Illnesses that Dogs are Prone to During Winter


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Winters can be very harsh, especially on your dog’s health. Dogs are prone to a lot of illnesses during the chilly winter months. Dog owners need to take extra precautions to ensure that their dogs stay healthy despite the cold weather.

Here are the five common illnesses that dogs are prone to during winter:

1. Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition that instigates the body temperature to go low when a dog has prolonged exposure to a cold environment. This illness is more prominent in dogs who already have diabetes and heart ailments. Dogs with these diseases are unable to maintain their body temperature. The symptoms of Hypothermia that you need to look out for include weakness, lethargy, and restlessness.

2. Frostbite

Frostbite is an illness that occurs when a dog stays in a cold environment for long, which pulls all the blood to the center of the body. Due to a Frostbite, a dog’s paws, ears, and nose get very cold that may lead to ice crystals forming in the tissues. You will not be able to see and locate the damages done for a few days.

If you see symptoms of frostbite in your dog, you immediately need to make it warm by applying warm water to the affected areas. Doing this will melt away all the ice crystals and reinstate blood circulation. However, ensure that you do not massage the frostbitten areas as that may lead to pain. When your dog warms up, wrap it in a cozy and warm blanket before taking it to the vet.

3. The Sniffles

Dogs get sniffles too, just like us humans. Sniffles is a minor upper respiratory infection with symptoms that include a runny nose, slight cough, watery eyes, and occasional sneezing, among others. You can treat Sniffles in your dog the same way you treat a baby. Give your little friend a good amount of rest, a warm blanket, and make it drink lots of water.

4. Flu and Pneumonia

The dogs that are the most affected by this disease include elderly dogs and young puppies. However, it is not just limited to them. This illness can affect any dog who has had a lot of contact with rain or snow. Mild symptoms of this illness include dry or moist coughs and sneezing. More severe symptoms include bloody coughs, fever and breathing problems, among others.

5. Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough or canine infectious trachea-bronchitis is a disease that dogs are really vulnerable to catch during winter. This condition is a result of a virus and bacteria working together. There are several factors that make a dog prone to catching this illness. The common symptoms that you should look out for include a honking dry cough and eye discharge.