Can Dogs Get Colds? Symptoms, Flu and Cold Medicine Safety

Dog cold signs, how kennel cough and canine flu differ, why human cold medicine is dangerous, and when a sniffly dog needs a vet.

Quick answer: Yes, dogs get their own cold-like infections, such as kennel cough and canine flu, which cause sneezing, a runny nose and coughing; the American Kennel Club says the risk of passing a cold between people and dogs is extremely low. Most mild cases clear in 1 to 3 weeks. Never give human cold medicine. Labored breathing, blue or gray gums or collapse needs an emergency vet now.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Emergency signs: when a cold is not just a cold

A dog with fast, labored or open-mouth breathing at rest, blue, gray or pale gums, collapse or fainting, or coughing up blood or pink froth needs an emergency vet now. Also go now for:

• Breathing with the neck stretched out or the belly heaving
• Gums turning blue, gray or pale (a late sign, so don't wait for it)
• A rectal temperature of 104 F or higher
• A nosebleed that is heavy, won't stop, or comes with bruising or possible rat poison exposure
• Tremors, a seizure or a racing heart after swallowing any human medicine

A coughing puppy, senior, flat-faced breed, unvaccinated dog (or one whose vaccines are unknown) or dog with heart or airway disease should see a vet in person today, as should any dog with a wet cough, fever or no appetite, because the cold may be turning into pneumonia. A swallowed cold medicine means a pet poison line now, or the ER now for anything with xylitol or an unreadable label.

Can my dog catch my cold or flu?

The American Kennel Club says the risk of passing a cold between people and dogs is extremely low, and human flu only rarely infects dogs, so a sniffly dog most likely caught a germ from another dog or is reacting to an irritant such as smoke or dust.

A 2010 study in Italy, published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, found that 2009 pandemic H1N1 flu occasionally infected pet dogs, and the CDC says no human infection with canine influenza has ever been reported. COVID-19 can pass from people to dogs during close contact, the CDC says, though serious illness in pets is extremely rare; avoid close contact with your dog while you are sick.

Dog cold symptoms and what causes them

Sneezing, a clear runny nose, a dry or honking cough, watery eyes and mild tiredness in a dog usually come from canine infectious respiratory disease (kennel cough), canine flu or an irritant such as smoke or dust.

The Merck Veterinary Manual names the main kennel cough germs as Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus 2 and canine influenza virus. One-sided, bloody or foul-smelling discharge can mean a grass seed, a tooth root abscess or a nasal tumor; see what dog nasal discharge colors mean.

Sign	Likely cause	Next step
Sneezing, clear drip	Mild virus, irritant	Watch; vet if over a week
Dry honking cough	Kennel cough	Home care; vet if 2+ weeks
Fever, wet cough, not eating	Flu, pneumonia	Vet today; ER at 104 F
Thick green discharge	Infection, tooth root	Vet today
Bloody nose, one side	Stuck object, tooth, tumor	Vet today; ER if heavy
Puppy, senior, flat face	Higher risk	Vet today
Cough at rest, older dog	Heart, airway	Vet today; ER if labored
Labored breathing, gray gums	Pneumonia, heart	ER now

In this table, "Vet today" means an in-person exam today, not a video visit. Labored breathing, blue or gray gums or collapse means an emergency vet now at any stage of a cold. Sudden honks or snorts may instead be reverse sneezing or tracheal collapse.

Can dogs get the flu? Canine flu vs kennel cough

Dogs can get the flu: canine flu, caused in the US mainly by the H3N2 strain, spreads fast where dogs gather and can bring fever and pneumonia, while kennel cough is usually a milder honking cough; the American Animal Hospital Association says a vet cannot diagnose canine flu from signs alone, so a lab test is needed to confirm it.

The CDC lists dog flu signs as cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge and reduced appetite. The canine flu virus is also one of the germs behind kennel cough, so the two overlap. The Merck Veterinary Manual calls kennel cough a mild, self-limiting disease with a "goose honk" cough, often followed by retching or gagging, that can progress to pneumonia in puppies. Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine says most dogs with H3N2 flu are only mildly affected, but some develop life-threatening pneumonia.

The American Animal Hospital Association says dogs at greatest risk visit boarding kennels, daycares, groomers and dog parks, and that canine flu is not seasonal. Vaccines exist for canine flu and some kennel cough germs, though the American Kennel Club notes that kennel cough vaccines do not fully protect; ask your dog's in-person vet which ones fit your dog. For timelines and care, see the kennel cough guide.

How to help a dog with a mild cold at home

Rest, fresh water, a warm, draft-free room, a humidifier or a steamy bathroom (plain water only, and never shut in alone), gently wiping the nose and a harness instead of a collar help most mild dog colds.

• Rest: short, calm walks until the cough settles.
• Moist air: run a humidifier with plain water, or sit with your dog in a steamy bathroom; never leave a dog shut in there alone, because dogs, especially flat-faced breeds, can overheat. Add no essential oils, menthol or vapor rub: Pet Poison Helpline says camphor rubs should never be applied to dogs or cats. If your dog licked or ate a chest rub, or you already rubbed one on its skin, call a pet poison line now.
• Appetite: a dog that stops eating needs a vet today.
• Temperature: use a rectal thermometer, not the nose. Normal is about 100 to 102.5 F. At 103 F, call a vet today; at 104 F or higher, go to an emergency vet.

Keep a coughing dog away from other dogs and from cats until a vet says it is no longer contagious. The Merck Veterinary Manual says dogs with flu should be considered contagious up to 4 weeks after exposure, and the Cornell Feline Health Center reports that H3N2 dog flu has infected cats. Don't share bowls or toys, and wash your hands after handling the sick dog.

Can I give my dog human cold medicine?

No, a dog should never be given human cold or flu medicine, because these products often contain decongestants such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen, the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, or xylitol, and each can harm a dog.

Pet Poison Helpline says pseudoephedrine has a narrow safety margin and can cause a racing heart, tremors, seizures and death, and that a "-D" after an allergy medicine's name means it also contains a decongestant. Phenylephrine has a wider safety margin than pseudoephedrine but can still raise heart rate and blood pressure, so never treat it as safe. Acetaminophen damages the liver and red blood cells; ibuprofen and naproxen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney damage. Nose sprays and redness-relief eye drops with oxymetazoline or tetrahydrozoline can slow the heart and cause collapse if swallowed, and the FDA warns that xylitol, found in some cough syrups and chewable vitamins, causes a rapid, severe drop in blood sugar in dogs; sugar-free cough drops can contain it too.

Product	Main risk	Do this
"-D" pills	Racing heart, tremors	Poison line now
Cold combos	Hidden drugs	Poison line now
Tylenol	Liver, red cells	Poison line now
Advil, Aleve	Ulcers, kidneys	Poison line now
"DM" syrup	Vomiting, agitation	Poison line now
Nose spray	Slow heart, collapse	Poison line now
Any xylitol	Low blood sugar	ER now
No label	May hold xylitol	ER now

On every ER now row, call a poison line on the way, not instead of going. Tremors, a seizure, collapse or a racing heart after any of these means an emergency vet now. Keep the package, and don't make your dog vomit at home unless a poison line or vet tells you to. See also whether a dog can have Tylenol, ibuprofen or aspirin.

My dog ate cold medicine: what to do now

If a dog swallowed human cold or flu medicine, call a pet poison line or an emergency vet now with the package in hand, even if your dog seems fine, and do not make your dog vomit unless you are told to.

For xylitol or a label you can't read, go to an emergency vet now and call on the way. The American College of Veterinary Pharmacists notes that dextromethorphan's effects can appear slowly over several hours, so a dog that looks fine can still become ill.

1. Pick up every pill and wrapper, and keep the package.
2. Note the product, its strength, how many are missing and the time.
3. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply) or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies), or your nearest emergency vet.

Give no other medicine or remedy at home; see when making a dog throw up helps and when it harms.

When to see a vet for a cough or runny nose

Most mild dog colds clear in 1 to 3 weeks, but a dog needs a vet if a cough is not clearly better after 2 weeks or gets worse, a runny nose lasts more than about a week, or there is fever, poor appetite, or thick, one-sided or bloody discharge.

See a vet in person the same day for:

• Higher-risk dogs: a puppy, senior, flat-faced breed or dog with heart or airway disease that starts coughing.
• Unvaccinated dogs, or dogs whose vaccines are unknown, especially puppies, with eye or nose discharge, a cough or fever, above all with vomiting or diarrhea. The Merck Veterinary Manual says unvaccinated dogs, or dogs of unknown vaccination status, should be particularly suspected of distemper. Twitching or seizures mean the ER now.
• Possible heart disease: an older or small-breed dog, or one with a heart murmur, with a new cough at rest or while asleep; ER if breathing is fast or hard at rest.
• Sleeping breaths: a healthy sleeping dog usually takes fewer than 30 breaths a minute. Repeat counts above 30 mean a vet today, and counts in the 40s mean an in-person exam today, or an emergency vet if no regular vet can see your dog. Breathing effort or a gum color change means the ER at any count. See how to count sleeping breaths.
• One nostril: one-sided discharge or bleeding, or violent sneezing after tall grass.

A lingering cough in a dog not on heartworm prevention calls for a heartworm test soon, or the ER for sudden hard breathing, pale gums or dark urine. VCA advises calling ahead before bringing a coughing dog in. A cough that ends in a retch can look like gagging without throwing up, and whistling breaths may be dog wheezing.

When a video visit helps

RexVet, a nonprofit online vet service, serves pets located in Florida, New York and Virginia by video visit, and every visit is with a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state. A video visit helps when your dog has a mild cough, sneezing or a runny nose, is still eating, drinking and breathing comfortably, and is in one of those states during the visit. Book a $64.99 live video visit with a licensed RexVet vet. Live video slots run about 8 AM to 11 PM ET, including weekends; there are no overnight visits, and a same-day slot is not guaranteed. The one-time $120 Family Plan covers 4 visits over 12 months for every pet in the home and never auto-renews.

The veterinarian listens to the cough live or in a phone video you share, counts breaths and checks gum color with you on camera, and asks about boarding, daycare, grooming and vaccines. They tell you whether home care is enough, how long to keep your dog apart from other pets, and whether your dog needs an in-person exam, chest X-rays or a flu test. A video visit cannot listen to the lungs with a stethoscope, take X-rays, measure oxygen or take a flu swab.

Go to an emergency vet now if your dog is breathing hard or fast at rest, has blue, gray or pale gums, collapses or coughs up blood. A coughing puppy, senior, flat-faced or unvaccinated dog, or one with heart or airway disease, should see a vet in person today rather than by video. For a swallowed cold or allergy product, follow the poison steps above.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says kennel cough is often self-limiting and antibiotics are usually not needed unless there is evidence of pneumonia, so a visit may not end with medication. No prescription is promised; any medicine is the veterinarian's decision after the visit, within the state and federal limits on video-only prescriptions explained in the FAQ below. RexVet is not a pharmacy; a pharmacy transfer fee applies when RexVet sends a prescription to an outside pharmacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can my dog catch a cold or the flu from me?

It is very unlikely: the American Kennel Club says the risk of passing a cold between people and dogs is extremely low. Human flu has occasionally infected dogs, but this is uncommon, and the CDC says no person has ever been reported infected with canine flu. The CDC notes COVID-19 can pass from people to dogs, so avoid close contact with your dog while you are sick.

How long does a dog cold last?

Most mild dog colds clear in 1 to 3 weeks. The Merck Veterinary Manual says most dogs with flu have a mild cough that lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Kennel cough in a healthy adult dog often settles in 7 to 14 days. See a vet if a cough is not clearly better after 2 weeks or gets worse, or if a runny nose lasts more than about a week. Fever or not eating means a vet today, and labored breathing the ER now.

Can I give my dog Robitussin, Mucinex or NyQuil for a cold?

No. Never give a dog human cough, cold or flu medicine, and ask a veterinarian before giving any medicine. Multi-symptom products can combine acetaminophen, decongestants, dextromethorphan and sometimes xylitol, and each can harm a dog. If your dog swallowed some, call a pet poison line now with the package, even if your dog seems fine; for xylitol or an unreadable label, go to an emergency vet now and call on the way.

Should I keep my coughing or sneezing dog away from other dogs?

Yes. Keep a coughing or sneezing dog away from other dogs, and from cats, until a vet says it is no longer contagious, and skip daycare, boarding and dog parks. The Merck Veterinary Manual says dogs with flu should be considered contagious up to 4 weeks after exposure.

Can cats get colds, and can my cat catch my dog's cold?

Yes, cats often get colds (upper respiratory infections), and H3N2 dog flu has infected cats, so keep a coughing dog away from cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center says respiratory infections are common in cats and that up to 97% of cats are exposed to feline herpesvirus in their lifetime. From RexVet's own visit data: Cats made up 28% of RexVet visits but 61% of visits for respiratory problems. For a new cat, see newly adopted cat sneezing or hiding. Never give a cat any human cold or flu medicine; Pet Poison Helpline says acetaminophen is especially dangerous to cats. Call a vet if an adult cat eats nothing for 24 hours, and go to an emergency vet now for open-mouth or labored breathing.

Can an online vet help with my dog's cough or cold in Florida, New York or Virginia?

Often yes, when the cough or runny nose is mild, your dog eats and breathes easily, and it is in one of those states. On camera, the veterinarian can hear the cough, count breaths, check gum color and advise on home care, isolation and whether your dog needs to be seen. Stethoscope checks, X-rays, oxygen readings and flu swabs need an in-person vet, as does a coughing puppy, senior, flat-faced or unvaccinated dog or one with heart or airway disease. Labored breathing means an emergency vet now. No prescription is promised. In Florida, a video-only prescription is limited to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled only for fleas and ticks); renewals and human-labeled, controlled or compounded anti-infective drugs need an in-person exam. Federal rules require an in-person exam for off-label or human-drug use in every state; Virginia allows an electronic exam, and New York's rules are not settled. A pharmacy transfer fee applies if a prescription goes to an outside pharmacy.