Can Dogs Get the Common Cold? Symptoms, Causes, and Care Tips

Dogs cannot catch your cold, because the viruses behind the human cold do not infect dogs. Dogs can still get their own cold-like respiratory infections, and most of them clear up within a few weeks with rest and support. 

 

A dog that will not stop coughing or sneezing sets off the same worry in most owners, the fear that something serious is occurring. In most cases, the cause is a respiratory bug passed between dogs, and the infection runs its course similar to the way a cold does in people. A handful of symptoms still separate the mild cases from the ones that need a vet right away, and a few simple steps at home can keep your dog comfortable while they recover. Knowing what to watch for, when to call, and how to lower the risk makes a coughing dog less frightening.

Can Dogs Get the Common Cold?

Yes and no. Dogs get colds, but not the same ones you do.

Can Dogs Catch a Cold From Humans?

No. The viruses that cause the common cold in people are species-specific. A human cold virus is almost never able to make a dog sick. Your dog’s cold is unlikely to spread to you either. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes only very rare Bordetella bronchiseptica infections in people with a severely weakened immune system.

What Causes Cold-Like Symptoms in Dogs?

A dog cold is almost always one of a group of infections that veterinarians call canine infectious respiratory disease complex. Kennel cough is the common name. Several viruses and bacteria cause it, and dogs are often infected with two or more at the same time.

How Do Dogs Catch These Infections?

• Direct contact: Licking, nuzzling, and other close contact with an infected dog pass the germs along.
• Droplets in the air: Coughs, sneezes, and even barking send droplets to nearby dogs.
• Shared objects: Toys, bedding, a shared water bowl, and people’s hands can all carry germs.

The dog park, boarding kennels, daycare, grooming salons, and training classes all raise the risk. Most infected dogs are contagious before they show symptoms, so outbreaks spread fast.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cold in Dogs?

Kennel cough and canine influenza cause similar symptoms, so you usually cannot tell them apart at home. What you can do is sort mild symptoms from the ones that need a vet.

What Do Mild Symptoms Look Like?

• Sneezing and a runny nose: Clear nasal discharge is common. A stuffy nose can make your dog snort or breathe through their mouth.
• Watery eyes: Mild eye discharge often comes with the runny nose.
• A dry, honking cough: This is the classic kennel cough sign. It often gets worse with exercise or pressure on the neck from a collar.
• A sore throat and low energy: Your dog may gag, swallow often, or just seem a little off.

When Are a Dog’s Symptoms Serious?

Call your veterinarian the same day if you see any of the following. These signs can point to bacterial pneumonia, and Coastal Veterinary Care treats difficulty breathing as an emergency.

• Difficulty breathing: Rapid, labored, or open-mouth breathing at rest is never normal.
• Fever, lethargy, or refusing food: Canine influenza often causes a fever of 104 to 105°F along with thick nasal discharge.
• A wet, productive cough: Coughing up mucus suggests the infection has moved into the lungs.
• Symptoms that last more than 10 days: Antibiotics are recommended when illness lasts longer than 10 days or pneumonia signs appear.

Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with a weak immune system are at higher risk of severe cases. So are brachycephalic breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers. These dogs already breathe through narrowed nostrils and a longer soft palate, so watch them closely when they are congested.

How Do You Care for a Dog With a Cold?

Most dog colds are a viral infection, so no drug cures them. Care focuses on comfort, rest, and catching a secondary infection early.

What Can You Do at Home?

• Let your dog rest: Skip the dog park and long walks until the cough is gone, and use a harness instead of a neck collar.
• Encourage eating and drinking: A stuffy nose can dull your dog’s appetite, so offer fresh water and food often.
• Add moisture to the air: Having a humidifier or sitting with your dog in a steamy bathroom can loosen congestion.
• Keep them away from other dogs: Dogs with canine flu can spread the virus for up to four weeks, even if they look healthy.

Pro Tip: Never give your dog over-the-counter human cold medicine. They are dangerous for dogs unless your veterinarian approves a specific one.

How Does a Veterinarian Diagnose and Treat It?

Call the clinic before you arrive so the team can keep your dog away from other patients. For mild cases, an exam and exposure history are usually enough for a diagnosis. For severe cases or outbreaks, your vet may run diagnostic tests on nose and throat swabs to identify the virus or bacteria.

• Cough suppressants: These can quiet a persistent cough, but only when there is no sign of pneumonia.
• Antibiotics: These treat a secondary bacterial infection, not the virus. They are usually unnecessary unless pneumonia develops.

How Can You Prevent Dog Colds?

Vaccines are the best prevention. They reduce how often dogs get sick, how severe the illness is, and how easily it spreads.

• Core vaccines: These cover canine distemper, canine adenovirus, and parainfluenza, and they are recommended for every dog.
• Bordetella vaccine: An annual dose is recommended for dogs that board, go to daycare, or visit the dog park.
• Canine influenza vaccine: This takes two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, and is recommended for social dogs and in areas where the flu virus is active.

Coastal Veterinary Care: Your Partner in Dog Respiratory Health

A sneezing, coughing dog is worrying, but most respiratory illness in dogs is mild and clears up with rest and supportive care. Difficulty breathing, fever, refusing food, or symptoms that last past 10 days all call for a visit.

At Coastal Veterinary Care in Myrtle Beach, our Fear Free Certified team keeps visits low-stress for dogs that already feel unwell. We offer same-day lab results to find out what is behind your dog’s symptoms. Our dog vaccination services include the Bordetella and canine influenza vaccines. If your dog needs medication, our online pharmacy makes refills simple.

If your dog has cold symptoms or you want to talk through vaccines before boarding season, schedule an appointment online or call us at (843) 983-2969.