Well it was bound to happen. It's winter - which means it is cold and flu season. And my human has been hit with a cold. The kind that starts with a scratchy throat and then develops into a stuffy nose, heavy head kind of feeling. And when she talks to us, she has this weird voice that sounds like some stranger. Add to that her constant moaning and groaning as she reaches for ANOTHER Kleenex - and you have one very pathetic looking human. She's bit dramatic - now you know where Frodo gets it from.
The good news is that we won't catch it from her. Transmission from humans to dogs is pretty much unheard of, according to several sources. Human and canine cold viruses are very different - so we don't pass them back and forth. Now we dogs CAN get colds. And we CAN pass a virus to another dog. Dog colds look a lot like human colds - a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing and watery eyes. A cold is different from an allergy, influenza (with a fever), parasites or kennel cough. Kennel cough is an infectious virus that results in a loud, honking kind of cough. Kennel cough spreads among dogs quite easily, and while most dogs get over kennel cough without a problem, it can be dangerous for very young or very old dogs. There ARE vaccines for kennel cough - but the reality? There are different strains of kennel cough, so even IF you immunize your dog, he can STILL get kennel cough. Kind of like the human flu vaccines.
Assuming your dog really does just have a common cold (and it's best to have your vet figure this out based on your dog's symptoms), the treatment is actually like human cold treatment. Dogs should drink lots of fluids - including soup, use a humidifier, and get good rest.
We'll be sure to take good care of my human - making sure she gets plenty of fresh air. And exercise. OK, maybe we'll lighten up on the exercise part - maybe we'll let her actually have a nap. As long as we can cuddle with her. Now excuse me while I go and make some chicken soup.
Have a good one.
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