Pretty soon, the dogs were looking like this:
Then Piper started looking kinda like this:
It didn’t seem that hot outside to me, in light of the super hot days we had last week , but then again I was not the one running around and devil dancing like a crazy dog. The next thing I knew, Piper had stopped spinning and started staggering. She began to weave and sway, like a drunk person, and then she pitched face first into the grass and was down for the count.
Piper has always had issues with the heat. When she was just wee, only weeks after I adopted her, I had to take her to Regionals with me in really hot, hot weather and she got a mild case of heat stroke. I have kept a watchful eye on her since, but though she tires quickly, she’s never really had any more problems, even when it’s real hot outside.
But I had never seen her do this before. I FREAKED OUT! I scooped up my teeny 26lb devil and sprinted across the field to my car, where I always keep a gallon jug of cold fresh water. No olympic medalist has anything on me when my dog’s in danger, tell you wut. I tossed her into the shade of the POS Pontiac and poured most of the contents of the jug on her belly, where the blood vessels are closest to the skin’s surface, while she just lay there in a sort of dazed stupor.
Exercise Induced Collapse, they call it. Some dogs are more sensitive than others, I guess, and some dogs, when they experience it, are more prone to experience it again in the future. Dogs can suffer seizures and even death if they don’t get cooled down fast enough. Fortunately for Piper, I had that water and within 30 seconds she was not only up, she was trying to go get her ball lest doG forbid, someone steal it out of the field where she left it when she collapsed!
That was sure scary for me. I thought I was going to lose my wee dolly. Can’t have that!
So today, we played it safe and went swimming at Trout Lake.
Piper appreciated my concern for her well being, I’m sure.
But wondered why I didn’t do something about the diabolical Woo.
Not that she let a little thing like nearly dying yesterday stop her from having fun today!
Piper almost died? That makes me sad :(
Wait! Did whatever it was rub out the Woo??
*pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease*
I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Or anything else for that matter. Like my recall, or my name etc.
Hey. Hey. See this? This here?
You should throw it for me.
Like, right now.
Pretty please? I’d be ever so grateful.
Sweet hockey ball of mercy!
Annnnnnd then there’s Woo.
THROW THE FUTHERMUCKIN’ WOOTIE TOY RIGHT NOW! I AIN’T ASKIN’, I’M TELLIN’!
Or. You. Die.
Sweet! Thx! xoxo
I got the Woooootie Toy, I got the Woooootie Toy!
(*please notice that Wootie is not FAT. He just LOOKS fat. He’s actually very slender. So there)
I bet you’re thinking about giving me that hockey ball aren’t you sugar?
Let me solve that dilemma for you….
INCOMING!
Food Lady? Hello? Food Lady? Say something if you’re conscious, Food Lady!
After I regained consciousness, it was time to bid farewell to the lake.
Remember folks – BRING WATER. Offer it liberally. Rest in shade frequently. And when in doubt, make your dog take a break.
Happy Fetching!
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