Possible Clues:

• Water shortage hurt dog badly
• Very dry period
• Bread, about right temperature, showing lack of water
• Period of abnormal dryness
• Medic is compelled into humanitarian crisis
• Dry spell giving daughter difficult time
• Lack of water and bread keeps king tense
• Endlessly valiant, securing water at last in this?
• Prolonged shortage of rain
• Beginning of December, unpleasant time -- not what you expect then?