Comprehensive Home Care Guide: How to Treat Your Dog's

If your dog is sneezing and has a runny nose after getting wet in the rain or being exposed to air conditioning, it's likely that they have caught a cold! Puppies and senior dogs often have weaker immune systems, making them more susceptible to catching a cold when they catch a chill. If left untreated, this can lead to more serious conditions like fever, pneumonia, and bronchitis, so it's important to seek veterinary care!

Just like humans, a dog's respiratory system can become vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma when exposed to cold air, which can compromise their respiratory health.

Key Symptoms of Dog Cold:

Sneezing

Runny nose

Lethargy

Coughing

Decreased appetite

Elevated body temperature

Some dogs may also experience symptoms like watery eyes, drooling, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing. If there's a history of abdominal cooling, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.

What to Do for a Dog with a Cold:

First and foremost, avoid giving your dog human cold medications!

Many overthecounter cold remedies contain ingredients like acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, and caffeine, which pets like dogs and cats cannot metabolize. Overdosing can lead to liver and kidney damage, or even be fatal. Never risk your dog's life with trial and error!

Dose of Acetaminophen Poisoning for Dogs: 200600mg/kg

Dose of Acetaminophen Poisoning for Cats: 1050mg/kg

Medications for Dog Cold:

1. Sneezing and Runny Nose:

Banlangen Granules + Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium

Banlangen is a simple ingredient and, although it's a human medication, it doesn't contain substances that dogs cannot metabolize, so it's safe to give to your pet.

Note: Ensure your dog stays warm to prevent further cooling and increase their water intake to aid in metabolism.

2. Coughing and Runny Nose:

Guosu Zhi + Fernuoduo (Doxycycline Hydrochloride Tablets)

In cases of severe coughing, gently press and pull the dog's Jiantan point (a pressure point located on the neck) to relieve throat itching and discomfort.

3. Fever:

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium + Physical Fever Reduction

Fever Symptoms: Dry nose, and the ears and nose feel warm to the touch.

Temperature Measurement: Use an alcoholswabbed thermometer, apply Vaseline as lubricant, and insert it 1/3 of the way into the rectum. Wait 35 minutes. If the temperature is above the normal range, your dog has a fever!

Normal Rectal Temperature: Puppies: 38.5℃39℃; Adult Dogs: 37.5℃38℃

Physical Cooling Methods:

1. Wipe your dog's paw pads, ears, and abdomen with alcohol to dissipate heat.

2. Wrap an ice pack in a towel or urine pad and place it next to your dog. Check the temperature every 20 minutes. Remove the ice pack when the temperature returns to normal to prevent the dog from getting too cold.

Important Note: Dog cold symptoms can be similar to those of canine distemper. For dogs that haven't been vaccinated, if they show signs of a cold with a fever, it's crucial to seek veterinary care immediately. If you can't go to the vet right away, you can purchase canine distemper test kits for a preliminary home diagnosis. If the test is positive, seek veterinary care promptly for antiviral treatment.

Typically, if treated promptly, a dog's cold can clear up in 37 days. In some cases, it may take 710 days. If symptoms persist beyond 10 days, it may have developed into chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, and immediate veterinary attention is necessary.