Alice White
A runny nose, watery eyes, and a lack of drive are often the first signs of a cold in dogs. Just like humans, dogs can catch a cold and then suffer from symptoms that are very similar to our two-legged friends. We will explain to you how you can recognize a cold in your fur nose and what you can do to make your four-legged friend feel better again quickly.
What to Do When Your Dog Has Cold?
- Colds manifest themselves in dogs through typical symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and tiredness.
- See a veterinarian for the best possible treatment for the sick dog. Never give your dog pain relievers or human medication.
- A dog with a cold needs a lot of rest, sleep, and warmth in order to regain its strength quickly.
- Prevent infections by strengthening your four-legged friend’s immune system through a healthy diet and sufficient exercise.
Does My Dog Catch a Cold? Symptoms
If the dog has caught a cold, he will show symptoms that are typical of the common cold, but not all of them have to be pronounced. The most common symptoms of a cold are:
- Runny nose with a runny or stuffy nose.
- Sneeze.
- Severe cough, with or without sputum.
- Tiredness, sluggishness, weakness, or listlessness.
- Increased body temperature up to fever.
Just like in humans, symptoms can be mild or more pronounced and gradually develop. In order to recognize a cold, one should therefore pay attention to all possible signs and observe whether the symptoms increase and other symptoms appear.
Causes of a Cold in a Dog
Just like in humans, a dog’s cough and runny nose can have different causes. Especially in the cold season, the fur nose’s immune system is particularly challenged, as there is often a large temperature difference between the house or apartment and the outside air.
The air in heated rooms is also drier and irritates the mucous membranes, making them more susceptible to pathogens.
Stress can also cause a cold, as a stressed dog has a weakened immune system. There is also the risk of infection: dogs can become infected with the pathogens from other conspecifics who have a cold as well as from humans.
Dog Catches a Cold? Home Remedies and Medicines
Treat dogs with a cold with medication
If your dog shows typical or atypical symptoms of a cold, it is a case for the veterinarian. This can extensively examine the four-legged friend and check whether it is a harmless cold or a more serious infection. The vet can also tell you whether drug treatment with expectorants or antibiotics is necessary.
Never give your dog medication without consulting the veterinarian.
This is especially true for medicines from the medicine cabinet because many medicines for humans are poisonous for dogs, for example, the pain relievers ibuprofen and aspirin.
Caring for dogs with a cold properly
Infection is very stressful for the body. The body is weakened and working at full speed to fight the common cold. Therefore, careful handling of the sick dog is essential. Make sure that your dog has a warm and quiet place to sleep and, if necessary, give him an extra blanket. Avoid long walks, just take the dog for a short walk and then return to a warm home.
Food that is difficult to digest should now be avoided as it puts additional strain on the body. Instead of heavy meals, it is better to feed easily digestible and vitamin-rich food and always provide your dog with fresh water.
If the air is dry, it also helps to let the cold four-legged friend inhale in a box or to place bowls of water on the heaters in order to ensure a higher level of humidity and to moisten the dog’s mucous membranes.
Preventing Colds in Dogs
To prevent your dog from catching a cold in the first place, you should take preventive measures from the outset. You can strengthen the immune system of your four-legged friend by ensuring an optimal supply of important vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. If necessary, you can also use additional preparations, preferably in consultation with your veterinarian. Eat a balanced and healthy diet and ensure that your dog gets enough exercise in the fresh air.
