Dogs and cats also catch colds

With the onset of autumn come the season’s typical ailments, but it’s not just us who get sick when the temperatures start to drop.

In fact, dogs and cats can also catch colds and other illnesses with the arrival of cooler weather.

Let’s take a look together at the most common seasonal ailments and how to avoid them.

Beyond a cold: here are the seasonal ailments of dogs and cats

The most common problems that occur with the arrival of colder weather are problems related to the respiratory tract. Starting with colds, which in dogs and cats present with symptoms very similar to those of humans.

Specifically, to know if the dog has a cold, it is necessary to observe if the following phenomena are present:

• Sneezes more than usual
• Has a very dry or very wet nose
• Eyes are red and shiny
• Sleeps more than usual, and when sleeping, snores more loudly
• Has less appetite and/or desire to play

How do we know if our cat has a cold? The most common symptoms are:

• Increased mucous secretions
• Excessive eye tearing, with possible conjunctivitis
• Frequent sneezing
• Coughing
• Excessive salivation
• Loss of appetite
• Occasionally drowsiness, listlessness and fever

In addition to colds, respiratory ailments that affect our four-legged friends at the change of season include laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, which manifest with respiratory fatigue, cough, fever and asthma.

Cold weather can bring gastrointestinal discomfort, usually diarrhoea if the animal has caught the typical cold in the gut.

In older dogs and cats, arthritis and joint pain may be noted.

Finally, autumn is the season of annoying parasites uch as ringworm.

Ringworm is a fungus that affects the skin of dogs and cats (which can also be transmitted to humans) and causes lesions, alopecia, itching and scabs. Although it is an annoying ailment, it is not particularly serious and can be cured with a specific therapy prescribed by the vet, taking care that the animal does not scratch or lick the affected area.

Remedies for dog and cat ailments

All the ailments we have discussed can be more or less serious, and veterinary intervention is not always necessary.

When we see that our dog or cat is showing the first symptoms – which may be coughing, blocked nose, difficulty in swallowing or smelling odours – we need to assess its general behaviour. If the animal is reactive, has an appetite and a desire to play, then we can manage the problem until it goes away on its own.

But if we have any doubts, it is important to go to our vet: even just a telephone consultation can help us understand the seriousness of the situation and the best way to proceed.

Prevention is better than cure

What we can do is to prevent colds and other seasonal ailments with a few precautions.

The most important thing is to avoid temperature changes. In autumn and winter, especially when the heating is on, the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is high and can cause problems.

This does not mean that in winter we have to say goodbye to walks with our dog: on the contrary, physical activity is essential for keeping fit!

Try not to take your dog out in the coldest hours of the day, and if not, protect it with a coat.

In case of rain, we can put a raincoat on it and remember to dry it well when we enter the house.

Beware of neglecting their mood

Seasonal ailments for dogs and cats do not only manifest themselves in physical discomforts, but also in emotional ones; it is not only us who feel a little blue when the daylight hours are reduced and the temperatures drop.

That’s why we have to take care of this aspect of our four-legged friends’ well-being as well. As we said before, it is important not to lose the habit of going for walks, which are a good way to keep the seasonal blues at bay (for us too).

For both dogs and cats, play is a key element in combating boredom and the autumnal tendency to laze around, thus improving the human-animal connection.

Finally, we must remember to cuddle our dogs and cats, which is important for the animal to feel safe and at ease, even when it is raining and cold.