Your Dog's Paws in Summer: What Every Owner Needs to Know
Hot pavements, salty paths, and long walks. Here is how to protect and clean your dog's paws all summer long.
5 min read | June 2026
Summer is the best time to be a dog. Long walks, new smells, muddy adventures. But it is also the season when your dog's paws take the most punishment, and most of us do not realise it until there is a problem.
Hot pavements. Gritty paths. Dried-out pads. Pollen and allergens picked up from the ground. If you have ever wondered why your dog keeps licking their paws after a summer walk, this post is for you.
Why paw cleaning is about more than just mud
After every summer walk, your dog's paws carry things you would rather not think about. Pollen, pesticides, road chemicals, grit, and bacteria. Regular paw cleaning for dogs is not just a tidiness habit. It is a health habit.
A paw cleaner designed specifically for dogs makes this incredibly easy. Rather than dunking each paw in a bucket of water (fun for nobody), a gentle paw cleaning solution removes dirt and irritants quickly and thoroughly. It is especially useful for dogs who suffer from seasonal allergies, where pollen caught between the toes can trigger non-stop paw licking and chewing.
Cracked paw pads and how to prevent them
Dry, cracked paw pads are very common in summer. The combination of heat, hard surfaces, and prolonged walking dries out the skin on the pads, leaving them rough and sometimes painful. Left untreated, cracks can deepen and become sore or even infected.
A good paw cream for dogs, made with dog-safe, soothing ingredients, softens and protects the pads before and after walks. Think of it like hand cream, but for paws. Apply it gently, let your dog sniff it (they always do), and massage it in. It is also a lovely little bonding moment between walks.
Look out for pads that appear red, swollen, or that your dog is constantly licking. These are signs that something needs attention, whether that is a splinter, a small cut, or dryness that has gone too far.
Your quick summer paw routine
Look for grit, grass seeds, thorns, or anything sharp that may have worked its way in during the walk.
Wipe away surface dirt, pollen, and allergens with a gentle paw cleaning solution. Takes about 30 seconds per paw.
A small amount of paw cream goes a long way. Massage it gently into the pad and let it absorb before your dog runs off.
Dogs who get used to this routine from puppyhood barely notice it. For older dogs, start slowly and use treats generously.
Bonus: beach and coastal walks
Salt water and sand can dry out paw pads even faster than pavement heat. If your dog loves the beach (and honestly, most dogs do), rinse their paws with fresh water after every coastal walk and follow up with paw cream. Your dog's paws will thank you. And so will your car upholstery.
Explore the ITSY Pets Paw Cleaner and Paw Cream. Gentle, effective, and designed for everyday summer paw care.
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