Most MT Dog Owners Forget About This Hidden Danger

BUTTE, MT - As temperatures in Montana begin to soar with the arrival of summer, there’s no shortage of reminders to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and limit time in the sun.

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But there’s one dangerously overlooked hazard that even the most loving dog owners often forget—and it could leave your furry friend in excruciating pain.

Picture this: it’s a sunny afternoon in Bozeman or Butte, and you decide to take your pup for a quick stroll.

The sky’s blue, your coffee’s iced, and the air feels warm but bearable—around 90 degrees. Seems harmless enough, right?

Wrong.

Here’s where many Montana pet owners get caught off guard.

While the air might feel manageable, the ground beneath your feet—specifically asphalt and concrete—can reach scorching temperatures capable of severely burning your dog’s paws in seconds.

According to data from Meteorologist Eric Snitil and RochesterFirst.com, when the air temperature hits 90°F, the ground tells a much hotter story: concrete can heat up to 125°F, and asphalt can sizzle at a blistering 140°F.

Let that sink in. 140 degrees. That’s hotter than the temperature required to cook an egg.

It gets worse. At 95°F air temp—a common summer number across Montana’s valleys and cities—asphalt can reach a staggering 155°F.

That’s hot enough to cause second-degree burns on human skin in seconds, let alone the unprotected paws of your dog.

And yet, many owners make the well-intentioned mistake of walking their dogs during peak afternoon heat, completely unaware of the hidden danger radiating from the ground.

How can you tell if it's too hot?

The rule of thumb—rather, paw—is this: if you can’t hold the back of your hand on the pavement for at least 7 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog.

What should you do instead?

• Walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening.

• Stick to grassy areas or dirt trails.

• Invest in paw-protective booties if midday walks are unavoidable.

• Always bring water for both you and your pup.

Montana summers can be stunning, but they also demand a little extra caution for your four-legged friend. Don’t let a routine walk turn into a painful vet visit. This is one mistake you definitely don’t want to learn the hard way.

Protect their paws—because they can’t tell you when it hurts.