Hypoxemia Due to Aspiration of Water in Cats
  
There are four phases in a typical drowning: breath-holding and swimming motion; water aspiration, choking, and struggling for air; vomiting; and cessation of movement followed by death. The mammalian diving reflex may occur, leading to a slowed heart rate, a halt in breathing, and blood circulation limited only to the essential organs of the body. Large volumes of water are not typically aspirated at this stage.
 
Near-drowning is determined by an event that involves prolonged submersion in water, followed by survival for at l ...read more