dogs get colds??

[CFfosterANGEL1]

I know this is going to sound really really silly, but can dogs get colds? We adopted a beautiful german shepherd from an adoption agency in LA. I am assuming that she was left outside a lot, since they were in a "FEMA trailer" and they had like 10 dogs! So anyway here are the symptoms: she "coughs" a lot. Sounds like she has something in her throat that she is trying to get out, she does this for about a min. or so. She has "green goo" in the inside of her eyes that shows on her fur, and she has green snot coming out of her nose. Yesterday she was laying on the kitchen tile floor and she walked in the living room and she had snot hanging from her nose! LITERALLY! She also has really yucky poop. We are worried about our girl. Im hoping it is not something severe. They've treated her for heartworms, and they were giving her flea stuff before we got her. I dont know what it could be.

If anyone can help me with some insight I'd much abliged. I plan on calling the vet today to see if I cant get a vet to answer my question. Thanks in advance! God Bless!

 

[Sabina41]

The vet likely won't answer your question over the phone, the same way a doctor wouldn't prescribe treatment for a human illness over the phone. You are going to need to make an appointment and take the dog in. Yes, dogs get colds just like people do. Your dog also may have something called Kennel Cough, which is essentially a cold with a name, that is easily passed from dog to dog in close quarters, which is sounds like your dog was in. Quite likely the vet will give you some antibiotics and your dog will bounce back. The icky poo may be a result of change in location, travel, change in diet, stress, etc. It sounds like she's had a lot of change in her life lately and dogs can be more sensitive to those things and it often manifests as diarrhea or soft stools. Your best bet- take the dog to a vet.

 

[Dagna]

Yup, dogs can get colds. They're usually called URI's or Upper Respiratory Infections. There are any number of virus' that can cause URI's. Standard treatment is usually antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections and just waiting it out. The cough that you describe though makes it sound more like Kennel Cough than anything else, and considering the conditions, wouldn't surprise me if that was the case. Not really a huge deal for a healthy dog but it's HIGHLY contagious to other dogs, and being that your dog recently went through heartworm treatment, you'll want your dog to see a vet. Again, usual treatment is antibiotics and you can also give a cough syrup to your dog to help ease the cough. I don't remember for the life of me what kind of cough syrup you can use, I believe it's Robotussin, but you really should confirm that with a vet before giving any.

 

[Reilly]

Yes, they can. My mother's dogs have had colds before.

 

[CFfosterANGEL1]

Thanks for the advice. We'll have to see if we have enough money to get her to the vet first. Thanks girls!

 

[snoochface]

You should do everything you can to get your dog to the vet. It could be kennel cough, but it could be something more serious as well. Chronic coughing is a sign of congestive heart failure, for example. Regardless, your dog is distressed and she should be seen by a vet so she can get some relief from her symptoms.

 

[TheSerenityPrayer]

yea I know. Money is an issue though. Unforuntaly.

 

[snoochface]

There are pet clinics that offer lower rates, sometimes even pro bono, for rescue dogs. You said your dog was at a FEMA shelter. If it was a Katrina dog, you might be able to get her looked at for a very low cost. PetSmart has clinics in a lot of their stores that are very low priced as well.

I think it's wonderful that you rescued this dog and are giving it a good home. It makes me sad, though, that you can't afford to give her the care she needs. I know you will as soon as you can afford it - so in the meantime maybe there's a lower-cost alternative in your area that you can look into. I know where I live there are several organizations that can help.

 

[littlecoda]

both our dogs had "colds" but then it went into resp.infection.This is something I was talking about to someone else on this forum. colds? I thought about that too. vet said otherwise.