Drowning or Near: First Aid

Drowning or Near Drowning: First Aid - Veterinary Partner - VIN

Suffocation by drowning is caused by the lungs filling with water or other fluid. Some pets can seemingly recover from a near-drowning incident, only to succumb to a collection of fluid in the lungs (known as pulmonary edema) hours later. This phenomenon is known as ‘dry drowning’ and can be fatal. For this reason, all pets that have fallen into a pool or other body of water should be evaluated by a veterinarian and observed for complications.