Avoid walking on hot days. During the summer months, walk your dog in the morning or evening when temperatures are lower. Temperatures below 25 degrees are optimum. Also, beware of the hot pavement so you don't burn their paws.
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.
Below freezing, 32°F, dogs in sensitive categories, such as older dogs and those with thin coats will need extra help, such as shelter (staying inside) or a jacket or sweater. Temperatures below 20°F are not safe for any dog to spend significant amounts of time outside, due to the risks of hypothermia and frostbite.
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.
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.
Avoid walking on hot days.
Temperatures below 25 degrees are optimum. Also, beware of the hot pavement so you don't burn their paws.
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.
Generally speaking, no dog should be taken out for a walk if the weather drops below -10°C, as they will be unable to withstand such cold temperatures. A good rule-of-thumb is that if it's uncomfortably cold for you as the owner, it's likely too cold for your dog, too.
Most healthy medium or large dogs can walk for 30-minutes if the temperature is above 20 degrees F. Smaller dogs should limit the walk to 15 or 20 minutes if temps are between 20 to 32 degrees F. If it's below 0 degrees, no dog should be out for a walk.
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.
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.
So how hot is too hot for a dog's sensitive paw pads? “If the temperature is 85 degrees or over without the chance for the pavement to cool down, the ground may be too hot for safely walking a dog,” says Klein.
An ideal temperature doesn't exist for all dogs, since their normal body temperature will vary according to size. Most dogs begin to show signs of overheating when the air temperature is between 81 and 85 degrees F.
Most healthy, medium or large dogs with thick coats can take a 30 minute walk when temperatures are above 20°. Small dogs or dogs with thin coats start to become uncomfortable in temperatures below 45°. Consider limiting walks to 15 minutes for these dogs when temps fall below freezing.
To make your decision about outdoor fun easier, we created a Cold Weather Safety Chart. 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.
Due to their thicker coat, larger dogs should be able to walk for half an hour at -6 degrees. You should also consider the breed of your dog. Speaking to The Metro, Dave Leicester from Vets Now, said: "Just like humans, some pets, such as husky dogs, are more tolerant to cold weather than others.
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.
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.
Cold-Temperature Guidelines for Dogs
Once temperatures drop under 20 F, all pet parents need to be aware that their dogs could develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia or frostbite when outside for extended periods of time.
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.
They say that between 16 and 19 degrees is generally safe for dogs, while between 20 and 23 degree is a six out of ten risk rating. When the temperature hits 24 and 27 degrees, this risk level goes up to nine out of ten, and then to ten out of ten when the weather reaches 32 degrees and above.
What temperature is too hot for dogs? For any dog, 32° C / 89.6° F is considered too hot. At this temperature, your dog is prone to heat stroke, regardless of its breed or health. In a perfect world, the best temperature to walk your dog is between 12° C – 15° C / 53.6° F – 59° F.
Signs Your Dog is Overheating
Frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright-red membranes, and labored breathing are clear warning signs that your dog is overheated and may quickly progress to a metabolic meltdown as his temperature rises to over 106 degrees Fahrenheit and he can no longer cool themself.
Fill a spray bottle with water and cool your dog by spraying under the legs, on the belly and paws for some instant relief. Be aware though that some dogs may be frightened of the spray action of the bottle so you'll need to train them to accept this without fear, just like most new things we introduce them to.
How do I know if the pavement is too hot for my dog? The best way to tell if a pavement is too hot for your dog to walk on is to place the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it's too painful for your hand, then it's too painful for your dog's paws.