Easy test puts you in Fido’s shoes

LITTLE ROCK — Hot enough for you? And how about your barefoot friend in the fur coat?

Summer sends humans frequent reminders that leaving the dog in a hot car is a no-no - every time we open the door to climb into one. On the other hand, shoes and sandals are surprisingly good insulation against a hot surface. So occasionally you’ll see a dog-walker ambling along on black asphalt, safe in shoes despite a blazing July sun and thus oblivious to what’s happening to his companion’s paws.

Meanwhile, a panting dog looks like a laughing dog, and a yipping, quickstepping pooch looks like a frisky pooch.

Here’s a bit of data from a recent unscientific experiment in Little Rock using a digital candy thermometer:

May 24, 3:15 p.m., ambient temperature 92 (National Weather Service), partly sunny conditions

Concrete: 122 degrees

Asphalt: 131 degrees

June 19, 7:15 p.m., ambient temperature 94, both surfaces in the shade for at least one hour Concrete: 104 degrees

Asphalt: 107 degrees

Really hot bath water is about 115 degrees.

There’s no need to resort to a thermometer to find out if a surface will be cool enough for the dog. Placing your bare foot (or palm) there will put you in Rover’s shoes, so to speak.

Beyond blistered paws, dogs face serious challenges in heat. They don’t have the total-body cooling system their humans are born with. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by “sweating” through their feet. It’s not very efficient. That’s why they lap up water like it was liquid bacon and splash through puddles in hot weather.

Experts note that oftentimes a dog will seem to be OK until it’s in extreme distress. Old and weak dogs are the most at risk of heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heatstroke, but short-nosed breeds like pugs and boxers are also more prone than longer-nosed breeds.

Are Arkansas dogs dropping like flies this summer?

At Pinnacle Valley Animal Hospital in Little Rock, technician Charlotte Redmon said Tuesday that the doctors there had seen just a few overheated dogs recently, and none were severe cases.

Veterinary clinics in Fayetteville and Jonesboro each reported seeing a couple of cases of overheated dogs in the last few weeks. An El Dorado clinic reported no hot dogs so far this summer.

BE COOL

It’s a good idea to condition your pet for summer hiking as you would yourself. Start slowly and increase speed and distance gradually. Pavement and air temperatures are generally cooler early in the morning or after sunset.

If you’re going farther than just around the block, a bottle of water and a lightweight, collapsible bowl could be your pup’s best friend. Heck, you’ll probably want to bring along a bottle for yourself.