How To Treat A Dog Cold At Home
Introduction
While a dog cold may not be a major medical problem for your dog, it can be distressing to watch your furry friend suffer. Because dogs have weak immune systems, it’s important to take symptoms like sneezing and coughing seriously—especially if you notice other symptoms such as lethargy, lack of appetite, trouble breathing, or fever. Here are some tips for how to treat a dog cold at home.
Check their temperature.
- You can check a dog’s temperature with a digital thermometer. If you don’t have one, ask your vet to recommend one.
- A normal temperature for a healthy dog is between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit (37-39 degrees Celsius). Dogs can become sick if they are too cold or too hot, so it’s important to keep them somewhere comfortable. If the room is too warm, allow them outside for short periods of time until their body adjusts; if it’s too cold outside, use an electric heating blanket or heated pet bed under your dog’s blankets at night.
- High temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) may mean that your dog has an infection or some other serious problem with his health—you should contact a veterinarian immediately if you see this result on the thermometer! Low temperatures below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) could indicate shock from overexposure to the elements; again, contact your vet as soon as possible if this happens!
Clean their nose.
Clean the nose. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any mucus around your dog’s nostrils, and wash them out with saline solution if he or she is having trouble breathing through their nose.
You can also use a syringe for this purpose—simply insert it into one of the nostrils and squeeze gently until you see white liquid come out, then repeat on the other side. Make sure you don’t push too hard or get water up into their sinuses (the chambers behind their eyes) as that could cause fluid build-up that could further block their airways when they try to breathe from their mouth again later on.
If possible, try using a cotton swab instead; this will allow you to reach deeper inside your dog’s nose without causing him or her any additional discomfort while doing so (and without having to worry about getting water up into his/her sinuses).
Move them to a warm environment.
If your dog is shivering and appears to be cold, try to move them into a warmer environment. You can keep them in a warm room or in bed with you. If you don’t have access to a heater, use blankets or heating pads.
If your dog has become chilled after being outdoors on a cool day, they will benefit from having warm water (not hot) applied to their paws and belly area. This will help bring the temperature back up and prevent the formation of hypothermia, which can be fatal if not treated quickly and effectively.
Keep them hydrated.
- Keep them hydrated. The most important thing you can do for your dog is to make sure they’re drinking plenty of water. They might not want to drink much at first, but once they feel better, they’ll start drinking more by themselves. If they don’t feel like drinking on their own, try mixing some chicken broth or coconut water into their water bowl and see if that changes anything.
- Don’t give them too much at once! It’s important that dogs get enough fluids when sick—but it’s just as important not to overdo it with the fluid intake since this can lead to bloating or potentially dangerous electrolyte imbalances in the body. So if you’re concerned about how much liquid your pup is getting through each day, talk with your vet about how much liquid intake would be appropriate based on his size and breed type (some breeds are known for having higher fluid needs).
- Don’t give medication with food or water! Your vet will probably tell you not to give any medications unless recommended by a doctor; however keeping this rule in mind when treating flu symptoms will help avoid accidentally overdosing on certain types of drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) which could result in serious side effects if taken incorrectly.”
Make sure they’re eating.
If a dog is not eating, he or she won’t be getting the nutrition and hydration necessary to stay healthy. In addition to that, if your dog is not eating, it’s likely that your pet is feeling cold and uncomfortable. In order for them to get better, you’ll need to make sure they’re comfortable enough for them to begin eating again.
Give them medication (if needed).
If your dog is having trouble breathing, coughing, or sneezing, it’s a good idea to give them an over-the-counter medication. These products usually contain decongestants that reduce inflammation in the lungs and can help reduce symptoms of a cold. If your dog has been prescribed prescription medication by their veterinarian, they should receive this as well while they have their cold. If you’re looking for something that might be more natural or herbal in nature and less harsh than some of those other options mentioned above (which aren’t necessarily bad), then you may want to consider using homeopathic remedies instead. These are made from herbs and plants instead of chemicals and have been shown in clinical trials to be as effective for treating certain ailments as many other kinds of medicines out there today
Stop stressing out about it.
If you’ve got a dog with a cold, you’re probably feeling pretty stressed out about it. You don’t need to be.
Stress can make your dog feel worse—and stress is something that’s tough to avoid when caring for a sick pet in your own home! But as long as you keep these tips in mind, there’s no reason why your pup should suffer or get even more ill while they recover:
- Give them some space. When they’re feeling under the weather, most dogs are going to want some time alone. So give them their space so they can rest and recover from their illness at their own pace. If possible, move your dog into another room where it won’t be disturbed by family members or visitors (or any other animals).
- Keep their routine as normal as possible—but make sure it doesn’t involve exercise until after the symptoms have passed. Exercise stimulates blood flow which helps clear mucus out of their system more quickly but could also cause further irritation if your dog has an irritated throat from coughing or sneezing too much already; this will only exacerbate symptoms rather than relieve them!
Cold symptoms can indicate a more serious health problem, so don’t be afraid to get medical advice if the symptoms persist or worsen over time
Cold symptoms can indicate a more serious health problem, so don’t be afraid to get medical advice if the symptoms persist or worsen over time. You can take your dog to a vet or a pet emergency center, who will be able to determine the exact cause of your dog’s cold and give you recommendations for treatment. If your dog has a fever, this is an indication that he could have something more serious than just a cold; in this case, it’s important that you see a veterinarian immediately.
Conclusion
Sometimes colds can be a sign of something more serious, so if your dog’s symptoms aren’t going away, contact your vet right away. Most of the time though, you probably won’t have to worry about it being anything more than an upper respiratory infection and can rest easy knowing that they’ll likely get better on their own in a few days!