So here's the story...
Yesterday, Titan, 2 years, and I went for our normal walk, same one we run/walk daily. It is a mile to the dog park, and obvioulsy a mile back. We usually will run there in the mornings, let him go potty and play with othe dog if they are there for about 10 minutes and run back. No problems. Same thing after work except if it's earlier in the evening or a little hotter we just walk there, play/potty, then walk back. Titan drinks out of my camelback, so I ALWAYS fill it up and take it with me. Always, always.
So same thing yesterday. Got home, it was a little earlier than usual but not as hot as it had been raining but I still decided to just walk him since we rant hat morning anyways. We walked there and there were a TON of dogs there. All very well behaved, owners and dogs but we had a good time and ended up there for about 30 minutes playing fetch and with the other dogs. I noticed him getting exhausted, but he has no stop button what so ever, so I have to make that call when to shut him down. I made him lay down for about 5 minutes and then was about to walk home, when I buddy of mine got there with his Dane. I decided to stay fro a few minutes to mingle and not play with Titan. Well while I was talking I noticed the kids playing with Titan and playing fetch. Like I said, no stop button. So I told the kids to not play with him because he was tired. They didn't stop so I left. Forgot to mention he had many many water breaks.
Well I knew he was exhausted from the get go because he was walking really slow. I let him rest for a few minutes, but we still HAD to walk home. So I walked at his pace, not rushing him just letting him pant and every few minutes I would stop and give him more water which he gladly took. About the time he got to our street he was done for, starting to limp a little on no particular joint.. Conveniently my neighbor was out with her children and they rush up to him and when they touched him he started whining. NEVER have I ever seen him do that. so because we were literally next door, I just kept Titan going to the house and the rest of the way, at his pace, but with every step he was whining a little. Then he got in the house and just "colapsed," like you would if you had just gone for an extreme run. He got up and followed me while whining to the kitchen for water. I made him lay down on the cold hardwood floor under the fan and gave it to him where he was and he drank a ton. Then just layed there. I didn't really know what to do. I felt his tummy and flexed his joints to see where he might be hurt but everything seemed normal just like he was extremely exhausted.
Told myself I would keep an eye on him for the next half hour and see how he was. After about 30 minutes I called him to me and he got up and walked to me with no problem. Even threw a toy and it was like he was back to his normal self, tired still, but how he normally is after a walk. The rest of the night went as normal. He ate his dinner and went potty and played then to bed like any other night. Same this morning, everything was normal.
What in the world happened??!? All I can think of is that it was all just too much. The heat, the humidity, the walk, the extra long play time, the walk back. I can't imagine it being dehydration. He drank A LOT through out the day and at the dog park and during the walk back. Any idea on what might have happened and how to not let it happen again? Maybe I already know the answer but maybe someone has had a similar experience?
Yesterday, Titan, 2 years, and I went for our normal walk, same one we run/walk daily. It is a mile to the dog park, and obvioulsy a mile back. We usually will run there in the mornings, let him go potty and play with othe dog if they are there for about 10 minutes and run back. No problems. Same thing after work except if it's earlier in the evening or a little hotter we just walk there, play/potty, then walk back. Titan drinks out of my camelback, so I ALWAYS fill it up and take it with me. Always, always.
So same thing yesterday. Got home, it was a little earlier than usual but not as hot as it had been raining but I still decided to just walk him since we rant hat morning anyways. We walked there and there were a TON of dogs there. All very well behaved, owners and dogs but we had a good time and ended up there for about 30 minutes playing fetch and with the other dogs. I noticed him getting exhausted, but he has no stop button what so ever, so I have to make that call when to shut him down. I made him lay down for about 5 minutes and then was about to walk home, when I buddy of mine got there with his Dane. I decided to stay fro a few minutes to mingle and not play with Titan. Well while I was talking I noticed the kids playing with Titan and playing fetch. Like I said, no stop button. So I told the kids to not play with him because he was tired. They didn't stop so I left. Forgot to mention he had many many water breaks.
Well I knew he was exhausted from the get go because he was walking really slow. I let him rest for a few minutes, but we still HAD to walk home. So I walked at his pace, not rushing him just letting him pant and every few minutes I would stop and give him more water which he gladly took. About the time he got to our street he was done for, starting to limp a little on no particular joint.. Conveniently my neighbor was out with her children and they rush up to him and when they touched him he started whining. NEVER have I ever seen him do that. so because we were literally next door, I just kept Titan going to the house and the rest of the way, at his pace, but with every step he was whining a little. Then he got in the house and just "colapsed," like you would if you had just gone for an extreme run. He got up and followed me while whining to the kitchen for water. I made him lay down on the cold hardwood floor under the fan and gave it to him where he was and he drank a ton. Then just layed there. I didn't really know what to do. I felt his tummy and flexed his joints to see where he might be hurt but everything seemed normal just like he was extremely exhausted.
Told myself I would keep an eye on him for the next half hour and see how he was. After about 30 minutes I called him to me and he got up and walked to me with no problem. Even threw a toy and it was like he was back to his normal self, tired still, but how he normally is after a walk. The rest of the night went as normal. He ate his dinner and went potty and played then to bed like any other night. Same this morning, everything was normal.
What in the world happened??!? All I can think of is that it was all just too much. The heat, the humidity, the walk, the extra long play time, the walk back. I can't imagine it being dehydration. He drank A LOT through out the day and at the dog park and during the walk back. Any idea on what might have happened and how to not let it happen again? Maybe I already know the answer but maybe someone has had a similar experience?