Near drowning

Near drowning

What to do:

• Remove your pet from the water
• Place on his/her side with head and neck extended, if possible with the head slightly lower than the body
• Pull tongue forward and expel any water from lungs and stomach by pushing gently on the chest wall and stomach
• If your pet is not breathing, or you cannot feel a pulse or heartbeat, then begin CPR
• Cover your pet with a blanket to prevent further loss of body heat
• Contact your veterinarian or the Animal Emergency Centre.

What NOT to do:

• Do not fail to contact a veterinarian just because resuscitation was successful and your dog seems to be recovering - secondary complications such as electrolyte imbalance or pneumonia can occur
• Do not leave your dog unattended as he (or she) may be confused and wander back to the water