hotter than that.
Most healthy medium or large dogs with thick coats can take a 30-minute walk when temperatures are above 20°F. Small dogs or dogs with thin coats start to become uncomfortable in temperatures below 45°F. Consider limiting walks to 15 minutes for these dogs when temps fall below freezing.
In Vets Now's assessment of temperatures for walking your dog, they state that between 20 and 23 degrees has a six out of 10 risk rating and that rigorous exercise in this heat could lead to heatstroke. An eight out of ten rating is given for 24-27 degrees celsius and they advise that extreme caution must be taken.
Generally speaking, no dog should be taken out for a walk if the weather drops below -9°C, as they will be unable to withstand such cold temperatures.
Planning on walking dogs in hot weather? It's generally safe in temperatures of up to 19°C (68°F) but be careful when the mercury rises above this. Even at temperatures as low as 20°C (70°F) dogs are at risk of heat stroke. Heat stroke in dogs is essentially a high temperature not caused by a fever.
Check the ground temperature before you go
Place the back of your hand against the ground and hold it there. If it is too hot to hold it there for five seconds, then it is too hot for your canine's paws and could burn them, meaning that you will need to wait until the ground is cooler before you head out for a walk.
Typically, for small breed dogs, temperatures below -5C can have be potentially life-threatening. For medium and large breed dogs, it's best to avoid temperatures colder than -10C, although this varies by breed.
The five-second rule: Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog on the pavement. "If the asphalt is so hot you could probably fry an egg on it, then it can burn your dog's feet.
Burns Can Happen Fast:
It only takes 60 seconds on the pavement which is 125℉, for a dog's pads to burn. This means that the pavement could be potentially dangerous when the air temperature is 77℉.
Head for the shade or water to keep cool and let the dogs dip their paws in the water. 5. Take it easy and avoid strenuous activity. Do a slow "sniffing" walk where you let the dogs stop and sniff as long as they like.
Avoid walking on hot days.
Temperatures below 25 degrees are optimum. Also, beware of the hot pavement so you don't burn their paws.
Though, as a general rule, she says, “Under 30 degrees [-1.6 degrees Celsius], factoring in the wind chill, it's not going to be safe for any dog to be outside for an extended period of time.”
While small pups can spend a few hours outdoors in temperatures between 60ºF and 90ºF, keep outings in temperatures below 32ºF and above 90ºF to short spans of no more than 10 to 15 minutes, recommends Dr. Wooten.
Walking your dog in hot weather
Dogs need exercise, even when it's hot. We recommend walking your dog in the morning or evening when it's cooler to reduce the risk of heatstroke and burning their paws on the pavement.
Cats and dogs have sensitive paw pads that become vulnerable in the heat. Surfaces such as pavement, asphalt and artificial grass can become searingly hot causing blisters or burns on their paw pads.
Dogs, like humans, are diurnal, so taking walks in the morning is ideal. I recommend setting aside thirty minutes to a full hour. The specific needs of each dog differ. Consult your vet and keep an eye on your dog's behavior to see if his needs are being met.
25 degrees is when you start dipping into dangerous weather, so you'll want to use caution, especially if your dog has already shown sensitivity to warmer weather than this. 20 degrees and lower is where you reach potentially life-threatening cold weather.
In cold temperatures 20 degrees and above: Large dogs (50-80 pounds) should be outside no more than one minute per degree. Medium dogs (25-50 pounds) can be outside for 30 seconds per degree.
At around 12 – 15 degrees most pets will probably be quite safe. At 10 degrees, you need to keep an eye on them as it can be potentially unsafe depending on their age, general health, and breed.
The breed of your dog will be the main determiner for when it's safe for it to go outdoors in very cold weather. Small and medium breeds with thinner coats will struggle in -4°C conditions. Bigger dog breeds with thicker coats can withstand temperatures of -6°C.
Use caution when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (around 7 degrees Celsius). It's potentially unsafe for little-or-medium-sized dogs with thin coats to be outside, but big dogs with heavier coats are probably OK.
As a general rule of thumb: at 45°F (7°C) and below, most dogs will dogs will start to become uncomfortable. at 32°F (0°C) and below, small, thin-coated, young, old and sick dogs should not be left outside for long. at 20°F (-7°C) and below, dogs become vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.