Can Dogs Get Colds

Dog colds are usually caused by a sudden change in the weather, a big difference in temperature between day and night, not blow-drying or drying the fur in time after bathing, or the dog being caught in the rain or wind after a lot of exercise. Symptoms of a cold in dogs may include loss of spirit, loss of appetite, shy and watery eyes, a cough, and an elevated body temperature. During a dog cold, you should keep your dog warm, reduce the number of times your dog goes outside, and provide nutritious food to help your dog recover. If your dog's cold symptoms are severe or last for a long time, you should take him to the doctor. Measures to prevent dogs from catching colds include adding more clothing to keep them warm, keeping the room warm and dry, increasing outdoor exercise to strengthen their body, bathing them scientifically, and keeping them up-to-date with vaccinations.

Why Does a Dog Have a Cold?

The main causes of dog colds include the following:

• Viral infections

Dog colds can be caused by distemper virus, parainfluenza virus, bacterial infections, mycoplasma, and chlamydial infections.

• Exposure to pathogens

Contact with a sick dog or living in a dirty environment can increase the likelihood of catching a cold. 

• Catching a cold

When there is a big difference in temperature in spring and fall, the cold may be triggered by not blow-drying the dog in time after bathing or getting cold in the cold wind. 

• Decreased immunity

Insufficient nutrition or lack of proper exercise will lead to weakening of the dog's resistance and make it easy to catch a cold. 

• Climate change

When there is a sudden change in temperature or a big difference in temperature between day and night, your dog's respiratory resistance will be weakened and it will be easy to be attacked by pathogens. 

In order to prevent your dog from catching a cold, you should pay attention to keeping warm, keeping the environment clean, avoiding your dog from getting cold, and having regular vaccinations to enhance its immunity. 

What are the Different Symptoms of Dog Colds vs. Human Colds?

Common symptoms of a cold in dogs include sneezing, a runny nose (usually clear), coughing, loss of energy, loss of appetite, an elevated temperature (usually over 39°C), bloodshot eyes and tearing. If your dog is experiencing these symptoms, especially after a change in the weather or if your dog has been exposed to cold, he may have a cold. In this case, you should closely monitor your dog's symptoms and take appropriate care measures, such as providing a warm resting environment, increasing nutritional and hydration intake, and administering appropriate medication as recommended by your veterinarian. If your dog's symptoms are severe or continue without improvement, you should contact your veterinarian for professional diagnosis and treatment. There are some similarities in symptom presentation between dog colds and human colds, but there are also some differences. Here are some of the main symptoms of dog colds and how they compare to human colds.

Similar Symptoms

Sneezing: Dogs can experience sneezing when they have a cold, which is similar to what humans do when they have a cold. 
Runny Nose: Dogs may have a watery runny nose when they have a cold, which is similar to the symptoms experienced by humans when they have a cold. 
Coughing: Dogs with colds may have a cough, which is one of the common symptoms when humans have a cold. 
Fever: Dogs may have an elevated temperature when they have a cold, usually between 39 and 40°C, which is similar to the symptoms of fever when humans have a cold. 

Also Read: Valley Fever in Dogs

Different Symptoms

Difficulty in breathing: Dogs with colds may experience difficulty in breathing, which is less common in human colds. 
Loss of appetite: Dogs may lose their appetite when they have a cold, whereas human colds, while they may affect the sense of taste, do not usually result in a complete lack of eating. 
Red, swollen eyes: Dogs may have red, swollen eyes when they have a cold, which is uncommon in human colds. 
Serious complications: Dog colds can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis, whereas human colds are usually not life-threatening. 

Precautions

• Dog colds have a different virus than human colds; human colds are not contagious to dogs and vice versa.
• Dog colds should not be treated with human cold medications, as these may be toxic or inappropriate for dogs.
• If your dog is showing symptoms of a cold, you should take him or her to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Understanding these differences when dealing with dog colds is essential to providing proper care and treatment.

How to Know if Your Dog's Cold Symptoms Are a Vaccine Reaction or the Result of Another Disease?

To determine whether your dog's cold symptoms are the result of a vaccine reaction or another illness, you can observe and differentiate based on the following.

Time after vaccination

Vaccine reactions usually occur within a few hours to a few days after vaccination. If your dog develops symptoms immediately after vaccination, this may be a vaccine reaction.

Nature of symptoms

Vaccine reactions may include a mild fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, or swelling at the injection site. Other illnesses, such as colds or infectious diseases, may be accompanied by symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and flushed conjunctiva.

Severity of symptoms

Vaccine reactions are usually mild and dogs recover on their own with proper rest and observation. If your dog's symptoms are severe or don't continue to improve, this may be a sign of other illnesses.

Overall health of the dog

If the dog was healthy before the vaccination and suddenly develops cold symptoms, this may not be a vaccine reaction. If the dog already had health problems before the vaccination, the vaccine may have triggered the symptoms.

Veterinarian's Diagnosis

If you are unsure whether your dog's symptoms are a vaccine reaction or some other illness, the safest course of action is to consult a veterinarian. A veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis by examining your dog's symptoms, performing necessary tests, and assessing your dog's overall health.

Keep in mind that a prompt veterinary consultation is vital to ensuring your dog's health. If you are concerned about your dog's symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

How to Take Care of a Dog with a Cold?

Daily care for your dog when he has a cold includes the following.

• Keep warm

Ensure your dog has a warm environment to rest, avoid sleeping directly on the floor, you can use blankets or dog beds to increase comfort. 

• Medication

You can use pet-specific cold and flu medication. If your dog has a cold and cough with phlegm, you can use Noxfen to dissolve the phlegm and stop the cough. For severe coughs, anti-inflammatory and cough suppressant medications may be needed. 

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• Diet management

Provide highly nutritious, light foods such as unsalted chicken broth and lean meat porridge to help your dog regain its strength. Also, make sure your dog has adequate water intake. Goat milk powder can be added to the water in moderation to improve palatability. 

• Limit activities

Reduce your dog's outdoor activities and give it enough rest to help it recover. 

• Avoid bathing

Avoid bathing your dog during a cold to avoid chilling the body or aggravating the cold symptoms. 

• Clean the nasal passages

If your dog has a runny nose, it should be cleaned promptly to keep breathing clear. 

• Monitor symptoms

Closely observe your dog's temperature and other cold symptoms, such as mental state, appetite, coughing, etc., and record them promptly. 

• Seek timely medical attention

If your dog's symptoms are severe or persistently unimproved, you should take him/her to a veterinary hospital for professional treatment in a timely manner. 

Please note that human cold and flu medications should not be freely given to your dog, as certain ingredients are harmful to dogs. It is best to consult your veterinarian before using any medication. With the above care measures, you can help your dog recover faster.

How to Prevent Dog Colds Effectively?

In order to effectively prevent your dog from catching a cold, you can take the following measures.

Provide a warm sleeping environment: make sure your dog has a warm kennel to avoid sleeping directly on the cold floor, you can add warm tools such as blankets in the kennel. 

• Keep warm indoors

In cold weather, heaters can be used to raise the indoor temperature, but be sure to ventilate regularly to keep the air fresh. 

• Keeping the Air Circulating

Even in winter, it is important to maintain indoor air circulation to minimize the growth of cold pathogens. 

• Dress appropriately

For some dog breeds that are particularly afraid of the cold, you can dress them appropriately to maintain their body temperature when they go outside in winter. 

• Provide warm water

Winter is a dry climate, and providing warm water can help keep your dog hydrated while protecting gastrointestinal health. 

• Pay Attention to Dietary Nutrition

Provide a high-protein dog food to ensure your dog gets enough nutrients to maintain body temperature. 

• Avoid contact with sick dogs

Minimize your dog's exposure to dogs with coughs or other respiratory symptoms to reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as canine influenza. 

• Prepare cold and flu medication

Keep some of your dog's common cold and flu medications at home, but consult your veterinarian before using them. 

By taking the above steps, you can help your dog reduce the risk of catching a cold and keep him healthy.

How to Improve Your Dog's Immunity?

Balanced diet

Ensuring that your dog's diet contains enough protein, vitamins and minerals can be achieved by providing high quality dog food and the right amount of fresh meat, vegetables and fruits. 

Regular Vaccinations

Vaccinations are an important means of boosting your dog's immunity and can help them fight off a wide range of infectious diseases. 

Moderate Exercise

Proper exercise can enhance your dog's physical fitness and immunity, and it is recommended to take your dog outside every day. 

Probiotics

Probiotics help maintain your dog's intestinal health, which in turn improves overall immunity. 

Pay attention to environmental hygiene

Keep your dog's living environment clean and dry to minimize the breeding of pathogens. 

Regular deworming

Deworming reduces the impact of parasites on your dog's health and helps maintain a good immune status. 

Provide sufficient water

Keeping your dog's body hydrated and balanced helps the metabolism and immune system function properly. 

Avoid Stress

Reduce stress in your dog as stress can weaken the immune system. 

By doing the above, you can effectively improve your dog's immunity and reduce the risk of illness.

Conclusion

While dogs can get colds, these infections are generally mild and can be managed with proper care. Understanding the causes and symptoms of colds in dogs allows you to provide the best care and take preventive measures to keep your dog healthy. If your dog shows persistent or severe symptoms, always seek advice from your veterinarian to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment.