How to Tell if a Dog Has a Cold or an Infection

Regular vaccination can prevent infectious diseases in dogs, but if the immunity fails or there is no immunity, it can lead to dogs contracting infectious diseases. However, dogs are also prone to colds in spring and autumn, and the symptoms of these two diseases are very similar at the beginning. So how can we tell if a dog has an infectious disease or a cold?

A dog cold is a systemic symptom characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory mucosa. It usually occurs in early autumn, late autumn, and sudden changes in climate. Most of the time, it is caused by sudden cold air stimulation, such as winter wind invasions, cold season sleep, rain, giving dogs a bath without drying their hair in a timely manner, etc.

Main symptoms of a dog with a cold: the dog is lethargic, loses appetite or has none, the conjunctiva is washed, the eyes are watery and have increased tear stains. There are symptoms of coughing, a sticky nose, accelerated breathing, increased body temperature, disliking coldness and being scared. If not treated in time, there may be other diseases, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. There is also influenza, which is caused by viruses and is epidemic. The main manifestation is high fever. In addition to cold symptoms, there are often accompanied by conjunctivitis and enteritis.

Early symptoms of many infectious diseases are very similar to those of a cold. For example, the early symptoms of distemper and parvovirus disease, etc., are generally increased body temperature, sneezing, watery eyes, and sticky nasal discharge in clinical practice. Due to a lack of experience, some pet owners may mistake common severe infectious diseases for a cold, leading to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment measures, resulting in severe consequences such as death.

False cold is more common in the early stages of infectious diseases, and there are actually other specific symptoms. When a dog is infected with canine herpesvirus, the body temperature is usually bilateral fever, with fluctuating temperatures and most sick dogs having symptoms of original conjunctival secretions. In the early stages of parvovirus, it is mainly accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and other main symptoms, and it is usually vomiting and diarrhea. As long as pet owners carefully observe the condition of their dogs, it is easy to distinguish between the symptoms and judge accordingly.