Babara Bush
In the summer heat, not only people but also our pets want to plunge into a cool reservoir. If cats are wary of water, then dogs are natural swimmers. Many of them love water. But no one is immune from troubles.
Of course, dogs rarely drown. Acting on instincts, they are much better than people able to get out of any pool. But if nevertheless, the pet needs help on the water, the main thing is to react in time.
Drowning reasons
The animal was left unattended – even a born swimmer can feel bad. Statistically, dogs only drown in solitude when the owner is distracted. Or if the pet has escaped from supervision.
Unfamiliar bodies of water-dense underwater vegetation, cold currents, or pools may not allow the animal to swim out.
Cramping – As in humans, tight muscles in dogs often lead to tragedy
Fatigue – if the animal even actively demands to throw a stick into the pond again, then for the 10th time it may not be able to swim. The muscles get tired and the animal loses strength.
Drowning symptoms
How do you know if a dog is drowning? After all, she cannot call for help, as a person, and drowning ones are usually not capable of active exclamations.
The animal chokes, coughs, foam comes out of the mouth
The dog stops moving in the water, loses consciousness
The pet goes underwater and does not attempt to swim out
With a prolonged stay without oxygen, clinical death is possible, in which case you need to act very quickly.
How to help?
Get the animal out of the water. True, it is not worth risking your life. If you do not know how to swim or for some reason cannot go down into the water, call for help from passers-by or call the rescue services. Try using a stick or other available means to pick up the animal by the collar or harness.
Once you’ve got the dog ashore, try to warm it up by wrapping it in your clothing or a suitable cloth.
If the animal has lost consciousness, provide first aid. Lift the dog by its hind legs and shake it, helping the water out of the respiratory tract (of course, if your physical data and the weight of the animal allow it). Lay the pet on its side, open its mouth, clean it of foreign objects, if necessary. If there is no pulse, do chest compressions. Press rhythmically on the dog’s chest, at least 60 strokes in 60 seconds. Artificial respiration will also help: by blowing your exhaled air (that is, carbon dioxide) into the dog’s mouth, you activate the centers of the brain responsible for breathing.
Take the animal to the clinic as soon as possible or call the veterinarian to the scene of the accident.
Treatment
Often, if a dog recovers quickly from a water accident, owners neglect the veterinarian’s advice or do not go to the doctor at all. This is fraught with serious consequences because water that gets into the bronchi or lungs can make itself felt even after a few days. The liquid can lead to swelling or inflammation, and this can even be fatal.