Drowning and Suffocation
Drowning and Suffocation
Any condition that prevents oxygen from getting to the tissues causes suffocation. The most common emergencies in this category are drowning, smothering in an airtight space, being overcome by toxic fumes (smoke, gasoline,
propane, refrigerants, solvents, and others), choking from a foreign body in
the throat, being poisoned by carbon monoxide, and suffering a penetrating
wound of the chest.
Signs of oxygen deprivation (called hypoxia) are extreme anxiety, straining
to breathe, and gasping for air (often with the head and neck extended), followed by loss of consciousness as the dog succumbs. The tongue and mucous
membranes turn blue, a condition called cyanosis.
One exception to the blue color of hypoxia is carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide turns the blood and mucous membranes bright red. Carbon
monoxide poisoning is seen in dogs who are trapped in burning buildings,
transported in the trunk of a car, or left in an unventilated enclosure such as a
garage with the car engine turned on.
Although most dogs are good swimmers, drowning can occur if a dog swims
too far out and becomes fatigued, falls through ice, is caught in a flood, or is
unable to climb out of a swimming pool.
The sudden onset of gasping and struggling to breathe in a healthy dog suggests a foreign object lodged in the throat (see Choking, page 316).
Treatment: The immediate need is to reestablish breathing with fresh air.
If breathing is shallow or absent, begin artificial respiration (see page 8). As
soon as possible, transport your dog to the nearest veterinary facility for ventilation support.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is frequently associated with smoke inhalation
and burns of the mouth and throat. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin
and blocks the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. Even though the dog is breathing deeply, oxygen transport will be compromised for several hours. Breathing
20 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
a high concentration of oxygen helps to overcome these effects. A veterinarian
will be able to provide this therapy using an oxygen mask, a nasal tube, or an
oxygen cage.
If the dog has an open wound in the chest (pneumothorax) with air sucking
in and out, pinch the skin together over the wound to seal the chest.
Maintain the seal with a bandage wrapped around the chest and transport the
dog to the nearest veterinary facility.
The first step in treating drowning is to remove water from the dog’s lungs.
Hold the unconscious dog upside down by his middle (hold a small dog by his
back legs) and allow as much water as possible to run out his nose and mouth.
Then quickly position the dog on his right side with his head lower than his
chest (accomplish this by placing a blanket or coat beneath his hindquarters)
and begin artificial respiration. Check for a pulse. If there is none, begin CPR
(see page 8). Continue until the dog breathes on his own or until no pulse is
felt for 10 minutes. Dogs who drown in cold water are often hypothermic and
can sometimes be resuscitated even though they have been under water for a
considerable time.
Following resuscitation, the dog should be seen and treated by a veterinarian. Inhalation pneumonia is a frequent complication
Any condition that prevents oxygen from getting to the tissues causes suffocation. The most common emergencies in this category are drowning, smothering in an airtight space, being overcome by toxic fumes (smoke, gasoline,
propane, refrigerants, solvents, and others), choking from a foreign body in
the throat, being poisoned by carbon monoxide, and suffering a penetrating
wound of the chest.
Signs of oxygen deprivation (called hypoxia) are extreme anxiety, straining
to breathe, and gasping for air (often with the head and neck extended), followed by loss of consciousness as the dog succumbs. The tongue and mucous
membranes turn blue, a condition called cyanosis.
One exception to the blue color of hypoxia is carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide turns the blood and mucous membranes bright red. Carbon
monoxide poisoning is seen in dogs who are trapped in burning buildings,
transported in the trunk of a car, or left in an unventilated enclosure such as a
garage with the car engine turned on.
Although most dogs are good swimmers, drowning can occur if a dog swims
too far out and becomes fatigued, falls through ice, is caught in a flood, or is
unable to climb out of a swimming pool.
The sudden onset of gasping and struggling to breathe in a healthy dog suggests a foreign object lodged in the throat (see Choking, page 316).
Treatment: The immediate need is to reestablish breathing with fresh air.
If breathing is shallow or absent, begin artificial respiration (see page 8). As
soon as possible, transport your dog to the nearest veterinary facility for ventilation support.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is frequently associated with smoke inhalation
and burns of the mouth and throat. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin
and blocks the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. Even though the dog is breathing deeply, oxygen transport will be compromised for several hours. Breathing
20 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
a high concentration of oxygen helps to overcome these effects. A veterinarian
will be able to provide this therapy using an oxygen mask, a nasal tube, or an
oxygen cage.
If the dog has an open wound in the chest (pneumothorax) with air sucking
in and out, pinch the skin together over the wound to seal the chest.
Maintain the seal with a bandage wrapped around the chest and transport the
dog to the nearest veterinary facility.
The first step in treating drowning is to remove water from the dog’s lungs.
Hold the unconscious dog upside down by his middle (hold a small dog by his
back legs) and allow as much water as possible to run out his nose and mouth.
Then quickly position the dog on his right side with his head lower than his
chest (accomplish this by placing a blanket or coat beneath his hindquarters)
and begin artificial respiration. Check for a pulse. If there is none, begin CPR
(see page 8). Continue until the dog breathes on his own or until no pulse is
felt for 10 minutes. Dogs who drown in cold water are often hypothermic and
can sometimes be resuscitated even though they have been under water for a
considerable time.
Following resuscitation, the dog should be seen and treated by a veterinarian. Inhalation pneumonia is a frequent complication
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