Cooper is ball-obsessed. Scary obsessed.
He'll chase tennis balls until he literally collapses if I let him.
That's why when he started staggering during fetch on a 79-degree evening last June, my world stopped.
"Tom!" I screamed, dropping the ball launcher. "Something's wrong!"
Cooper was weaving like he was drunk. His tongue hung out, eyes unfocused.
The emergency vet's words still haunt me: "Heat exhaustion. His body temperature is dangerously elevated."
"But it was only 79 degrees!" I protested. "I was being so careful! I only threw the ball seven times!"
Dr. Kim looked at me with understanding but also concern.
"Mrs. Davis, I can see you're very attentive. But counting ball throws isn't actually protecting Cooper."
That's when she revealed something that shattered everything I thought I knew about heat safety.