Catching a cold is no laughing matter. Just ask Jeff Goldblum: a cold can be enough to bring the best laid plans crashing down. Cue the movie, Independence Day. But, can dogs get colds too?
Unfortunately, your dog can suffer their own version of the cold – and it’s up to us to keep them healthy. By applying the tips below, you can protect your pooch against the perils of the canine cold.
If catching a cold can thwart the alien invasion in Independence Day, it can also ruin your dog’s week.
Prevention is the best medicine
The best outcome is that your dog doesn’t fall sick in the first place. To this end, you’ll need to pay close attention to the spaces in which your pooch spends their time. Do you regularly take them to the dog park? Watch the other pups for signs of illness, such as sneezing, coughing, leaky eyes, and runny noses. Check these 4 ways to keep your dog warm in colder months too.
Do you ever leave them in a kennel? Minimise the risk by leaving them with a Pet Sitter instead. This way they stay in the comfort of a warm, family home instead of a large-scale facility that can be cold, dark, and possibly even expose them to diseases from other pets. Doggy Daycare could also be an option, where you can minimise the dogs to whom they’ll be exposed. Keep an eye on your pooch’s other furry friends and you’ll be well placed to keep yours illness-free!
While it’s far less common, your dog can also catch the cold from humans. If you come under the weather, you can keep your pup safe by taking a few simple precautions. Simply wash your hands before stroking them, wipe down any surfaces you share with them, and (this is the hardest part) try not to kiss and cuddle them TOO much.
Cures from the human cold work for dogs too!
To be clear: you should never, ever give your pup human cold and flu medication. At best, it will have no effect, and at worst, it could prove fatal. However, your dog can enjoy many of the homespun remedies on which you depend when you’re ill.
Replace their room temperature water with warm water, tuck them in under a blanket when they rest, and give them as much food as they can stomach; their immune systems will put it to good use. In fact, provided it doesn’t harbour any small bones, you can even serve them warm chicken soup!
Their muscles are also likely to be sore, so try giving them a doggy massage. More than anything, allow your pooch as much rest as they can handle.
Shower them with humidity
Again, much like with humans, a cold-stricken dog will fare well when exposed to humidity. For those who don’t have a humidifier handy, you can simply bring your pooch into the bathroom when you shower. The steam from the shower will clear their sinuses, and a happy dog will greet you when you finish!
