Caring for a Dog with a Cold

Just like their human counter parts, dogs do get colds. Dog colds are caused by different viruses and germs. Travel, stress and close contact with other dogs can all be contributing factors to your dog contracting a cold. However, just like a human cold they can often be treated with supportive therapy. Naturally, if your dog is showing no signs of improvement or their symptoms seem severe, a trip to a veterinarian would be advisable.

As with humans, there are many cough suppressants available for dogs. Giving your dog a cough suppressant is a personal choice. It doesn't cure your dog's cold and often a cough can be productive and necessary to your dog getting better. Using steam to help break up congestion is typically better than giving a cough suppressant. Placing your dog in a steam filled bathroom or in a room with a cool mist vaporizer will help to keep their nasal passages moist and their cough more productive. You can also help break up congestion in the chest by cupping your hand patting your dogs back.

Providing your dog with a multivitamin or specific vitamin therapies can help to boost your dogs immune system. You can purchase vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A for your dog at a specialty pet store. These vitamins should be given according to your dogs weight.

Keeping your dog isolated from other pets, will help reduce the likelihood the germs are spread. This can also help your dog to get some much needed rest.

Make sure that your dog has plenty of water. Fluids are essential to your dog recovering from its cold. Often when animals are sick they avoid fluids and end up requiring fluid therapy from a veterinarian. If your dog is not drinking enough water try adding a little broth to their water.

It is not abnormal for a dog's cold to last two, even three weeks, but it is important that you keep close watch of your pet for any signs of distress. If your pet seems non-responsive, dehydrated, is not urinating and is not drinking call your vet immediately. Additionally, if your dog's cold seems exaggerated, their behavior is alarming or you just have a gut instinct it's needed, don't hesitate to touch base with a veterinarian.