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Ways To Keep Your Dog From Drowning

Estimates have the number of dogs and cats in North America at 58,000,000 and 62,000,000, respectively, and it’s a painful truth that thousands of them are victims of accidental drownings annually. Due to the fact that many people do not report these drownings, there is no way to know exactly how many pets actually die this way. Although, 99 % of dogs can swim, we have a false sense of security when we see our dogs running and jumping in and out of the water at the lake or our back yard pool. A significant percentage of dogs and even some cats are only able to swim a little while before they become fatigued. With this in mind, these animals go into a panic state when they are unable to quickly find a way to get their paws on solid ground. This panic is what causes them to drown. But it is more than just a problem for pets, for loving pet parents will selflessly and without hesitation dive into a frozen lake or rapidly flowing river in an attempt to rescue their animal.

How can we prevent our pet from suffering this horrible fate? Here are a few valuable tips:

1. Never take for granted that your dog knows how to swim.

2. Keep a close eye on your aging pet. They cannot swim as long or as far as they once did.

3. Never throw a dog or cat in water. This will cause them to panic from the surprise.

4. Obtain a canine flotation device (CFD) or a pet life jacket for your pet. Ensure that they are wearing the device whenever they are close to the water. There are many times that a pet has fallen of a dock or moving boat without anyone knowing.

5. Solar blankets and pool covers look like solid surfaces to your pet. If your animals are around the pool, it is a good idea to remove them if possible to avoid them walking onto it.

6. Install a pet safety gate near the pool area.

7. Check to ensure that your pet does not have an entry into your neighbor’s pool area.

8. A pool alarm is a good idea for your pool or pond.

9. Don’t let your pet play or walk near fast flowing water.

10. Make sure your pet stays away from frozen lakes and rivers.

Seeing your pet drown and the awful guilt that is associated with it can be overwhelming and very difficult or impossible to recover from. I strongly encourage you to have a look around your property for obvious water hazards. Whether it is summer or winter, you need to drown proof your home as well as your vacation property NOW. If your pet is going to be anywhere near water, make sure they are wearing a canine floatation device or pet life jacket.

Jake writes articles on the large dog life jacket and many dog life jacket reviews.

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