Golden Retriever Nearly Drowned After a Scary Accident—A Heart-Stopping Lesson in Dog CPR

Maggie and Annie, two Golden Retrievers, were enjoying a day at the beach with their parents when unexpectedly, the fun turned into a nightmare. Maggie, a dog rescued from China’s meat market went through a horrible ordeal, giving pet parents everywhere a lesson in water safety and dog CPR.

The dogs went on a boat with their parents and they anchored on a beach in Florida. When they landed on the beach, the parents, Bobby and Diana removed the dogs life vests so they could enjoy freely while rolling in the sand, running around, and swimming.

Maggie Drowned While Parents Were Distracted

When Bobby went out to swim with his snorkeling gear, the dogs followed him, and the trio swam together for a while. A few minutes later, Diana saw Maggie swimming back to the shore alone while Annie and her dad were still swimming together.

Just then, a group of wave runners approached the beach which distracted both dog parents. Bobby and Annie had stopped swimming while they waited for the wave runners to depart. As a result, both parents had taken their eyes off Maggie for a minute.

When Diana turned to look back for Maggie, she saw her jerking frantically while submerged under about 1 foot of water. The dog mom immediately rushed to help Maggie and drag her out. Bobby and a couple at the beach also arrived to help the dog.

By the time everyone reached Maggie, she had stopped moving and seemed lifeless. Her tongue was blue while her eyes were fixed and glazed. The poor Goldie girl had drowned.

Saving The Drowned Dog With CPR

The boys turned Maggie upside down and pumped water out of her mouth and nose. Bobby started doing CPR since he had received CPR training from college being a camp leader. However, he didn’t know how to perform it on dogs.

After five minutes of CPR, Maggie was still motionless. Her family assumed she had passed away. Following a few minutes, the dog wheezed some air on her own. Her gums started showing some color and her eyes flickered. Miraculously, the dog was alive. The account, @meatmaggie shared the story on

Instagram.

Subsequently, Maggie was taken to the ER, where her vitals were checked and X-rays were performed. In addition, she was placed in an oxygen chamber to assist her in breathing with water in her lungs. She has been prescribed 10 days of antibiotics to prevent pneumonia. 

The good news is that Maggie slowly recovered. A few weeks later, the parents took her and her sister out to swim again on the beach. This time they didn’t remove the life vests and Maggie was happy to be back again in the water. Even though she was a bit cautious, she still enjoyed a ton, not showing any signs of PTSD.

This incident reminded us of how important it is to maintain all safety precautions while taking your dogs swimming even if they are natural swimmers, such as putting life vests on at all times, never taking eyes off them, and knowing how to do CPR on a dog. 

What is Dog CPR?

A veterinarian, Victoria Higgs, says, “Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or dog CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure that includes both chest compressions and mouth-to-snout breathing.”

Chest compressions replicate the heart’s pumping action, circulating oxygenated blood and essential nutrients to vital organs. Meanwhile, mouth-to-snout breathing simulates natural lung function, enabling oxygen absorption and carbon dioxide removal.

As per ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, “Just like their human counterparts, when a dog’s heart stops beating, or they stop breathing, it causes oxygen levels in the blood to drop in a hurry. Without oxygen, the kidney, liver, and other vital organs can fail.” When respiratory failure strikes, swift action is vital to prevent brain damage and save your furry friend’s life.After reading Maggie’s story, it is natural for a dog parent to look up, “How do you perform dog CPR” or “How do you do CPR on a dog.” The entire CPR procedure is detailed below, as described by Dr. Higgs:

1. Positioning:

• Lay your dog on their side on a firm surface with their spine toward you.

• Kneel beside them with your shoulders directly above your hands, elbows locked, and core muscles engaged.
• Place your hands one on top of the other, interlocked or interdigitated.

The location of your hands depends on your dog’s size and shape:

• Medium Dogs (21-50 lbs): Over the widest part of the chest
• Large and Giant Dogs (51+ lbs): Over the widest part of the chest
• Keel-Shaped Dogs (e.g., Greyhounds): Over the heart
• Flat-Chested Dogs (e.g., English Bulldogs): Across the chest, over the breastbone, with the dog positioned on its back

2. Chest Compressions:

• Perform compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, regardless of size or breed.
• Compress to one-third to one-half the width of the chest, allowing full rise between compressions.
• To locate the heart, pull the dog’s elbow one-third up on the chest.
• For performing CPR on small dogs (under 15 lbs), use a one-hand method. Wrap your hand around the breastbone with your thumb over the heart, compressing toward your fingers.

3. Mouth-to-Snout Breathing

• Close the dog’s mouth with one hand.
• Keep the head flat with the neck extended.
• Seal your mouth over both nostrils.
• Blow quickly twice into the nostrils, ensuring chest rise.

4. CPR Cycle

• Perform 30 chest compressions.
• Pause for five seconds.
• Through the mouth-to-snout technique, give two quick breaths.
• Repeat the above steps.
• If possible, switch with a helper every two minutes.

Stop giving CPR to your dog when they start breathing on their own or becomes conscious.

Pet CPR Certification

If you are thinking of taking a dog CPR class or a pet CPR course and you are constantly searching for pet CPR and first aid classes near me, you can consider getting a pet CPR and first aid certification. According to the job portal, Indeed, “A pet CPR and first aid certification is a document a person receives after completing a training program that prepares them to identify common pet health issues and administer life-saving care to pets during emergency situations.”

By obtaining this certification, individuals demonstrate proficiency in essential first-aid procedures and life-saving techniques for pets in distress. They acquire hands-on experience in:

• Emergency first aid procedures
• CPR for pets requiring breathing assistance
• Techniques to address hyperthermia (heat-related illnesses), hypothermia (cold-related illnesses), seizures, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)

Key Topics Covered in Certification Programs:

• Animal vital signs monitoring
• Preventative care strategies
• Respiratory condition management
• Cardiac emergency response
• Wound treatment and management
• Common poison identification and response

This certification empowers animal caregivers, pet owners, and professionals to provide timely, effective assistance in a medical emergency.

To get the pet CPR certification for any pet emergency, you can follow these steps:

• Research and Enroll: Find accredited pet CPR training programs, such as those offered by the American Red Cross. Visit their website or contact local vet clinics and animal shelters.
• Complete the Aid Course: Finish coursework, which may include online or in-person classes. Expect interactive training exercises, culminating in final assessments.
• Renew Certification: Update your certification every few years, as required by organizations or employers, to maintain lifesaving skills.