There are not any firm facts about it, but the Humane Society estimates that there are at least 5,000 or more dog drowning deaths per year. Like humans, dogs can and do drown nearly everywhere – the beach, bathtubs, lakes, streams, and unfortunately, many of them drown in family swimming pools. In this short article, I wanted to make all of you more broadly aware of some of these dog drowning facts.

In this blog, I have previously written some articles on why and how many of our family pets have drowned in the family pool. You may want to read some of those other articles.

Most dogs can swim… not all, but most. So, I find many homeowners bitterly confused when one of their pet dogs drown. When you finish reading this article, you will have a better idea on how that can happen.

Dog Drowning Facts

If you think all dogs know how to swim, you are wrong! It is true that most dog breeds are capable of and do know how to swim. Some breeds of dogs are really good at it such as the Labrador Retriever, the Standard Poodle, and the Irish Water Spaniel. These breeds of dogs are natural at it.

Some breeds of dogs, however, are very poor at swimming. Examples of these are the Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, Corgis, Basset Hounds and Bull Terriers. These breeds make wonderfully, cute pets, but swimming is difficult for them.

These breeds all have short-hind legs… and, that is part of the problem. The biggest problem with these dogs are their somewhat flat faces, short necks, and broad-barrel shaped bodies. Keeping their faces and nose out of the water is difficult for them.

Being able to swim is not often the real problem for dogs. It is getting out of the swimming pool and/or body of water that is the real problem. Take a look at your swimming pool, do you have a submerged concrete and/or steel step that your dog can use to step on just before they get out of the pool? Many dogs that drown can swim, but they are unable to get out of the water. They can paddle water and stay afloat only for so long! After that, they sink and drown.

Many dog owners don’t know about it, but many pet dogs die from “dry drowning”. Have you ever heard of this? There are no national statistics on this, I can only tell you at your local vet will tell you that it does happen. And, it happens too frequently!

Many dogs just love the water… particularly in warm places like here in Houston. Some dogs will spend hours in the water. They just don’t seem to ever want to get out of the water. That is all well and fine, but while they are playing in the water, they are likely to be inhaling some of that water.

“Dry drowning” occurs sometimes hours or even days after the dog gets out of the water. The water that the dog has inhaled while they were fatigued gets into their lungs making it difficult for them to breathe. This leads to “dry drowning”, and it is a terrible way to lose a much loved pet.

Watch your dog in situations like these and seek a veterinarian immediately if you see any reason to be concerned.

Put a Safety Fence Around Your Home Pool

These are all very good reasons to put a secure, self-closing and self-locking swimming pool fence around your home pool. Life Saver Of Houston sells and installs one of the best, if not the BEST, swimming pool fence systems found on today’s market. The fence that Life Saver sells is removeable and is covered by a life-time guarantee. On top of this, Life Saver Of Houston’s reputation on the market is unbeatable! Check out all of their Google reviews from their past customers.

Give Wayne, the owner of Life Saver Of Houston a call. He will be happy to show you why Life Saver is known as the selling the best home pool fence on the market. And, while he is at your home, he will be happy to give you a non-binding FREE QUOTE. Give him a call at (832) 367-2377 or you can email him.