Cold is an acute febrile illness with upper respiratory tract mucosal infection. It usually occurs in young dogs. The incidence is high, and it will be dangerous if not treated in time. The sick dog was depressed, appetite decreased, crouching and shaking. The body temperature increased to 40 degrees, the wind and fever, clear nose dripping, decreased appetite, conjunctival flushing, shaming tears, cold and hot, rapid heartbeat, a small amount of eye secretions, breathing difficulties.
Causes of Dogs Catch A Cold
Colds usually occur in early spring, late fall, and when the climate changes abruptly. Most of the causes are due to sudden cold stimulation, such as the attack of the thief wind in winter, the cold season, the rain, and the failure to blow dry the hair after bathing the dog.Symptoms of Dogs Catch A Cold
Sick dogs first frequent discharge, then sneeze and cough, then some sick dogs tears, conjunctival flushing and mild swelling. The dog's body temperature soon increased, the spirit was depressed, shivering, decreased appetite, and even abandoned. The rectal temperature was more than 40℃, and the ear, nose, and even the back skin was cold, but the inner thigh and belly felt hot. Auscultation could detect enhanced heart sounds, rapid heartbeat, coarse breath sounds, and some could hear lung bubbling. Adult dogs in good health often recover spontaneously after improving the conditions of keeping warm, but young dogs and weak young dogs may die of secondary pneumonia, myocarditis or other serious complications if left untreated.Diagnostic Criteria for Dogs Catch A Cold
The diagnosis can be made on the basis of cough, runny nose, high body temperature and uneven skin temperature, combined with the history of sudden cold. It should be noted that some infectious diseases, such as canine distemper and canine infectious bronchitis, also have upper respiratory tract inflammation or elevated body temperature, which should be distinguished in combination with other characteristics of these diseases. As for the symptoms of influenza and the surface symptoms of the common cold is very similar, but the former is caused by the virus, and the relationship with the weather is not as close as the latter, the symptoms are more acute, and the treatment is less effective. Fortunately, dogs are less affected by influenza.Treatment of Dogs Catch A Cold
1. Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. The normal body temperature of the dog does not exceed 39 ° C, and when the body temperature of the dog with cold exceeds 40 ° C and chills, antipyretic and analgesic drugs can be used. More commonly used is antadine, according to the size of the individual subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of 0.5 ~ 2 ml, this drug should not be used in excess, otherwise it is easy to cause collapse. Chinese medicine can use bupleurum injection, the curative effect is also good, and side effects are small. It is not necessary to inject antipyretic drugs for sick dogs whose body temperature does not rise much, but to take human cold medicine orally, and the dose is 1/4 to 1/2 of that of adults. For nasal discharge, sneezing disease dogs can be injected subcutaneously with 0.5 ml (5 mg). Dogs with coarse breath sounds, a bubbling sound, or a severe cough can receive intramuscular injection of 2 to 5 mg of dexamethasone.2. Anti-concurrent infection. Penicillin is the first choice, 400,000-800000 units of intramuscular injection, twice a day, other antibiotics such as kanamycin, cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin can be selected, but the best use of injection, high efficacy, and not like oral antibiotics are easy to cause vomiting.
3. Strengthen nursing care. The sick dog was moved to a warm and windproof kennel, and the nutrition was strengthened and fed with easy to digest thin food. For severe cases, intravenous infusion should be used, and 10% glucose solution can be added to penicillin, dexamethasone and vitamin C together. It should be pointed out that there are many kinds of cold medicines for human use, and their effects have their own focuses. Before using them for dogs, we must carefully read the analysis instructions and prescribe drugs according to the symptoms.
