Letters from Readers:

Hello,
How do I treat my dog if she has a cold? Her symptoms are runny nose and some sneezing but no temperature. Her eyes look okay, her gums are normal and she seems a bit lethargic but she is always mellow. She is 18 months old and of a mixed breed.

Could she become symptomatic after less than 24 hours of being exposed to another dog with a cold? Any advice is appreciated. She likes to sleep outside for hours at a time on her pillow, but it is cold outside. Is that not advised? Would buffered aspirin help? - Valerie

IT sounds like a cold, but never assume it to be that, without checking. If your dog has had these symptoms for more than three days and is showing no improvement then a checkover by the vet would be in order. It could be a slight chill or some type of canine flu coming on, or if she has been with other dogs perhaps kennel cough or any of a huge number of other canine illnesses may be in their early days. I don't think the buffered aspirin would help unless the dog is in pain. It could be that she is getting chilled from being outside in the cold weather (depending on her breed and coat length etc). If she really loves outside and doesn't want to come indoors then make sure she is not lying on concrete as that can lead to arthritis and chills. Is her pillow large enough for her to snuggle into and where is it situated? Make sure the pillow is not damp when she sleeps on it. If the pillow is outside all the time (all night) then get another one and swap them every morning, one drying out thoroughly while the other is being used. And make sure the pillow is in a sheltered spot, rather than an exposed position. Another possibility is that she may be allergic to something in the yard (or even inside the house and that is why she is so fond of outside). - Ed