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In this lesson, we're going to go over what you should do if you find your pet submerged in water and he or she has suffered a near-drowning.
Some pets love the water and love swimming, and those pets are likely the canines in your household and not your cats. Regardless of their love of water or hatred of it, there's still a good chance that your pet may be exposed at some point to backyard pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
It's always a good idea to be prepared for anything, and this includes what to do in the event of a near drowning.
Dogs and cats that suffocate while being submerged underwater is a situation that can happen for a variety of reasons. Your pet may have been swimming along just fine and then suddenly became fatigued. Or your pet may have a condition that prevents them from swimming effectively or perhaps your pet is just more susceptible to ingesting water for whatever reason.
How it happened isn't nearly as important as what you should do next.
How to Rescue Your Pet from a Near Drowning
If you notice your pet submerged in water, remove him completely from the water. You'll want to put him into the best position to help drain the water from his system, meaning through his nose and mouth. The technique for this is as follows:
- For smaller pets that you can easily lift off the ground, lift your pet's rear half up in the air, while also lowering his head. Point his head downward toward the ground in almost a headstand position.
- For larger animals that you cannot lift off the ground, simply lift the hind end up to get the head pointed downward.
Pro Tip: Gravity is your friend in these situations. If ever you get flustered and have trouble remembering what to do, just think about it logically. You need to get that water out of your pet and the best way to do that is with an assist from gravity.
After you've done this, you'll want to assess your pet's vital signs, even if he appears fine and dandy and fully recovered. If your pet is still unconscious at this point, you'll need to perform rescue breathing. And if there's no pulse, you may have to begin full CPR.
Warning: Even if your pet isn't showing any signs of trouble following his near-drowning, he still may have ingested a very large amount of water, and this in itself can lead to complications, such as an electrolyte imbalance. Therefore, it's always a good idea to have him evaluated by a veterinarian as quickly as you can.
