My dog has cold symptoms and I have COVID. Does he need medicine?

Poor guy. Upper respiratory infections in dogs are usually caused by a bacterial infection. Other possible causes are a fungal infection, or allergies. It's best to take him to the vet to get examined and medications to treat this. If he does have an upper respiratory infection then he will be prescribed oral antibiotics to take care of it. I hope he gets well soon!

So the dog flu comes in two varieties. The first strain is not usually serious and can cause some nasal congestion, coughing and sneezing. Many dogs clear it on their own within a week or two. The second strain of flu (the one in the news lately) is more serious. However, dogs with this strain are usually much sicker (lethargy, fever, not wantin to eat, severe cough). The other options are kennel cough (a “doggy cold”) or allergies. Make sure Baxley is eating well and continues to have a good attitude. If he shows any of the signs I mentioned earlier, take him into the vet. In the mean time, you can run a humidifier near where he sleeps or put him in the bathroom with you while you run a hot shower. The steam can be very helpful in loosening the mucous. Hope this helps and best of luck!

If Bruno had a respiratory infection (a cold), then the vet would likely prescribe antibiotics. A runny nose could also be caused by allergies, which would require anti-histamines. It's important he's seen by a vet so that the cause of the runny nose can be diagnosed, and treated appropriately.

It’s definitely possible that the dogs are passing along a virus or bacteria. It’s also possible that the air quality inside the house is dry and circulating a lot of dust particles which can cause irritation to the lining of the nose. Monitor both dogs for progression of respiratory signs, decreased energy levels or not eating well. You can also use a humidifier and an air filter in the areas where they hang out most to improve air quality. Adding omega 3 fatty acids for dogs can also help. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Toby. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. His symptoms can be related to an upper respiratory tract infection. He may need to be started on antibiotics. A runny nose in dog tends to be a more serious sign than it is in humans. In the meantime, keep him quiet to allow his body to rest. Keep him home as he may be contagious to other dogs. I hope this information helps!

Dogs can get colds or allergies. I would talk to your vet about the results of the swab. You can use a humidifier to help break up secretions. If it isn't getting better in a few days or if Apollo shows additional abnormal symptoms, he should be re-examined by the vet.

Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose and/or prescribe medication through this service. As veterinarians, we have to physically examine and discuss the animal's case with the owner in order to be sure that we are making an accurate diagnosis and not prescribing a medication that could be potentially dangerous. It is also against the law for us to do this. Having said that, I understand this must be very difficult since you do not have a vet in your home town. Perhaps you can call a government vet office in a nearby city and see if they can help you. Below is a link to the nearest one I could find: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Government+Animal+Hospital/@26.1986456,88.6659873,8z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x39e29191ba951365:0xbab5fe9dd8a5e1a2!8m2!3d26.1986408!4d89.7865927 In the pictures, I'm not seeing a concerning amount of nasal discharge, so he may not need treatment. If the discharge is clear like water, then there is little need for concern. However, if the discharge is yellow/green, then he may need treatment. I hope that was at-least somewhat helpful and I hope all is well with Max.