Causes of dog drowning

Dog drowning is a common accident, which can cause suffocation and hypoxia.

Stages of canine drowning

Typical drowning has four stages: breath holding and swimming movements; inhalation, suffocation, struggle to survive; vomiting; and cessation of movement, and death. The mammalian diving reflex may occur, causing the heart rate to slow, breathing to cease, and blood circulation to be restricted to the body's essential organs. Large amounts of water are not usually inhaled during this stage.

First aid for dog drowning

1. Immediately remove the water, mud and dirt from the dog's mouth and nose, wrap your fingers with gauze (handkerchief) and pull the dog's tongue out of the mouth to maintain the respiratory tract. Unobstructed, and then let the dog's head droop to pour water.

2. When breathing stops, artificial respiration should be performed immediately

① Make the dog lie flat on its side;

② Remove the dirt in the mouth that blocks the respiratory tract;

③Press the ribs next to the shoulder blades with both hands to squeeze the air out of the lungs;

④ Quickly release your hands. Repeat actions ③ and ④ repeatedly until the dog resumes spontaneous breathing.

3. You can also pat the dog's abdomen 1 to 2 times, then grab the hind limbs with your hands and swing them repeatedly about 10 times, then put the dog down and observe. If there is no reaction, repeat the above action.

4. When the heartbeat of a drowning dog stops, external chest heart massage should be performed first.

Place your palms on the heart of the chest (near the position when the left front elbow is bent to the chest). Large dogs need both hands to press, while small dogs or cats can use one hand.

Drowning of a dog can be fatal instantly, and the first aid only takes 2-5 minutes. If first aid measures are not taken, the possibility of the dog's survival will be greatly reduced. Although dogs can swim, owners still need to pay more attention when their dogs enter the water.