Do Dogs Get Colds?

The short answer is YES, but not from humans.  The colds that humans get are species -specific.  They can not catch a cold from other humans, but they can catch a cold.  I have had a least a dozen dogs over the course of my lifetime, and I don't ever remember one catching a cold.

As with most dog illnesses, lack of appetite and no desire to drink water, along with general lethargy, are cause for concern.  If your dog is sneezing, has watery eyes and a runny nose, he probably has a cold.  There are several canine viruses that dogs can contract.  If your dog does not get better in 7-10 days, seek medical advice.  In the meantime, keep your dog isolated from other dogs.  He is probably contagious, so no park or doggy play dates if he has cold symptoms.

So, humans get an average of 2-3 colds per year, and canines rarely, if ever get colds.  Go figure.