Dogs, like humans, can get colds too. Usually it happens with a sharp decrease in immunity, and it is not necessary to wait for it in the winter – you can also catch a cold in the summer. Royal Canin scientific communications expert, veterinarian Dmitry Popov told how to recognize this unpleasant disease in your pet and how to treat it properly.
The specialist drew attention to the fact that, as such, the diagnosis of “cold” does not exist for either a person or a dog. It usually means an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) or an acute respiratory disease (ARI).
“The cause of these diseases are viruses and bacteria that can enter the body of both humans and pets. However, in general, infections are species-specific, meaning you can’t give your pet a “cold” if you’re sick yourself. Therefore, if you are sick, and the dog wants to lick you or lie down next to you to cheer you up, do not worry about her safety and do not move away, ”Popov told Gazeta.ru.
Symptoms of a dog cold include:
- hot and dry nose;
- runny nose;
- cough;
- elevated body temperature, which usually lasts one to three days;
- lack of appetite;
- general weakness.
By the way, you need to focus on the temperature based on the breed of your friend: for large dogs, its normal values \u200b\u200bare 37.4-38.3 ° C, for miniature ones – 38.5-39 ° C.
Basically, the pet’s body is quite capable of coping with the disease itself. But if you notice any of these signs, then it is better to contact your veterinarian. And you need to carefully monitor your animal and check all the symptoms: is there shortness of breath, temperature fluctuations, wheezing when breathing, deterioration in general well-being.
But our pets can get sick not only physically. In the modern world, stress can cover everyone, and pets are no exception. But for dogs, everything is more complicated, because they will not tell about their experiences. Dog handler Ekaterina Gimazitdinova told how to recognize stress in a four-legged dog.
