Have you ever seen a hot-footed elf? Sure it may sound funny, and, frankly, it was, seeing the shoeless little one jump up and down and holler on the pavement. But then it wasn’t so funny when everyone gathered around and saw how red the elf’s soles were. After applying coconut-flavored popsicles to the blistering toes and heels, another elf went outside and applied hand to the pavement. Not pretty.
Panting pooch
All of this started the lunchtime conversation about walking dogs in the summer. The reason why your pooch seems to be moving at a rapid pace may be due to the heat hitting their paws. So, here are some suggestions:
- Walk early in the morning when the ground is not quite as hot. Even in the evening, the pavement is still broiling.
- While you can stroll on the sidewalk, let your canine companion walk on the grass.
- Take along a bottle of water. Unlike humans, dogs “sweat” through their mouths and paws. If s/he starts showing signs of heat problems, open the bottle for your dog. In addition to giving him or her a couple of gulps, you might want to apply the watery contents to their feet. The water should not be icy cold.
Oh, and while this has absolutely nothing to do with heat, we’ve been asked to remind you that the 3rd and 4th of July fireworks are lovely and thrilling for two-legged critters, but to pets they look like pending doom. So, keep your cats and dogs inside tonight and tomorrow night.
