Skip to main content

Keeping dogs and cats healthy during cold and flu season: An expert weighs in

As we head into cold and flu season, many of us are taking extra precautions to bump up our immunity, especially given the current times we are living in. But while it’s important to prioritize our own health, we have to keep in mind that dogs and cats can also contract colds, flu, and other viruses during this time of year.

Granted, dogs and cats don’t catch the same colds and viruses that humans do, but they each have their own set of illnesses that you’ll want to protect them from to keep them as safe and healthy as possible. PawTracks talked to Dr. Katie Kangas, DVM and integrative veterinarian, and she gave us quite a bit of insight into what cold and flu symptoms to look out for in your furry friend in addition to how you can help strengthen their immune system so that as the season approaches, they’re as protected as possible. Let’s start with an overview of the types of illnesses that affect dogs and cats.

Related Videos
dog at the vet

Colds and viruses in dogs

One of the most common illnesses you’ve probably heard about in dogs is kennel cough. What you might not know is that kennel cough is not any more prevalent during cold and flu season months than in other months of the year. Dr. Katie explains, “The main agent in kennel cough, bordetella is actually a bacteria, not a virus. The kennel cough infection is a respiratory complex that has the bacterial component of bordetella, but a viral component as well.” Dogs are much more likely to get kennel cough when they are confined and have exposure to other animals.

If your dog has kennel cough, you’ll recognize it by a honking, gagging cough sound. While you might immediately become nervous and alarmed if you suspect kennel cough, Dr. Katie notes that it’s usually not a major cause for concern, saying, “For the majority of dogs, it’s a self-limiting and annoying but highly contagious issue that does not require treatment, though some vets over-treat it with antibiotics. It lasts 1 to 3 weeks, and you can mitigate the cough with herbal syrups and liquid formulas that help to soothe the airways and inflammation.”

She adds, “If dogs get lethargic or have a fever, nasal or ocular discharge, seek medical attention. If your dog does have kennel cough, keep them away from other dogs and be a responsible pet owner.”

Another illness that’s emerging in dogs is canine influenza. Dr. Katie says it’s “a true viral flu that may go up in the winter,” though she adds that she can’t speak to that clinically.” She also notes that dogs are more susceptible to canine influenza if they are boarding, going to daycare, or are show dogs.

In terms of vaccines for kennel cough and canine influenza, Dr. Katie advises not excessively vaccinating pets, as she believes it can further challenge their immune systems. She also adds that it’s not recommended for healthy dogs who are not immunocompromised to receive the canine influenza vaccine.

lethargic cat

Colds and viruses in cats

Dr. Katie explains that there are a compilation of viruses that affect cats most when they are stressed or confined. Many kittens coming out of shelters and adoption centers are most prone to these illnesses because they are so stressed. During cold and flu season, one virus in particular that cats tend to get is a complex herpes virus called feline rhinotracheitis. It causes an upper respiratory infection in cats and can also lead to conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Dr. Katie notes that their feline herpes is similar to how the herpes virus occurs in humans, saying, “The body can harbor it and it can resurface, just like when humans get cold sores. It can resurface during times of stress.” She adds, “Sometimes when a cat comes out of the shelter, they will go for months or years without it. Then they break out with another episode when there’s a change at home. Maybe people move to a new household, bring in a new pet, or a new baby, and that can trigger an outbreak. Anything that is stressful to cats because they are so territorial presents a prime time to break out with an infection.”

Preventative measures you can take to keep your pet healthy

Nutrition is key

First and foremost, Dr. Katie advises that you need to be mindful of what you’re feeding your pet. She says, “Food is the most important preventive medicine to keep your pet in a resilient health state. It set the stage for the immune system and the body to be at a state of its highest capacity.”

If you’re feeding your pet dry kibble, you might want to rethink that choice. Dr. Katie explains, “There are so many options that are better than standard kibble. With kibble, the food is heavily heated and the nutrients are not viable. Look for less-processed, low-processed, or fresh food. Dehydrated, freeze-dried, and fresh-cooked foods are always preferable.

Supplements

She also recommends different supplements to help boost your pet’s immunity. One supplement in particular that she suggests for both dogs and cats is colostrum. She explains, “Colostrum is the very first nutrient-rich milk that comes out of a mother, which gives a baby their initial immune system until they can develop their own immunity. It’s so helpful for humans and also pets in giving the same antibody and immunosupportive factors. It’s also known to help heal the gut.”

Dr. Katie also recommends the following supplements to support your pet’s immune system:

Animal Essentials Super Immune

Pet WellBeing Immune Support for Dogs

Pet WellBeing Immune Support for Cats

Pet WellBeing Throat Gold for Dogs

Pet WellBeing Lung Gold for Cats

Keep pets’ stress low

Believe it or not, cats and dogs can actually feel and sense when their humans are stressed out, and Dr. Katie advises limiting their stress as much as possible to keep them healthy. She notes, “Pets feel their humans’ stress, too. They have more illnesses when their humans are highly stressed. By mitigating our own stress, it helps our pets as well.”

In conclusion

Having your furry friend come down with an illness might not be totally unavoidable, but it’s a relief to know that there are preventative measures you can take to set them up for having a healthy immune system as winter approaches. By giving them a strong nutritional foundation at home combined with their regular veterinary checkups, you can rest assured that you’re taking all the right steps to keeping your pet healthy and safe.

Editors' Recommendations

Should you get a health and dog DNA kit? Here’s what you need to know about this new trend
Get some insight into your pet with a dog DNA kit
Corgi walks next to the water outside

Dog breed reveal parties might be the new trend, but is a dog DNA kit worth it? After all, how much information do you really get from one of these? And which tests work the best for the price? It's good to ask a few of these questions and do some research before buying one — they aren't cheap and you want to make sure you get the correct breed and health data so you can make informed decisions about your pet. This is what you should know before buying one for your pup.

What do DNA and dog health testing kits tell you (and what don't they)?
Dog DNA kits work similarly to human ones. The companies have the genetic makeup of many different breeds in their database that they then can match to your beastie. That means a number of official pups with papers got to give their DNA to help you connect your animal to them.

Read more
How long can you walk your dog in cold weather? Experts tell us
How long should you walk your dog in winter? Canine experts weigh in
A pug wearing a sweater walks through the snow

Walking your dog might be a breeze on a balmy summer morning, but a wintertime stroll could be a very different story. From slippery ice to disastrous wind chills, you really never know what you might run into. Luckily, though, with just a little knowledge and preparedness, you'll be more than ready to walk your dog in cold weather. As for preparing yourself for the cold -- you're on your own with that one!

To help you keep your pup as warm as possible while doing their daily duties, we've asked a few canine care experts about the dangers of walking your dog in the winter. By the time you're done reading, you'll be ready to prepare for your next cold-weather stroll.

Read more
4 ways to uplift your dog’s mental health and why it’s so important
How to keep your dog's mental health at its best
A happy Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever smiles at the camera

You may not see it overnight, but the pet industry is changing. Owners and professionals alike are watching pets become part of the family instead of simple companions. This means the way people care for their pets is changing, too, and they all seem like changes for the better.
Pet mental health is a new topic that's taking the spotlight thanks to these changes, which is why we asked Renee Rhoades, the head behavior consultant at R+Dogs, about the importance of dogs' mental health. The things owners can do to keep their pups feeling fulfilled are surprisingly simple, so read on to learn about the easy changes you can make for your own dog. You might also be surprised to see how similar human and canine mental wellness is!

Why your dog's mental health is so important
If you've ever faced depression, anxiety, or another mental health concern, you'll understand just how important it is to safeguard your emotional well-being. Even short experiences with mental illness can change a person's perspective permanently, and the same can be said for our canine friends. If you need to see it to believe it, just look at the depressed dogs in shelters!

Read more