5 Common Illnesses Your Dog Can Catch This Winter
Winter can be ruff. There’s no denying that the elements mixed with cold temperatures makes the season a challenge for all of us. On top of dropping temperatures, there’s always a chance of catching an illness that always seems to appear in the colder months while we're stuck in close quarters with everyone. While we try to combat the sickness ourselves, our canine companions may be trying to do the same. Dogs are just as susceptible to sickness as we are, so pet owners should be on the lookout for symptoms and changing behaviors from their four-legged friends. Let’s look at 5 common illnesses that your canine can get during the winter time so we can all be more aware and proactive of how to help them combat their sickness.
1. Hypothermia
Hypothermia is not just something to watch out for in people, but our furry friends can be at risk for this if they are left outside in the low temperatures for too long. Hypothermia is caused by low body temperature from extreme cold. If your dog has wet fur while outside in the cold, this can be a dangerous mixture that contributes to hypothermia. Watch out for your dog shivering excessively or if their skin has turned more pale than usual and is cold to the touch, as these can be indicators that your dog is experiencing hypothermia. Do not be fooled by your dog's thick, furry coat; even the furriest of animals can get hypothermia! The young and very old are the most susceptible to hypothermia, along with dogs that have a low amount of body fat.
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from hypothermia, get them into a warm, dry area quickly and wrap them with some warm blankets or towels carefully. It is easy to burn your dog's skin with direct heat, so stay away from heating pads and try wrapping some hot water bottles in towels to put near your dog to help with a heat source. You should also contact your veterinarian immediately to see if further treatment or action is needed.
2. Frostbite
Frostbite is tissue damage that occurs due to the cold and usually goes hand-in-hand (or paw-in-paw) with hypothermia as both are due to being exposed to the extreme cold. Frostbite will primarily occur on the tips of your dog’s tails, ears and toes with the severity depending on the dog’s size, age, fur thickness and how long they have been outside in the cold. One of the tell-tale signs of frostbite involves pale skin; watch out for a bluish-white hue in your dog because that is a sign of restricted blood flow, which happens when the skin is exposed to extreme cold. The body will restrict blood flow to keep only the essential organs functioning, therefore giving off the pale skin look. Ice can also form on frostbite-affected areas with the skin being cold to the touch or brittle to the touch.
If you suspect that your dog has frostbite, you should seek medical attention immediately. Until you can get your dog medical attention, you can move them to a warm, dry area as quickly and safely as possible and slowly wrap their body in warm towels and blankets. You can place hot water bottles in towels and place them near your dog to help warm them up as well. Do not rub or massage the affected area and do not use any direct heat, such as a hair dryer or heating pad.
3. Kennel Cough
Although kennel cough can occur year round, the winter months can see a rise in it with dogs being in close quarters with each other inside. Kennel cough is a contagious viral infection, causing dogs to get a cough, runny nose, fever and discharge around the eyes. This is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through airborne droplets, direct contact (saliva) or contaminated surfaces, such as sharing food and water bowls or toys. The cough is the most obvious symptom, and can sound like something is stuck in their throat and they are trying to cough it out or it can sound like honking. Kennel cough is treatable in most dogs but can be more severe in puppies younger than 6 months and immunocompromised dogs.
If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, call your veterinarian right away. Typically the more mild cases can be treated with a week or two of rest, but your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics as well as cough medication to help ease the symptoms. Kennel cough can be seen more in dogs that attend doggie daycare, are boarded frequently or are exposed to large groups of dogs due to the close contact.
4. Flu and Pneumonia
Canine influenza, or dog flu as it’s commonly called, is an infectious respiratory disease that is caused by an influenza A virus, similar to the viral strains that cause influenza in people. Another commonality the dog flu shares with people is that it is spread through airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing, but barking can be another way of transmitting the virus to another dog. This virus can also be spread through contaminated objects and environments, such as water bowls, food bowls, collars, toys, kennel surfaces or through direct contact with people who have had direct contact with an infected dog. Symptoms to watch out for with dog flu include a runny nose, cough, lethargy, a decreased appetite, eye discharge and fever. While most cases of the dog flu are mild, severe cases can occur and can lead to the dog developing pneumonia, difficulty breathing and a high fever. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs, where the air sacs can fill with fluid causing difficulty breathing and coughing.
Most dogs can recover from the dog flu in 2 to 3 weeks, but in more severe cases, they can develop secondary bacterial infections which can lead to a more severe illness or pneumonia. Call your veterinarian with any concerns you have with your dog right away so they can help with the diagnosis and treatment to get your dog on the road to recovery.
5. Arthritis
Most people with arthritis are familiar with the stiff joints and increased pain once the weather becomes cooler, and it’s no different for our four-legged friends. Our senior pets may be the ones who feel it the most and you might notice that your dog is having difficulty getting up after a nap or is a little slower in the winter months, which are signs of arthritis. The drop in air pressure can lead to the tissues beginning to swell, which makes mobility more difficult in the colder months and the decrease in activity can lead to sore muscles and stiff joints since moving helps to warm up the muscles in an arthritic dog.
If you notice that your dog is struggling with movement, it’s important to have them checked out by your veterinarian to help with treatment and options for tackling arthritis during the winter. Some ways to help your dog with their arthritis is to develop a winter plan to get your dog moving, purchase some extra warm blankets for them and possibly speak to your veterinarian about joint supplements.
Winter can be tough on everyone, especially our pets that have all four legs on the ground during the cold months. Keep an eye on your dog for any changes in their behavior or physical appearance that could be a sign that they are undergoing a winter illness. Minimizing outdoor activities during the harsher days can help prevent some of these winter illnesses; sometimes a good snuggle with your favorite canine companion can be just what the doctor ordered!
→ Remember, even in the coldest of months our canine companions still need exercise to keep their energy at bay and their muscles from getting stiff. If you’re not a fan of the cold ( I mean, who really is?), you can contact us and let one of our pawsome dog walkers help out! Going Mutts would love to give Fido that walk he needs everyday and let you carry on with errands inside or at work. Contact us TODAY to talk about how we can help get your dog the daily dose of exercise he needs with a free Meet ‘n Greet. ←
Sources:
https://arhvets.com.au/brisbane/common-winter-problems-for-your-pets
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-dog-flu-symptoms-you-need-to-know/