I said to my best friend the other day, “sometimes there’s nothing cuter than when an animal sneezes.”  Honestly at the time, I meant it. I mean, when an animal sneezes, it’s just so dainty and cute I want to watch them do it over and over and over. But when I compose myself and stop to think about it, there’s probably a reason that they are sneezing other than to entertain me.  Add to that thought that as of late my side of the states has become the Frozen Tundra of Hell it occurred to me to investigate can my pet get a cold?  Thank goodness Raise A Paw is at my fingertips to help me find out!

Well yes, sadly your poor little fuzzy one can come down with a case of the sniffles and sneezes just like you or I can. For your pet the signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for can include sneezing, noisy breathing, watery or discharge coming out of their eyes. There could also be a mild “cough” which could indicate upper respiratory tract inflammation. Additionally, if your pet can’t breathe or smell properly, they will probably eat less so loss of appetite and low energy are two other signs to keep an eye out for.

Much like people, the different reasons that a pet might come down with a cold could be different viruses, bacteria, polyps or even a tumor (generally found in older pets with colds but not limited to them). A cold can be brought on by the sudden changes in temperature or the allergens in the air – sound familiar? However, colds for pets come range from mild – like a basic low grade cold – to severe – herpes virus cold or the parainfluenza virus – so it’s important to make note of exactly what symptoms your pet has.

So what should be done about this sad state of affairs that has fallen upon your pet? Well a trip to the vet is always first so that they can properly diagnose what’s going on with your four-legged friend. Keeping your pet warm with a warm pet or insulated blanket will help keep their body temperature up. Changing their water frequently and not allowing them to share their food/water with other pets in the home is an important step in both helping keep your pet’s water/food fresh and not allowing their cold to spread to the other animals in the home. Also, make sure you keep your little love bug dry and allow it to rest up, giving it the proper time it needs to recuperate.

Obviously, if your pet’s cold is persistent, it’s time to take them back to the vet for a second look as something more serious might be lurking.

Image: ccho