What to Do If Your Dog Is Drowning

Act Immediately — Every Second Counts

Drowning causes oxygen deprivation that can lead to brain damage within minutes. Even dogs that appear to recover after being pulled from water can develop secondary drowning (delayed respiratory failure) hours later. Every dog involved in a drowning incident needs emergency veterinary care.

Step 1: Get Your Dog Out of the Water Safely

Do not put yourself at risk. If your dog is in deep water and you are not a strong swimmer, use a rope, life ring, or extend a branch or paddle for your dog to grab. Your safety matters.

Step 2: Clear the Airway

Once out of the water, hold your dog with their head lower than their body for 15 to 30 seconds to allow water to drain from the airway. For small dogs, hold them upside down briefly by the hips.

Step 3: Check for Breathing and Pulse

• Watch for chest movement
• Feel for breath on your cheek
• Feel for pulse on the inner thigh (femoral artery) or against the left chest

Step 4: Begin Rescue Breathing If Not Breathing

Close your dog's mouth, cover the nose with your mouth, and give 2 gentle rescue breaths. Watch for chest rise. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and try again.

Step 5: Begin CPR If No Heartbeat

If there is no pulse, begin CPR immediately. See our guide on how to do CPR on a dog for full technique.

Step 6: Warm Your Dog

Drowning dogs are often hypothermic. Dry thoroughly and wrap in warm blankets while transporting to the vet.

Step 7: Go to the Emergency Vet Immediately

All dogs involved in drowning incidents need emergency veterinary care, even if they appear to recover. Secondary drowning (fluid in the lungs causing respiratory failure hours later) can be fatal without treatment.

🧰 Recommended: EVERLIT Pet Medic First Aid Kit (95 Pcs) — Vet-approved emergency kit. Keep one at home and one in the car.

Prevention

• Never leave dogs unsupervised near pools, ponds, or open water
• Install pool fencing or a pool alarm
• Teach your dog where the pool steps are
• Use a dog life jacket for boating or open water swimming
• Know that not all dogs are natural swimmers — brachycephalic breeds and dogs with heavy builds can sink quickly