{"id":4165,"date":"2016-11-08T08:58:33","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T14:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.diamondpet.wearewoodruff.xyz\/?p=2603"},"modified":"2026-03-23T16:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T21:17:20","slug":"pets-have-a-cold-flu-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/conditions\/pets-have-a-cold-flu-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Pets Have a \u201cCold and Flu Season\u201d?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Summer has given way to autumn, and cold and flu season is now beginning for us humans. If you\u2019re a pet parent already experiencing common cold symptoms, it\u2019s only natural to wonder if you can make your dog or cat sick. You\u2019ll want to read on to learn the answer and more about \u201ccolds\u201d and flu in our pets (the news is good!).<\/p>\n<h2>Different viruses, similar symptoms<\/h2>\n<p>Cats and dogs can suffer from upper respiratory infections, which can be similar to our colds. The good news is that your dog or cat <strong><em>can\u2019t<\/em><\/strong> catch your cold. Although your pet\u2019s symptoms may mimic yours, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pethealthnetwork.com\/cat-health\/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z\/feline-upper-respiratory-infection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dog and cat \u201ccold viruses\u201d are different<\/a> from the ones that infect people \u2014 they\u2019re species specific, meaning they can infect only one species. That\u2019s also good news considering that about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.webmd.com\/cold-and-flu\/cold-guide\/common_cold_causes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">200 viruses can cause the common human cold<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2604\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Symptoms.jpg\" alt=\"An interior graphic detailing a list of symptoms for upper respiratory illnesses.\" width=\"1198\" height=\"524\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Veterinarians consider several of these signs and symptoms to be non-specific, meaning they can be seen with a number of different health issues. So if your pet has experienced any of these symptoms for more than two days, a trip to the veterinary clinic is needed to eliminate potentially serious problems. If your cat or dog is listless and hasn\u2019t eaten in 36 hours, it will be especially important to consult your veterinarian as the underlying cause may be completely unrelated to an upper respiratory infection.<\/p>\n<h3>TLC for pets with upper respiratory symptoms<\/h3>\n<p>Supportive care is often the best medicine when our pets have upper respiratory infections. The first step is to make sure your four-legged friend is eating, drinking and breathing adequately. Cats in particular don\u2019t eat well if their sense of smell is decreased. So if your pet is depressed, isn&#8217;t eating, or has a milky or colored discharge from his or her eyes or nose, then they should be examined by your veterinarian.<\/p>\n<p>According to <strong>PreventiveVet.com<\/strong>, these <a href=\"http:\/\/www.preventivevet.com\/cats\/cat-got-a-cold-do-not-reach-for-the-tylenol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">simple steps<\/a> can help cats and dogs with upper respiratory symptoms:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Humidify the air<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 Have your pet in a steamy bathroom while you shower or use a humidifier (or vaporizer) in the room where your pet spends most of their time. Just as with people, steam can help clear up nasal passages by ensuring good hydration and function of the respiratory system.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Increase water intake<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 Help ensure your pet is well hydrated by adding canned food to their diet or adding a small amount of water to their food. You can also flavor your pet\u2019s drinking water with a splash of chicken broth or juice from water-packed tuna.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Keep noses and eyes clean<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 Use a warm, damp washcloth to gently clean your pet\u2019s nose and around the eyes.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Help your pet\u2019s appetite<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 Adding a small amount of canned food, warm water or warmed chicken broth to dry kibble can help encourage your pet to eat. You can also warm it gently in the microwave to help release aromas, which can be especially helpful in getting cats to eat. It may smell stinky to you, but it will help ensure your pet can smell the food, which is very important for their appetite.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Let your pet get plenty of rest<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 Offer plenty of clean, warm blankets for your pet to rest on. You\u2019ll probably want to avoid long walks with your canine companion until the symptoms improve. And if possible, try to limit play time if your pooch is a very active dog.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Flu viruses are specific, but may be shared<\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019ve most likely heard of flu outbreaks making people sick, as the human \u201cflu season\u201d runs from October through about April and varies in severity from year to year. You may have even heard of \u201cdog flu\u201d or <a title=\"Can Dogs Get the Flu? Understanding Canine Influenza\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/can-dogs-get-the-flu-understanding-canine-influenza\/\">canine influenza<\/a>, which affected thousands of dogs especially in Midwestern, Southeastern and Northeastern states during the past 12 years. Human and canine flu viruses are both influenza A viruses, but they are very different. Dogs are susceptible to influenza A H3N8 and H3N2.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike human influenza, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avma.org\/resources-tools\/animal-health-and-welfare\/canine-influenza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">canine influenza is not a \u201cseasonal\u201d flu<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s present all year long, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Outbreaks are more commonly seen where groups of susceptible dogs are in close contact, such as kennels, grooming or boarding facilities, shelters and dog day care facilities. However, in early 2016, the H3N2 strain was found in a group of shelter cats in Northwest Indiana. Some dogs at the shelter had been infected with the virus, and experts believe the virus was then transmitted to the cats. So far, reports of dog flu infections in cats are rare.<\/p>\n<h3>Signs of canine influenza A H3N2 in dogs and cats<\/h3>\n<p>Dogs infected with canine influenza virus often have symptoms similar to those seen with \u201ckennel cough,\u201d although infections with mild strains can resemble colds. The most common sign in dogs is a cough that lasts for 10 to 21 days despite treatment with antibiotics and cough suppressants. Discharge from the nose and\/or eyes, sneezing, decreased activity and appetite loss also may be seen.<\/p>\n<p>Some dogs also develop a pus-containing nasal discharge and fever. The most severely affected dogs can have pneumonia, a high fever and increased breathing rate and effort.<\/p>\n<p>Cats infected with canine influenza A H3N2 have signs of upper respiratory infections, including nasal discharge, congestion, depression, lip smacking and excessive drooling.<\/p>\n<p>If you suspect your pet may be experiencing symptoms related to an upper respiratory infection or flu, don\u2019t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. There are vaccines available to help protect your pets from common viruses and bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections and that can protect your dog against canine influenza. Be sure to ask your veterinarian which vaccines are most appropriate for your best friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer has given way to autumn, and cold and flu season is now beginning for us humans. If you\u2019re a pet parent already experiencing common cold symptoms, it\u2019s only natural to wonder if you can make your dog or cat sick. You\u2019ll want to read on to learn the answer and more about \u201ccolds\u201d and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Understanding Pet Cold and Flu Season: Signs and Care Tips","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about pet cold and flu season, the signs of respiratory infections in dogs and cats and essential care tips that can help keep your pets healthy!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[291,28],"tags":[100,209,10,11],"class_list":["post-4165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conditions","category-health","tag-cat","tag-cold-flu","tag-dog","tag-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4165"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4165\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}