Posted by Russell Gibbons on 14th Apr 2016

Can dogs catch a cold?

IT'S that time of year again when winter is just around the corner and the dreaded cold, or flu, seems to show itself with great vigor?

I know a cold can make me feel pretty lousy but what about your puppy?

We all know our puppies are great at catching a ball but can they catch a cold?

Can your Puppy catch a cold from you OR can you catch a cold from them?

Good questions indeed! The bottom line is YES; dogs can catch colds.

However they can’t catch your cold and you can’t catch their colds. No flu viruses or cold bacteria have been discovered to cross between species as yet.

Essentially, your puppy can get a cold which is predominantly an upper respiratory infection which can be caused by a virus or a bacteria or, indeed, a fungal infection.

Most commonly, it is caused by a virus of some sort.

This infection can lead to a cough, some nasal discharge, sneezing, slight temperature, loss of appetite etc…..Basically very similar to our symptoms when we catch a cold!

So, now that we understand that a dog can indeed catch a cold, how do we treat it?

Well, guess what? Yep, you got it, you treat it in a similar manner with which we would treat ourselves;

Plenty of fluids.
Plenty of rest.
Separate from other puppies in the house. This is to help prevent it spreading.
Keep puppy warm.
Limit outside adventuring whilst sick.This is because cold weather can cause the tubes in the lungs to constrict.This makes it harder to breathe and then stimulates the cough.
Provide extra nutrition. This gives support to the immune system. More fresh food. Even make a broth with loads of vitamins and minerals in it like a chicken soup?

Check out more at this link.

The important thing to remember is this; a normal cold with a dog should only last a week. Any longer and you should get to a vet and check it out!

The reason this is important is because there are a number of very serious conditions which have similar symptoms to the common cold in a dog yet has very serious consequences.

These conditions include:

Parainfluenza
- The main symptom is a nasty, chronic, cough.
Kennel Cough
- Caused by two major viruses
  - Adenovirus Type-2
  - Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria
- Watch for a rasping cough with phlem.
Canine Distemper

Many of these are vaccinated against however it is still important to keep an eye out and not to mistake having a cold which could actually be something much worse.

So there we have it. Yes, our dogs can catch a cold. And Yes, like us, you have to be careful it doesn’t develop into something worse. And just like with us, it’s always best to see your vet for the most appropriate advice.

Remember one thing- if you have a crook puppy, give them one of our pet treats to cheer them up! We love a sneaking little something special when we feel unwell so why wouldn't they?

Have a great week and all the best from the team at Huds and Toke.

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