Dogs die due to many reasons, and drowning is one of them. While dogs can swim, there are some cases where people have lost their beloved pets due to drowning. Losing a pet is heartbreaking and knowing that your dog has suffered before dying is unbearable.
Because of this reason, some unfortunate dog owners wonder, “If my dog drowned did she suffer?”
The answer to this question depends on a number of circumstances. Although no one can say for sure if your dog suffered from drowning, the chances are good that your pet did not suffer long. And even if your dog has suffered, their suffering is over now, and they are in a better and peaceful place.
Your pet’s death is never easy. You feel a sense of responsibility for their death, but you can’t do anything to prevent the situation. You were helpless to prevent them from drowning. And while death looks terrible to a bystander, they are often quick and painless.
What Is Drowning In Dogs?
Dogs are natural swimmers and can easily swim in the water. However, sometimes they can drown in the same water due to unforeseen circumstances. When your dog inhales a good amount of water, it can die immediately due to drowning. Your pet may be unable to swim or just tire easily in water. Either way, your pet may have life-threatening conditions. Oxygen deprivation and difficulty in breathing can cause death in dogs.
If you see that your dog is drowning, seek veterinary care for your pet immediately. Remove them from the water and provide them with warmth until you can find a way to get them to the vet. Symptoms of drowning in dogs may include respiratory failure, brain swelling, and a drop in body temperature.
While a dog who is drowning will most likely die right away, a dog that inhales a small amount of water can develop breathing problems and even respiratory failure 24 hours later. The symptoms of near-drowning may not appear right away, so it is important to seek veterinary care as soon as you spot them.
If you find your pet in a pool or lake, the first step to resuscitating them is to check their breathing and make sure that they are not choking. If your pet has a short muzzle, it’s especially important that you have someone on your side driving to the rescue. As soon as you see them, you should start by clearing out the water that is blocking their airway. Larger dogs should be turned over to allow the water to drain from their lungs.
What to Do After Your Dog Drowned and Died?
After losing a dog, there are a few important steps you must take for your own sanity and peace of mind. Stop blaming yourself, seek help and honor her memory. Listed below are a few tips to help you deal with this situation. In addition to these, remember that your dog had a life worth celebrating.
- Honor Her Memory
If your beloved pet drowned and died, you may feel like you’re replacing, forgetting, or dishonoring their memory. In truth, you can never replace a dog’s memory; however, allowing another pet into your home may make you feel better. Here are some ways to honor her memory.
You can honor her memory through a tattoo. Firstly, you should allow yourself to grieve. It is perfectly natural to feel emotional after losing your dog, and you should let yourself experience these feelings. While you grieve, remember the fun times you had with them. You can also write a touching eulogy, remembering the many happy memories. Let the tears flow.
This will help you process your loss. You should also share your memories of her with others, especially those that brought you joy.
- Remember Her Life
When your dog drowns and dies, it can be difficult to know whether it was a painful death. It all depends on your circumstances. If you want to avoid feeling guilty or depressed, consider reading a book called Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die by Jon Katz.
The book prompts you to reflect on your dog’s life and whether you acted in her best interest in the end. While these thoughts can be overwhelming, they can help you move past feelings of guilt and move forward. After all, a dog’s life is worth remembering.
- Stop Blaming Yourself
You may have experienced pet loss before, and this experience can bring back memories of similar losses. Whether your pet drowned or was in some other danger, your feelings about your own actions and those of others may be painful to deal with. However, you must allow yourself to grieve and remember the joy your dog brought to your life.
When your pet drowned or died, you might have felt guilty, angry, or depressed. You might also blame yourself for their death. Instead of being a victim of your own actions, try to see the situation from the perspective of growth and acceptance. You may have made a mistake, but you did what you could in the circumstances.
- Seek Out Help
If your dog drowned and died, you are likely devastated. The loss of your pet is devastating and can leave you feeling guilty and depressed. If you have been left unable to find closure for this tragic event, you should seek help from a bereavement service.
A bereavement service can help you vent your feelings and find closure for the loss of your pet. It is important to get some help after your pet drowns so that you can get on with your life.
- Open Your Heart Again
The loss of your beloved pet is devastating. You will be surprised to experience deep grief and sadness even before you lose the animal. Some people may think that you are overreacting. Others may even try to rush the grieving process, thinking that you will get over it as soon as possible. While this approach may be helpful in the short term, it is likely to come back to haunt you later.
To get through this difficult time, open your heart again to the memories of your beloved dog. Remember that your dog’s spirit will live on in your heart, no matter what. No one can take away the memories you have of him. You’ll never be able to replace your dog, but allowing another to live in your home may make you feel better.
Clinical Signs of Drowning in Dogs
Dogs can drown and die just like humans, but they don’t have the physiological characteristics to withstand prolonged submersion. Coldwater rapidly decreases the body temperature, and dogs typically die within six to eight minutes of submersion. Once unconscious, irreversible damage occurs. A veterinarian should immediately assess your dog.
Most drowning cases in dogs are accidental or unintentional, and the resulting trauma is often quite significant. When your dog drowns, he will face a variety of issues, including lung collapse. It is essential to quickly remove the water, as it can break down lung tissue and cause the animal’s heart to stop beating. In some cases, the dog may even be unconscious. The animal may also experience shock or go into cardiac arrest.
If your pet gets into a pool or a swimming pool, the most common signs of drowning are heart failure, lung damage, and seizures. Oxygen deprivation can cause cell death, and your pet will likely not be able to swim or survive for long. While all pets are vulnerable to drowning, older animals tend to have less endurance and can’t stay in the water for very long. Young animals may also lack the muscle strength and endurance to swim as far.
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years, I’ve tried many different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have the utmost praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that it requires a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
