What Medicine to Give a Dog With a Cold

1 How to Treat a Dog’s Cold

How can you tell if your dog has a cold? When your dog shows the following symptoms, pay attention to whether it is actually sick.

I. Common cold symptoms in dogs

1. Loss of appetite

There are many reasons a dog loses its appetite; first determine whether it is due to a cold. Don’t ignore a poor appetite. When your dog shows no interest even in its favorite treats or usual food, observe its condition immediately.

2. Runny nose and sneezing

An occasional sneeze is often caused by dust or sensitivity to the surroundings. But if your dog sneezes frequently in different places throughout the day, check whether it is chilled, especially if there is a runny nose. A clear discharge early on can be relieved by adding warmth and feeding more meat and vegetables to boost immunity; you can also give a little children’s cold medicine as a precaution.

3. Fever

When a cold snap hits or the environment suddenly changes, dogs can catch a cold or even develop a fever. Use a digital or mercury thermometer, shake it down to the lowest reading, and insert it near the anus for about 2-3 minutes. If the dog has not just exercised and its temperature exceeds 39.2°C, it is generally a fever and you should give medicine promptly to avoid worsening. Note: if the temperature reaches 39.5°C or higher, go to a vet immediately.

II. Corresponding treatments

A common cold from an upper respiratory infection is not hard to manage. You can give a dog-specific cough and phlegm remedy such as Nuokefen to reduce inflammation, cough and phlegm, along with physical cooling, encouraging eating and increasing water intake. A dog-specific fever reducer such as Wennuo’an can clear heat and reduce fever, pain and wind, and a dog/cat antibacterial such as Weipuda can prevent complications. A severe cold needs veterinary treatment.

If the cold symptoms are serious and don’t ease after medication, consider whether it is a viral cold, such as canine parainfluenza.

For colds caused by such viruses, the dog needs veterinary care: intravenous fluids, nutritional support, cough relief, antiviral treatment, biologicals and immune serum.

III. Medication precautions

Cold medicine for dogs is similar to that for people, but the dose must be based on the dog’s weight. Never give an adult human dose directly.

Adult dogs with mild early symptoms can recover on their own, but during the cold their bodies are weak and need dietary support, such as lean-meat congee and tomatoes for easy-to-digest, nutritious food to boost resistance.

Provide bedding where the dog sleeps to keep it warm. During morning and evening walks, avoid the secondary harm of large temperature differences. In the early stage you can give two days of children’s cold medicine as a precaution, using the children’s dose.

Pay special attention: a two- or three-month-old puppy with a cold should be tested promptly for infectious disease to avoid delaying treatment.