Your guide to cold medications for dogs

Key takeaways

• Like humans, dogs can catch respiratory illnesses, too. They don’t catch the same colds as humans do, but they can get similar illnesses that cause coughing, sneezing, and fevers.
• In most cases, these illnesses go away on their own, but sometimes, medications are necessary. For example, vets might recommend NSAIDs, antibiotics, or antitussive medications. Never give a dog human medications without a vet’s recommendation.
• Experts recommend that all dogs receive a vaccine against Bordetella, the bacteria that cause kennel cough. There are also flu vaccines for dogs that can help prevent illness.

Overview

During the winter months, stuffy noses, fevers, and coughs are all too common. But it’s important to know that your pets may also catch a cold or the flu. Dogs are also at risk of their own illnesses, particularly if they spend a lot time indoors, such as in kennels or doggy day cares. In these environments, bacteria and viruses can easily spread.

If your dog has a cold, you should see a veterinarian. There are many ways you can manage your pet’s illness, including medications and natural remedies.

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Symptoms of canine cold and flu

Dogs don’t get the same colds as humans do, and humans can’t pass colds along to their dogs. This is because the viruses that cause colds are species-specific. However, a group of bacteria and viruses called canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) can cause similar symptoms to human colds and the flu.

CIRDC includes an infection known as kennel cough, which can cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, fatigue, a reduced appetite, and, as the name suggests, a loud, honking cough. This is caused by bacteria called Bordatella.

Canine influenza, or flu, also falls under the CIRDC umbrella. Canine flu symptoms can overlap with those of kennel cough. A vet can determine what your dog may have by doing a physical exam and listening to your pet’s lungs.

In cases of outbreaks where several dogs present with an illness, vets might also perform lab testing to determine the cause.

As with all respiratory infections, cases can range from mild to severe. In severe cases, pneumonia and difficulty breathing can occur.

Cold and flu medications for dogs

Most cases of CIRDC are mild, and many dogs recover on their own within 7 to 10 days. However, in more severe cases, your pet may benefit from medications to help them recover. These may include:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics can be used against bacterial causes of CIRDC, but they won’t work against viruses like the flu. Antibiotic treatment in dogs may last up to 6 weeks and includes medications such as doxycycline (Vibramycin) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Vets may recommend NSAIDs to reduce pain and fever in dogs with CIRDC. These include meloxicam (Metacam) and carprofen (Rimadyl).
• Mucus-thinning medications: Guaifenesin can help thin out canine mucus in wet, moist coughs, but it won’t work for dry, hacking ones.
• Anti-coughing drugs: According to some 2024 research, some medications, such as butorphanol (Stadol) and maropitant (Cerenia), may be used to reduce coughs in dogs. These are known as antitussive medications. However, vets might not prescribe these as coughing can actually help to clear an infection.

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Can dogs take human cold medications?

You should never give a dog human medications unless specifically instructed to do so by a vet. Human formulations of drugs may be stronger than those designed for dogs, and many may be toxic to your pet.

Dogs’ bodies process medications differently to how humans do, so human medications are not designed for them.

Other treatments for dogs

Alongside medications, or if medications aren’t appropriate, there are other methods you can use at home to take care of your pet. These include:

• Keep your dog isolated: Canine illnesses are highly contagious to other dogs, so vets generally recommend keeping your pet away from other animals for 2 to 3 weeks, if possible. Avoid doggy day cares, kennels, and grooming salons.
• Increase fluid intake: The risk of dehydration goes up during illness if dogs aren’t eating or drinking normally, so it’s important to try to increase their fluid intake. If your dog isn’t drinking as much as usual, try adding some ice cubes to their bowl. The ice may make the water more appealing.
• Use a nebulizer: Nebulizers change liquid medication into a breathable mist to help give sick pets relief. In this case, no medication is used. Instead, saline is delivered directly into the dog’s nose. This can help loosen phlegm.

Prevention tips

Your pet can catch a virus or bacteria when a sick dog coughs, sneezes, or barks. They can also pick up germs from contaminated surfaces such as water bowls, collars, and kennel areas, or through contact with people who’ve had direct contact with an infected dog.

However, you may not need to avoid kennels and doggy day cares altogether. You can try to prevent these illnesses by getting your pet vaccinated and keeping them up to date on their shots.

There are many different viruses linked to CIRDC, including canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2). Many vaccines include protective coverage against several of these viruses.

You can also vaccinate your pet against Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacteria that cause kennel cough. Rather than a shot, this vaccine uses drops, which the vet can insert into the dog’s cheek pouch or nose. Many Bordatella vaccines also contain coverage for CPIV.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines recommend the canine distemper vaccine, the Bordatella vaccine, and the canine influenza vaccine for all dogs.

These vaccines may not prevent your dog from catching the virus, but they can shorten the length of their illness, reduce symptom severity, and reduce the chance of the virus being transmitted to others.

Summary

Like humans, dogs can catch colds and flus, too, especially if they spend a lot of time indoors at kennels or day cares. These illnesses will often go away on their own, but sometimes, medications are needed. These medications include pain relievers, anticoughing drugs, and antibiotics in some cases.

Do not give your dog human medications unless specifically asked to do so by a vet.

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