Dog Drowning: Causes and How To Prevent It

Drowning and near-drowning in dogs are life-threatening emergencies that require immediate veterinary care—even if your dog seems to recover after being pulled from the water.  

Water in the lungs can cause serious complications, including breathing problems, pneumonia, brain damage, and organ failure, and some symptoms may not appear until hours later.  

This article explains the signs of drowning and near-drowning in dogs, what causes these emergencies, how veterinarians diagnose and treat affected pets, and when to seek emergency care. 

What Is Dog Drowning and Near-Drowning in Dogs?

Although many people believe dogs are natural swimmers, this is often not the case.  

Some dogs will go underwater and drown or nearly drown. Other dogs may be able to swim for a while but soon grow tired and are unable to continue to paddle. 

Drowning is more common in dogs than in cats and is usually seen in puppies under 4 months old. Dogs can easily fall into unfenced pools, ponds, bathtubs, or other bodies of water with steep sides and no way out. A near-drowning is more accurately called nonfatal drowning and occurs when a dog is submerged in water and survives for at least 24 hours. 

During drowning, carbon dioxide increases in the body, which triggers a dog to take a breath. This leads to aspirating water, which fills the alveoli (small sacs in the lungs responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide). The water fills and collapses these sacs, leading to pneumonia, infection, decreased oxygenation, and organ damage. 

Water temperature, type of water (salt versus fresh), any chemicals in the water, and the length of time a dog is underwater all play a part in the severity of damage.  

Once underwater, dogs only have minutes before brain damage, organ failure, and potential death ensue. 

Dog drowning is a medical emergency.  

If your dog falls into a body of water or is submerged in water for any length of time, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Clinical signs can be delayed, so it’s still critical for dogs that are seemingly acting normal to receive veterinary attention. 

Symptoms of Drowning and Near-Drowning in Dogs

Clinical signs of dog drowning mostly involve the respiratory system: 

• Coughing with or without foamy, red saliva 

• Respiratory distress 

• Decreased body temperature  

• Blue gums indicative of cyanosis, or lack of oxygen 

• Vomiting 

• Loss of consciousness 

• Apnea, or not breathing 

Causes of Dog Drowning and Near-Drowning in Dogs

Any place with a significant amount of water can cause dogs to drown.  

Unmonitored pets around pools or ponds without an easy exit account for most dog drownings. Bodies of water with thin ice also result in frequent drownings and hypothermia in dogs that fall through accidentally. 

While inadequate safety precautions, negligence, and intentional animal abuse are the main causes of drowning in pets, it’s also important to recognize that even everyday household items are drowning hazards.  

Shallow plastic children’s pools, bathtubs, and even water buckets are potentially dangerous. 

Any water that is deep enough to submerge the nose and mouth can drown an animal that has suffered from head trauma, seizures, hypoglycemic episodes, cardiac arrhythmias and fainting, or clots—anything that can cause a temporary lack of consciousness. 

How Veterinarians Diagnose Drowning and Near-Drowning in Dogs

Drowning is, unfortunately, an easy diagnosis in dogs, as they are usually recovered from water by their pet parents and brought to the hospital.  

However, the complications of near-drowning can be more difficult to diagnose and require extensive care by a veterinary staff. 

After a near-drowning episode, veterinarians will monitor the following parameters and tests including: 

• Blood work and urinalysis to monitor organ function, electrolytes, oxygenation, and cellular damage. 

• X-rays of the chest to look for fluid and pneumonia. Radiographic changes may not be visible until a day or two after the event. 

• ECG (electrocardiogram) monitoring to watch for cardiac arrhythmias. 

• Endotracheal or transtracheal wash of the fluid in the lungs to identify any infectious agents. 

• Advanced imaging, such as CT or MRI of the brain in cases of brain damage. 

Treatment of Near-Drowning in Dogs

Quick veterinary care is critical following a near-drowning incident, but treatment should start immediately. 

If your dog is unconscious, you can institute mouth-to-muzzle resuscitation or even CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if needed.

Remove any objects from the airway and use towels to dry off and warm your dog, as hypothermia is a common complication.

Once at the veterinary hospital, dogs that have had a near-drowning event will be placed on oxygen supplementation to help them breathe. This may be by a mask, a cage, or even full intubation in severe cases.  

An intravenous (IV) catheter will allow the veterinarian to more easily deliver fluids and medications. 

A feeding tube may be placed to remove fluid from the stomach to help the dog feel better.  

The degree of severity, based on clinical signs and diagnostic testing results, will determine additional treatments such as: 

• Cardiac drugs, such as diltiazem 

• Antibiotics, such as Clavamox 

• Treatments for brain swelling, such as mannitol 

• Anti-cough medications, such as cough tablets 

Recovery and Management of Near-Drowning in Dogs

Recovery and prognosis are closely related to the amount of time spent underwater, and the amount of time before a dog begins receiving veterinary care.  

Most dogs that are conscious when arriving at the veterinary hospital have a good prognosis if there are no complications.  

Recovery may take days to weeks, depending on the severity. Most common complicating factors and long-term concerns include: 

• Pneumonia 

• Fluid in the lungs 

• Gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea 

• Kidney injury 

• Permanent brain damage 

• Blood clotting issues 

• Central diabetes insipidus 

Prevention of Dog Drowning or Near-Drowning in Dogs

To prevent drowning and near-drowning in dogs, pet parents should closely supervise their dogs around bodies of water, bathtubs, and any other areas water may be present. Blocking off pool areas at home with a fence or pet gate is recommended.  

Dogs should never be allowed to walk on ponds in the winter, even if it looks frozen. If you take your dog on a boat or swimming at a lake during the warmer months, always use a pet life jacket to keep them safe.