Dogs
Dogs can contract a cold by being in proximity with a dog who is already infected. Along with this, stress, low immunity levels, and inhospitable weather conditions can be additional contributing factors.
But most pet owners usually have trouble discerning a common cold from a serious ailment. To make things a little easy for you, we have here a list of symptoms indicating that your dog has a cold.
Symptoms of Common Cold in Dogs -
The answer is a resounding 'no'. Dogs can pass viruses among themselves, but a human-to-dog transmission is unlikely. This is because the virus that gets a dog down with a cold is different from the one that affects humans. Therefore, owners should not be concerned about either, passing this illness onto their pets, or contracting it from them.
Helping Your Dog Recover
Increasing Fluid Intake
If your dog has common cold, the simplest way to get rid of it is by feeding him/her lots of nutritious liquids. Chicken broth, for instance will work wonders for your dog too.
Steam Therapy
Try to get your dog to inhale steaming water which will unclog the sinuses. Bring over a tub of hot water, and gently lead the dog to inhale the vapors. Be careful not to allow the dog to go too close to the steaming water.
Boost Immunity
If your dog is prone to catching a cold, use preventive measures, like feeding him/her immunity-boosting food items. This in turn, will keep the germs and bacteria at bay, which can otherwise lead to a cold. A good immune system will ensure that the dog is better equipped to cope with fluctuations in the weather, which is also a common cause behind contracting a cold.
Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapies help in boosting a dog's immune system. Provide the dogs with vitamins A, C and E when he/she's suffering from a bout of cold. By including these vitamins in the diet, the immune system will become strong, enabling the dog to fight off most illnesses.
Cough Suppressant
If these home remedies don't work, call your vet about prescribing medication. Cough suppressants can be given to provide temporary relief. Although they may not be able to get rid of the symptoms entirely, they can be given to minimize the discomfort.
Preventive Measures
It would be a good idea to keep the dog indoors when the mercury dips. This is to protect the dog from getting out in an environment where it's easy to catch a cold. Cover your pet with a warm blanket to keep him/her warm during the winter months.
Other Respiratory Illnesses in Dogs
Canine Parainfluenza
This respiratory illness produces symptoms similar to common cold in humans. It is possible to treat canine parainfluenza with the use of home remedies in the early stages. If symptoms persist, you need to speak to the vet.
Kennel Cough
The symptoms of kennel cough include a harsh-sounding cough and discharge of phlegm. Kennel cough, in most cases, is caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and Adenovirus type 2. Adenovirus type 2 is known to produce cold-like symptoms in dogs.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia in dogs occurs when the respiratory infection and cold do not resolve on their own, and are left untreated. Pneumonia causes an inflammation of the lungs and its symptoms include difficulty in breathing and chronic coughing. Dogs suffering from pneumonia need immediate medical care.
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a very grave illness, so ensure that your dog is vaccinated against this disease. It is highly infectious. Canine distemper produces symptoms such as coughing and sneezing along with gastrointestinal disturbance. It weakens the dog's immunity and can prove fatal.
Other Illnesses
In some rare cases, cold-like symptoms may be caused by certain parasites, which enter the heart and the lungs. Fungal infections, which occur when the fungal parasites get into the lungs, produce symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, etc.
If your dog's condition does not improve, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as dehydration, infrequent urination, poor appetite, vomiting, etc., and if the dog seems perpetually distressed, it is recommended you contact a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, if the dog is very old or very young, it is best to consult a veterinarian, rather than attempting to cure him/her at home.
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for the advice of a veterinarian.
- What To Do If Your Dog Gets A Cold
Dogs are more exposed to germs and microorganisms than human beings. So if you are wondering can dogs get colds, then the answer is yes they can and in fact cold is very common among dogs. Dogs may catch cold because of cold weather, wet conditions...
- Dog Flu Symptoms
Canine influenza or dog flu is caused by the influenza virus A, which is known as H3N8. It is an airborne virus and hence, usually gets transmitted by coughing or sneezing. This highly contagious dog flu virus can also spread through direct contact...
- How To Get Rid Of A Dog's Cold
Similar to humans, dogs do contract upper respiratory tract infections like common cold and flu. The causal pathogens are different from those responsible for human cold. In majority of the cases, parainfluenza virus and coronavirus group 2 are responsible...
- Canine Cold Remedies
Canine cold is caused by a viral infection that attacks the upper respiratory tract of the dogs. The virus is highly contagious in nature. It may get transmitted from an infected dog to others through direct contact or it may get an air borne infection...
- Can Dogs Get Colds From Humans?
Dogs have a way of becoming a part of our lives. We tend to become so attached to our dogs that we do not just consider them as pets, but as our babies. But what if we fall ill and unknowingly pass on the illness to our dear pets? On a serious note,...
Dogs
Can Dogs Get Colds?
Dogs can contract a cold by being in proximity with a dog who is already infected. Along with this, stress, low immunity levels, and inhospitable weather conditions can be additional contributing factors.
But most pet owners usually have trouble discerning a common cold from a serious ailment. To make things a little easy for you, we have here a list of symptoms indicating that your dog has a cold.
Symptoms of Common Cold in Dogs -
- Coughing
- Runny eyes
- Yellowish-green discharge from the nose
- Frequent sneezing
- Lethargy
The answer is a resounding 'no'. Dogs can pass viruses among themselves, but a human-to-dog transmission is unlikely. This is because the virus that gets a dog down with a cold is different from the one that affects humans. Therefore, owners should not be concerned about either, passing this illness onto their pets, or contracting it from them.
Helping Your Dog Recover
Increasing Fluid Intake
If your dog has common cold, the simplest way to get rid of it is by feeding him/her lots of nutritious liquids. Chicken broth, for instance will work wonders for your dog too.
Steam Therapy
Try to get your dog to inhale steaming water which will unclog the sinuses. Bring over a tub of hot water, and gently lead the dog to inhale the vapors. Be careful not to allow the dog to go too close to the steaming water.
Boost Immunity
If your dog is prone to catching a cold, use preventive measures, like feeding him/her immunity-boosting food items. This in turn, will keep the germs and bacteria at bay, which can otherwise lead to a cold. A good immune system will ensure that the dog is better equipped to cope with fluctuations in the weather, which is also a common cause behind contracting a cold.
Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapies help in boosting a dog's immune system. Provide the dogs with vitamins A, C and E when he/she's suffering from a bout of cold. By including these vitamins in the diet, the immune system will become strong, enabling the dog to fight off most illnesses.
Cough Suppressant
If these home remedies don't work, call your vet about prescribing medication. Cough suppressants can be given to provide temporary relief. Although they may not be able to get rid of the symptoms entirely, they can be given to minimize the discomfort.
Preventive Measures
It would be a good idea to keep the dog indoors when the mercury dips. This is to protect the dog from getting out in an environment where it's easy to catch a cold. Cover your pet with a warm blanket to keep him/her warm during the winter months.
Other Respiratory Illnesses in Dogs
Canine Parainfluenza
This respiratory illness produces symptoms similar to common cold in humans. It is possible to treat canine parainfluenza with the use of home remedies in the early stages. If symptoms persist, you need to speak to the vet.
Kennel Cough
The symptoms of kennel cough include a harsh-sounding cough and discharge of phlegm. Kennel cough, in most cases, is caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and Adenovirus type 2. Adenovirus type 2 is known to produce cold-like symptoms in dogs.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia in dogs occurs when the respiratory infection and cold do not resolve on their own, and are left untreated. Pneumonia causes an inflammation of the lungs and its symptoms include difficulty in breathing and chronic coughing. Dogs suffering from pneumonia need immediate medical care.
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a very grave illness, so ensure that your dog is vaccinated against this disease. It is highly infectious. Canine distemper produces symptoms such as coughing and sneezing along with gastrointestinal disturbance. It weakens the dog's immunity and can prove fatal.
Other Illnesses
In some rare cases, cold-like symptoms may be caused by certain parasites, which enter the heart and the lungs. Fungal infections, which occur when the fungal parasites get into the lungs, produce symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, etc.
If your dog's condition does not improve, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as dehydration, infrequent urination, poor appetite, vomiting, etc., and if the dog seems perpetually distressed, it is recommended you contact a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, if the dog is very old or very young, it is best to consult a veterinarian, rather than attempting to cure him/her at home.
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for the advice of a veterinarian.
- What To Do If Your Dog Gets A Cold
Dogs are more exposed to germs and microorganisms than human beings. So if you are wondering can dogs get colds, then the answer is yes they can and in fact cold is very common among dogs. Dogs may catch cold because of cold weather, wet conditions...
- Dog Flu Symptoms
Canine influenza or dog flu is caused by the influenza virus A, which is known as H3N8. It is an airborne virus and hence, usually gets transmitted by coughing or sneezing. This highly contagious dog flu virus can also spread through direct contact...
- How To Get Rid Of A Dog's Cold
Similar to humans, dogs do contract upper respiratory tract infections like common cold and flu. The causal pathogens are different from those responsible for human cold. In majority of the cases, parainfluenza virus and coronavirus group 2 are responsible...
- Canine Cold Remedies
Canine cold is caused by a viral infection that attacks the upper respiratory tract of the dogs. The virus is highly contagious in nature. It may get transmitted from an infected dog to others through direct contact or it may get an air borne infection...
- Can Dogs Get Colds From Humans?
Dogs have a way of becoming a part of our lives. We tend to become so attached to our dogs that we do not just consider them as pets, but as our babies. But what if we fall ill and unknowingly pass on the illness to our dear pets? On a serious note,...