Cold colds in dogs: symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The dog's strong immunity is able to actively fight environmental viruses. With such protection, the dog can live for a long time without fear of catching a cold. A dog that leads a very active life can often get sick with such a disease, and it is more difficult for the body to recover. Unlike humans, animals are not able to survive even in the most extreme conditions. Therefore, even the most common cold is more difficult to tolerate. In dogs, the symptoms of the disease must be identified in time so that everything does not end in serious complications and even death.

How can a common cold be dangerous for a dog?

When a virus enters the body, it begins to fight it, producing antibodies, thus, a compensatory reaction is manifested. The vessels dilate sharply, blood flow increases, the body temperature of the animal temporarily rises. Therefore, often the dog becomes ill after a long stay in the cold. And the longer the animal is in the cold, the higher the likelihood that the disease will be more difficult to bear.

Any, even the most common, cold can develop into a pathology: pneumonia, kidney disease, rheumatism, if you do not start treating the animalimmediately after the discovery of symptoms of the disease. A frequent cold in a dog can be fraught with the fact that the immune system will decrease so much that the body will not be able to overcome even the simplest virus.

An animal with a strong immune system is not afraid of a cold. And the owner can only notice that the dog has become not as active as before, and after a couple of days its normal state returned. But any behavior that is unusual for a dog should not be ignored.

Causes of disease

A disease in a dog can be hereditary, or it can arise from the irresponsible behavior of the owners or from the prevailing circumstances. Factors that can affect a dog's he alth:

1. Pathological and catarrhal diseases are characteristic of dogs that are decorative, and those that are massively bred. Such breeds are prone to various diseases, including colds.
2. The older the dogs, the more careful care they need, because they become weaker and the protective functions of the body also weaken.
3. A dog should not lose thermoregulation. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the animal, which has just been washed or wet in the rain. If the dog is outside, where the air temperature is below room temperature or in a draft, then it is likely that it will freeze. Small breed dogs are especially at risk of hypothermia because their core body temperature is higher.
4. At the dogshould be a full life with a balanced diet. She should live in a dry room that is constantly ventilated. At the same time, the temperature in it should be comfortable for her. If these conditions are not maintained, and the dog is not vaccinated, it will be more difficult for his body to fight viruses.
5. Dogs need to interact with other dogs. But you need to be careful about individuals who are sick or not vaccinated, and contact them as little as possible, but it is better to avoid contact altogether.
6. Carriers of dangerous infections, such as fleas, worms and others, can seriously affect the state of the body, constantly oppressing it. Prevention will help get rid of such problems. Even from a young age, the dog should be periodically observed by a veterinarian. First you need to take a general blood test and show it to the veterinarian to exclude the possibility of the puppy getting sick.

But do not be afraid that a dog can catch a cold from a person. The virus will infect only the organism that suits it. Everything will depend on which bacteria attack the body during illness.

Colds in Dogs: Symptoms

How to treat this disease? Before prescribing therapy, it is necessary to accurately determine the disease. In order for the treatment to be successful, and any disease to be tolerated normally, it is necessary to make the correct diagnosis. Then the veterinarian will be able to choose a treatment that will help.

The success of therapy and the normal coping of any disease will depend on the correct diagnosis. It is important to clearly understand what the animal is sick with. itcould be something serious or a common cold in dogs. The symptoms may be similar. Therefore, it is better to know them in advance in order to competently approach the treatment of a pet.

If the dog's nose is hot and dry to the touch, the doctor should examine it. Then you need to take a temperature measurement. A hot dry nose indicates that the body temperature is elevated. This symptom is the first with a cold. Remember that a he althy dog's body temperature is 37.5-39 degrees. Also, in a sick dog, you can notice that the coat has faded.

If changes in the behavior of the pet become noticeable: it becomes less active, gets tired quickly, refuses to play, there is lethargy, then there is a cold. Dogs have strong symptoms and are hard to miss.

Snot (clear mucus) and watery eyes are another sign of a cold in dogs.

It often happens that dogs have an acute cold. How to treat the animal in such cases? When the fever starts, the dog needs to be taken to the doctor immediately.

Distinguish a cold from another illness

When the airways become inflamed, it can lead to oxygen deficiency throughout the body. This is how a cold can manifest itself in dogs. Symptoms and treatment for respiratory tract infections are the same as in the initial stage of a cold. When there is not enough oxygen, the animal feels unwell, weak, rarely convulsions. To all other features, one can add that whenARVI in dogs develops shortness of breath, breathing becomes more frequent, lymph nodes increase, sometimes conjunctivitis may occur.

Treatment recommendations

If the diagnosis is correct and the condition of the dog does not cause concern, that is, it is really a cold in dogs, home treatment can be done without the intervention of a doctor.

1. During the period of illness, the dog should be provided with warm drink, quality food. You need to refrain from playing with the animal, that is, leave it alone.
2. The temperature in the room where the pet lives should be comfortable. There should also be no drafts and dampness.
3. To keep your pet warm, you can lay a cloth that will keep warm. Small dogs may require a blanket. To prevent the dog from freezing, you can put a heating pad in its place.
4. To disperse the blood, massage will help. Therefore, to activate the forces of the body, you can stroke and scratch the animal with a soft brush.

Treatment

If a cold is diagnosed in dogs, how to treat the animal at home using medication? If the dog has normal activity and there is no refusal to eat and drink, then at the initial stage, treatment can be carried out at home: subcutaneous injection of the drug "Gamavit" (or its analogue) 1 time per day for 5 days. You also need to give the medicine "Amoxiclav" one tablet per day for 7-14 days. It is also necessary to inject Cycloferon intramuscularly for 5-7 days. If the temperature is high, then you should prickthe following medicines: "Analgin" and "Dimedrol".

But you need to watch the dog, the drugs should make the animal feel better.

If you have a strong cough, sputum and wheezing, then know that these are also characteristic signs of a disease such as a cold in dogs. How to cure an animal with such symptoms at home? Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be needed. During illness, the protective functions of the whole organism subside. And during the period of taking antibiotics, the intestinal microflora is also disturbed. Therefore, the dog needs to be given a medicine that will return everything back to normal.

Tips for the owner

Self-medication has never been successful, especially when dogs get colds. Symptoms can be misdiagnosed, and there is a chance that the animal will only get worse. When a pet is sick and it is possible to call a veterinarian at home, then you need to use this service. Upon arrival, the doctor will examine the animal, and if he advises to hospitalize him, then it is better not to refuse, since a cold in dogs can be very insidious. Full treatment can be obtained at the clinic under the supervision of specialists.

Prevention

The easiest way to make your pet's body stronger is by improving the heat-regulatory system, and you need to start with hardening. Naturally, everything is good in moderation. Therefore, hardening procedures should be started gradually.

Don't leave your dog in the cold untilshe will no longer feel the cold. After all, this can lead to absolutely the opposite result. But if you start to influence the cold gradually and incrementally, it will bear fruit over time.

The basic rule for such a strengthening of the body is abundant and nutritious nutrition. Since most of the nutrients that go including to keep the body he althy are in food.

Interesting opinion

There is an opinion that there is no such thing as a cold in dogs. A dog can endure pharyngitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, pleurisy, and so on, but not a cold. Therefore, if a pet has symptoms of this disease, then it is worth taking it to a veterinary clinic, where a competent specialist will determine the disease and its nature, and also prescribe the necessary medications. And it should be remembered that it is better to pay for a doctor's consultation than to fight the disease that caused complications.

Conclusion

Now you know what a dog cold is. Symptoms and home treatment are two important topics that we have covered in detail. We hope that our article was useful to you.