What To Do If Your Puppy Has a Cold

There are times you watched your furry friend sneeze or pant hard to grasp some fresh air. These happen many times, and it may not necessarily mean your pup is sick. Same way, it could be a sign they are catching a cold. Like humans, winter happens to be the most common time that puppies are likely to get flu. Although in some instances your pet could catch a cold during summer, winter has more favorable conditions to develop a cold.

At this time, your dog spends most of its time indoors, behind closed doors and windows. You aim to keep warm, but this could be contributing to frequent colds over the season. When your pup has a cold, there are some things you can do to help them recover and get back to the playful state in due time. Here are home remedies you can try.

Keep Your Dog Warm and Dry All Through

As soon as you notice your dog sneezing, coughing or panting hard, you ought to provide adequate warmth to relieve the symptoms. You can do this by keeping your dog away from wet surfaces, preferably inside the house. If your puppy stays outside, get the pup out of the kennel and bring him inside the house. Also, it is advisable to minimize play time outside to avoid exposing your pet to unfavorable weather.

Once inside the house, you can curl him up in blankets or switch on the thermostat to warm up the house. For extra care, you can get a heated dog bed which you can find in pet stores to ensure your pup remains warm. Be sure to check the temperature to avoid overheating your pet. You can note it is too hot when your dog starts panting hard where you should ease off extra blankets.

Check Your Pet’s Diet

Like humans, a healthy diet can speed up your dog’s recovery. Consider providing most foods that they like when sick to help them stay nourished while fighting the cold. You can add tiny bits of their favorite treats to encourage eating even more. Unless advised otherwise by a vet, you should ensure your pup feeds freely and as many times as they can.

When suffering from a cold, the sense of smell can be lower than usual. Your dog may not smell food as soon as you serve. It is your role to help your pup realize when you add food by warming it up for a few seconds to help them smell better. An important point to remember is that if they feed less or do not want to take anything, it is time to check with your vet just to be sure your pet is okay.

Increase Fluids for Your Dog

Keeping your puppy hydrated while fighting a cold will help them recover fast. Ensure your dog has enough clean water throughout the day so it can freely take some as it needs. Also, clean the water dish and rinse it out often to ensure your dog has clean water.

If your dog tends to avoid taking water, you can add chicken or beef broth that would encourage it to drink more fluids. Warm soup will help your pup free from nose congestion by keeping the nasal secretion thin. If your dog does not take any water, contact your vet immediately since dehydration can lead to severe issues.

Ensure Your Pet Has Adequate Rest

Well, your puppy could be super active even while suffering from a cold. Although this could be a sign of a less severe problem, it is advisable to let your dog rest well to help clear the symptoms. If you love taking an evening walk with your pet, consider shortening the distance or leaving your pet home until they recover.

Improve the Humidity in Your Home

Humid conditions help to decongest the nose and breathe better when suffering from a cold. It can be helpful to your puppy as well as long as you monitor the conditions. Set up a humidifier near where your dog likes to sleep and in the living room. A cool mist humidifier is advisable as extreme warm conditions may burn your pet if left on for a long.

Bottom Line

As a puppy owner, it is your role to monitor your pet’s health conditions. In a situation where they experience cold-like symptoms, you ought to try the above remedies to help your pet recover. Also, be sure to check with the vet to ensure your pet is up-to-date with the vaccinations.

When your pet suffers from a cold, try as much as possible to isolate from others and avoid visiting parks in that state. Monitor the feeding patterns and check their activity to ascertain they are doing well. All these are essential pointers but if it gets out of hand, contact your vet for medical attention.