Gesundheit!

Let's talk about what you can do when your dog gets the sniffles.

It's that time of year when every human on the planet is sneezing, coughing, and blowing their nose. It's so common that we don't even give it a second thought. But what happens when your dog is the one doing the sneezing and coughing?

Little Miss has been sniffling and snuffling and snorting for a couple of weeks now and she sounds terrible.

Should I take my dog to the vet if I think it has a cold?

It depends. Like with humans, some pet colds can be taken care of at home. But some are more serious and require an exam by a veterinarian. If their symptoms seem rather mild, you can:

• Make sure they're hydrated. Keep plenty of fresh water in their bowl, and consider adding bone broth or warm water to their food if you feed a dry kibble.
  

• Wipe any discharge from their nose and eyes with a damp, warm paper towel.
  

• Allow them to rest as much as possible. Maybe skip the walks, or keep them short.
  

• If possible, provide warm, humid air if they're congested. Humidifiers are great, but you can also run a hot shower and keep them in the bathroom with the door closed for 10–15 minutes.
  

But if your pet shows signs of difficult breathing, becomes lethargic, seems to be in pain, or stops eating or drinking, get them to a vet as soon as possible. The symptoms of a cold can look similar to more serious diseases, so you want to get the all-clear from a professional before it's too late.

Other dog-specific illnesses

Just like with humans, there are several canine conditions that are similar to the cold or flu.

Kennel cough: This respiratory infection is characterized by a dry cough which will sound like honking.

Allergies: Dogs can get seasonal and environmental allergies, just like humans.

Canine distemper: Symptoms generally start off mild — fever, lethargy, runny eyes/nose, loss of appetite — and progress to severe gastrointestinal issues and neurological afflictions like muscle twitching, seizures, and paralysis. It's extremely contagious and there's no cure. Your dog should be vaccinated against distemper with their initial vaccinations.

Can I give my dog OTC cold medicine?

I am not a veterinarian, nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. However, I do have experience with using over-the-counter medications for itching and cold-like symptoms in dogs. OTC antihistamines can be an effective and less expensive alternative to dog-specific allergy medications. But not all dogs respond to them in the same way, so you may have to try a few to find one that works for you. The most important thing to watch for is pseudoephedrine, which is generally indicated by the letter 'D' after the brand name. Pseudoephedrine is toxic to dogs and can be fatal if administered. We've had luck with Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) 25 mg. tablets.

• Dosage is 1 mg per pound of body weight every 8–12 hours.

So, for example, a 25 lb. dog would get 1 Benadryl tablet every 8–12 hours.

Another generally well-tolerated medication is Claritin (Loratidine) 10 mg. tablets.

• For dogs under 15 lbs., give 1/2 tablet once daily, or 1/4 tablet twice daily.

• For dogs 15–39 lbs., give one tablet once a day, or 1/2 tablet two times a day.

• For dogs over 40 lbs., give one tablet twice a day.

The same dosage applies for itching. But do not give your pets any OTC medications without talking to your vet first.

Preventing dog colds and flu

So, is there any way to prevent your dog from getting sick? Well, just like with humans, the answer is no. But there are ways you can minimize the risk of them catching something and keep the symptoms on the mild side if they do.

Vaccinate: While they won't protect your dog from everything, vaccinations can dramatically reduce the risk and severity of certain illnesses like kennel cough. Vaccines also protect against serious diseases like parvovirus, canine distemper, leptospirosis, and infectious canine hepatitis.

Wash their stuff: Regularly wash their food and water bowls and even their toys, if possible. This is particularly important if they share any of these items with other dogs in the house. And make sure you change their water at least once a day.

Rest: Most dogs will sleep 12 to 14 hours a day. Allow them to rest as much as they need to keep their immune system from being overtaxed.

Nutrition: Make sure you feed a good quality diet that has all the nutrients they need.

As for Little Miss...

Well, she still sounds terrible. But only sometimes. Sometimes she sounds completely fine. She was at the vet last week for a laser session on her spine and the doctor listened to her heart and lungs. Both sounded fine, so she recommended the Benadryl. She sounds good shortly after taking it, but then it seems to wear off quickly. The recommendation was to try the Claritin if we didn't get good results from the Benadryl, so that's next on the list. Keep your paws crossed for us! Until next time ... WOOF!