Mary Allen
The cough and runny nose season begin every year in autumn. Due to the cool and damp weather, viruses spread at breakneck speed.
At this time, people prefer to make themselves comfortable at home. Our dogs usually don’t care about the cold season. They love to romp and play outside. But even our dogs can easily catch a so-called cold at this time.
As with us humans, simple home remedies can also help dogs to ease the situation and shorten the duration of the illness.
Recognize cold
A cold in dogs is just as noticeable as in humans. Most of the time, the four-legged friends are dull and listless.
Sick animals often have to be persuaded to go for a walk. They move slowly and don’t want to play.
Some animals refuse the food or eat less. A wet nose is not an indication that the dog is healthy.
Especially when a dog has a cold, there is often a clear discharge and the eyes start to water. You can often see the dog rubbing its nose with its paws.
As long as the discharge is clear, this is perfectly normal. However, if it becomes viscous and turns yellowish, greenish, or white, this is an alarm signal. Then bacteria are involved and you should take your darling to the vet.
If you have a cough or fever, go to the vet
When you have a cold, there is usually a build-up of mucus in your airways, causing you to cough.
If this is stuck, the cough is painful and exhausting for the animal. In this case, he must be treated by a veterinarian.
How to measure fever?
If the dog gets a fever, a trip to the vet is essential. The normal body temperature of the dog is about 37 to 38°C. As a dog owner, you usually feel when the temperature is too high.
To be on the safe side, you can of course take your fever. A thermometer should not be missing from your pet‘s first aid kit.
Always take the temperature rectally and wait about a minute for the result.
Note that not every four-legged friend can endure this procedure. To be on the safe side, use a muzzle in an emergency.
Treating a runny nose in dogs
If your darling has a cold, make sure he has a cozy, warm place to sleep.
Give him fresh water regularly. Dogs with a cold should drink a lot during this time.
Avoid activities that put your animal under strain. Also, limit walks.
Tip for colds: Exercise in the fresh air on a gentle cycle
If it’s wet outside, dry your dog well when you get home. If he allows it, you can also blow dry him.
Don’t necessarily bathe him while he’s sick. If the coat is dirty, there are sprays or dry shampoos for dogs in specialist shops that are ideal for this purpose.
When our dog coughs and sneezes, medication is not always necessary to cure a cold. Home remedies that we use ourselves often help when we get infected with a virus.
Home remedies for dog sniffles
My Chihuahua Tequila is very prone to cough and runny nose. I then let him inhale. It helps him and he even enjoys it.
I put him in his transport basket. I boil water in a pot and then add sea salt. I put this pot in front of the transport basket and then put a blanket over the basket and pot.
Tequila stays in this “cave” for about ten minutes. He feels so good that he usually falls asleep while doing it. Coughs and runny noses are over quickly.
So that my boys drink enough, I always add a little extra water to the feed. They also love cheese poplar or chamomile tea.
Some broth that you can mix into the water is also ideal. The dogs like it and they drink more. Of course, it must not be too salty.
Prevent dog colds
Ideally, you prevent a cold. This works by boosting the animal’s immune system.
A lot of exercise in the fresh air, as well as species-appropriate and balanced nutrition, are the basis for a healthy immune system.
Some dogs should wear coats or sweaters in cooler temperatures. Greyhounds in particular are sensitive to cold and can suffer greatly at low temperatures.
A dog coat is important for all dog breeds that do not have an undercoat. In this case, the fur does not insulate enough to keep the animal warm over long distances.
Who can infect whom with the common cold?
Colds can be transmitted from one animal to another. Ideally, close contact with sick animals should be avoided.
In rare cases, the viruses can also migrate back and forth between humans and dogs. Even if it’s difficult, don’t cuddle your darling too much.
Nevertheless, the same applies to dogs: a lot of affection and love helps to get well quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if your dog is cold?
Dogs and cats do catch colds, and their symptoms are just like humans. Both may have discharged from their noses, “wet” or labored breathing from congestion, sneezing (especially wet sneezes), watery eyes, and lethargy (napping more, showing low energy). The cold symptoms will likely last 5-10 days.
How long does a dog cold last?
Sometimes your dog is healthy again after a few days, sometimes the illness lasts for several weeks. In older dogs, the sniffle may last longer. Stress and other additional dog diseases can also affect the healing process.
Can a dog die from a cold?
The influenza virus in dogs
The severity of the cold in dogs varied, but it was often mild and limited to the upper respiratory tract. However, some affected animals died as a result of the influenza infection.
Can you give chamomile tea to a dog?
Chamomile has several medicinal properties that help against a variety of ailments. But this natural medicine can also be used on animals. The question of whether you can give your dog chamomile tea can be answered with an unequivocal “yes”.
How do I give my dog chamomile tea?
About the water. If your dog likes the taste of chamomile, you can boil a bag or dried loose chamomile and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Since the brewing time determines the strength of the tea, you can also reduce it to get used to it.
Can I give my dog honey for a cough?
Honey as a home remedy when your dog has a cough
Honey is ideal for colds such as coughs, bronchial disorders, or colds. Honey can help with digestive problems. In addition, it stimulates metabolism.
Which honey for dogs?
Dogs are generally allowed to eat honey (high-quality organic honey is available here). Honey does not contain any ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Nevertheless, honey should not make up a large part of the dog’s diet. Honey consists of about 80 percent sugar and is very high in calories.
Can I give my dog cough syrup?
Some owners give their dog cough syrup, which is intended for humans, to relieve the dog’s cough. This is not a good idea as human medications are not dosed for animals and often contain active ingredients that can be dangerous to dogs.