Do Dogs Get Colds?

Unfortunately, I have a cold as I write this. Don’t worry – I’m being very brave about it, I’ve only complained about five times today. I also rewarded myself for my bravery by taking a three-hour nap in the middle of the day. As I lay in bed surrounded by mugs of half-drunk tea and tissues, I began to wonder if our canine companions also get colds

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According to the American Kennel Club, dogs can actually get colds. Canines with colds may have a cough, noticeable sneezing, and some congestion. However, the American Kennel Club reported that these symptoms may be indicative of something worse than a simple cold. For instance, your furry friend could have bronchitis, the flu, or kennel cough. For this reason, if you notice that your furry friend isn’t well, you should head over to their vet for an evaluation. 

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Now, you may be concerned that you could pass on your cold to your canine companion. In a 2017 YouTube video for PetMD, Dr. Katy Nelson, DVM, assured that is not the case. 

“The type of cold dogs suffer from is different from the type a human suffers from. Dog colds are not zoonotic, meaning that humans can not get colds from dogs and dogs can not catch colds from humans,” said the veterinarian.

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Dr. Nelson noted, however, that “dogs can get colds from being in contact with other infected dogs or drinking from contaminated drinking sources.” This means you may want to bring your own bowl for your pup to drink out of when you visit the dog park.  

In addition, she shared that pet parents can help their pups recover from their colds. 

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“Pet parents should make sure the dog consumes plenty of water and consider placing a humidifier near the dog’s rest area. While recovering from a cold, it’s best for a dog to get plenty of rest, so activities like travel should be restricted until the cold symptoms have dissipated,” said Dr. Nelson.