Dog or cat pulled from water (near-drowning)

Recognise the signs

• Soaked, weak, or unresponsive pet near or in water
• Coughing, gagging, or laboured breathing after rescue
• Blue or grey gums
• No breathing, no pulse
• Distended belly from swallowed water
• Hypothermia: cold to touch, shivering or too weak to shiver

First aid steps

1. Get the pet out of the water as safely as possible — your safety first; never enter unstable ice or fast water.
2. Hold a small pet upside-down briefly (5–10 seconds) to drain water; for medium and large dogs, lay on their side with head lower than chest and tilt the body forward to drain the airway.
3. Wipe vomit, water, mud or weed from the mouth and nose.
4. If breathing, wrap in towels or a blanket to warm and head to the vet.
5. If not breathing but has a pulse, give 1 rescue breath every 6 seconds (close mouth, breathe into the nose) while heading to the vet.
6. If no pulse, start CPR — 30 compressions to 2 breaths.

While transporting to the vet

• Keep the pet on its side, head slightly lower if airway is still draining.
• Wrap in dry blankets or towels, but check breathing remains visible.
• Phone ahead — oxygen and warming will be prepared.

Common causes

• Falling into garden ponds, hot tubs, swimming pools
• Being swept along rivers or canals
• Slipping under ice on frozen ponds
• Cats falling into baths, water butts, sinks
• Sea swimming — undertow, exhaustion, salt water ingestion
• Trapped in a flood

What the vet will need to know

• Type of water — pond, pool, river, sea (salt versus fresh matters)
• Approximate time submerged and time out of water
• Whether breathing stopped and for how long
• Whether CPR was given and for how long
• Current breathing pattern and gum colour
• Pet's body temperature if you can take it

Aftercare

• Hospitalisation typically 24–48 hours minimum, with chest X-rays and oxygen.
• Watch for cough, lethargy, fast breathing or fever in the days following — aspiration pneumonia is common.
• Strict rest at home for 5–7 days minimum after discharge.
• Recheck X-ray as advised.

Prevention

• Pond covers, pool covers, and fenced-off water features in dog gardens.
• Life jackets for dogs around boats, rivers, and the sea — even strong swimmers.
• Cover water butts and lock down hot tub covers.
• Never let dogs run on iced-over ponds — UK winter rescue crews lose people every year retrieving dogs.
• Teach a strong recall before unleashing near water.

Breed-specific notes

• Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs) and heavy-chested breeds (Bull Terriers) are poor swimmers and tire fast.
• Old, arthritic, or visually impaired pets are at higher risk of accidental falls into ponds or pools.

Frequently asked questions

Related topics

• How to do CPR on a dog or cat
• Dog or cat with hypothermia (dangerously cold)
• Dog with water intoxication after swimming or fetching