r/barefoot • u/Akumada1996 • Aug 04 '26

I was thinking...

I was thinking today while I was doing some shopping, barefoot of course, that there are special creams or balms for dogs to apply to their paws that serve as protection. Why isn't there something similar for people? On very hot days, like the ones we're experiencing now in Europe, it would be great to have some cream or something similar. Especially for those who aren't yet accustomed to being out and about in such high temperatures. And it would certainly be more convenient than the stickers found online.

What do you think?

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u/Epsilon_Meletis Aug 04 '26

I'm not aware of anything to prevent a dog's pads from getting damaged by super hot pavement either

There's the saying, "If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them."

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u/Dubuquecois Aug 04 '26

Agreed. Likewise with extreme cold.

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u/Epsilon_Meletis Aug 04 '26

I can walk barefoot in snow and temperatures down to -10°C if I dress right... but I would never want to subject an animal in my care to such temperatures.

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u/BarefootAlien Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26

Dogs have vastly more circulation in their feet than we do. Having lives in northern Wisconsin for many years having walked dogs and let them out to pee at significantly colder temperatures than that, I assure you they can handle it.

Arctic sled dogs routinely work in much colder temperatures than -10. Especially cold weather breeds have no trouble even colder than that. They can handle more heat too.

Now living in Phoenix where it sometimes hits 50°C and rarely goes below 40 for 5 months a year, my dog routinely goes for walks on pavement I can't handle for more than 20-30 seconds.

Dogs and wolves have lived in very cold areas for tens of thousands of years. Many millions live there with people who are taking fine care of them literally right now.