Kingston Dog Beach: DON’T DRINK THE WATER!

Lottie had her sutures out last Tuesday, so I thought she’s be fine to go happily galloping off lead at her usual Tuesday evening date with Felix at Cornelian Bay.  Unfortunately it was not so.  The sutures being taken out were those that held the skin together, however she also had dissolving stitches in her muscle.  I didn’t realise as I hadn’t played with her wound, although I should have realised taking a lump out of muscle would entail sewing the muscle back together.  In any case, I was told to not let her gallop off-lead for a few more days just to be sure the muscle was ready for it.  (I chose to ignore any galloping she did in the back garden.)

So I promised Lottie that during the weekend we’d take her to Kingston Dog Beach.  The ultimate in off-lead galloping fun.  However, the beautifully consistent beautiful weather we’ve had all summer decided to have a little holiday over the weekend.  This was probably because Maccamob and Team Crackers were in town.  I organised an event for Saturday night, and for some reason that always makes me feel like I have to apologise for the weather if it’s not perfect as well.  As if throwing an event makes me responsible for their holiday, so of course the weather was going to punish me.  I know – twisted – but there you are.

Maccamob flew out this morning, so of course today was an absolutely gorgeous day.  (Guilt, guilt, guilt.)  So today Lottie FINALLY was able to bounce at Kingston Dog Beach.  And bounce she did – for over 2 hours.  I was really beginning to worry she would be over doing it, however she was having such a great time she kept being ‘temporarily deaf’ when I’d call her.  In the end I grabbed her – she never goes too far from me, and periodically rushes by me with a sort of ‘thank you’ look on her face, the dear.

Unfortunately, she seemed unable to resist drinking the waves.  Ugh.  I’d given her some water while eating lunch at Juiced Up (the burgers are great!), but she decided she wanted to have some of the salt water.  Which probably made her more thirsty, so she had more, etc.  She stopped each time I told her to, but she kept doing it.  So that’s lots of quick gulps of salt water.

After leaving the beach and heading back to Hobart, Lottie was getting more and more restless in the passenger’s seat.  Then started to whinge gently.  So I pulled over on the Southern Outlet, grabbed her out of the cacheMobile, and a very thankful looking Lottie exploded from rear.  All liquid and golden.  Don’t you just love dogs overindulging in salt water?

I needed some groceries, but thankfully Hill Street Grocer has spots to tie up your dog outside.  While I was inside she lowered the level on the bucket of water significantly; at least it was fresh water this time.  However a whimper of discomfort and belch from the passenger’s seat had me pulling over on Risdon Road; I gave her a little walk and some clear water came out of the front of the dog.  Isn’t variety fun?!

Lottie doesn’t seem any worse for wear.  She had a snooze when we first got home, snoring loudly.  Her tummy seemed settled, so I gave her a bath.  She’s now back to her bouncy self, and obviously no worse for the extended bouncing: when I picked up her lead and harness to put into the wash, she lept for joy thinking she was getting another walk.