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Cold
Dogs rarely get a cold in the same manner that people do - sneezing and runny nose. There are some uncommon and very mild viruses that can cause these symptoms, but the dog is usually very bright and there is no need for treatment short of taking things a bit easy. Most upper respiratory infections in dogs will cause coughing – see Kennel Cough.
If your dog has the symptoms of a cold, sneezing and runny nose, but only one nostril is affected, it is more likely that they have inhaled something, have a tooth root abscess that had started to affect the nose or have a growth up the nose.
A bad discharge from the eyes and nose, and a dog that is pretty ill could be Distemper. This is highly unlikely it your dog is vaccinated, but you should certainly contact your vet over these signs.
Collapse
A dog that collapses for no apparent reason is always something to be taken seriously and should be taken to your vet for investigation. Some important questions will need to be asked to determine the nature of the collapse. Does the dog lose consciousness? Does it recover soon afterwards? Is it OK the rest of the time?
If the dog loses consciousness when it collapses, it will be either a fit or a faint. During a fit, there will be vigorous shaking of the limbs, while during a feint the dog will lie still. For fits, see Fits.
Fainting is often related to heart disease and often occurs when the dog is excited. The heart has failed to transport enough blood to the brain and the brain shuts down temporarily. The dog may recover in a few minutes as the body rests, but if the cause is a heart attack, it can be fatal.
Fainting can also occur with low glucose levels in the blood. There is a condition Border Collies that can cause the glucose levels to become very low when they exercise.
If the dog does not lose consciousness it may have collapsed because of a generalised weakness or illness. If a dog is so sick it has collapsed, it is seriously ill.
Loss of balance may also cause a dog to fall over to one side. This can be due to an ear infection or it can be a problem in the brain. See Giddiness.
Constipation
Constipation is the inability to pass faeces. This can be partial, in which some faeces are passed with difficulty, or total when no faeces are passed at all. If this occurs you should get the problem checked by your vet, urgently if no faeces at all are being passed and the dog is distressed trying to pass them.
Not all dogs that strain to pass faeces are constipated. An inflamed gut may cause a dog to strain repeatedly to pass faeces, but nothing passes as the gut may be empty by this stage.
Diet does have a bearing on this condition as in man. A diet too low in fibre can predispose to constipation, but dogs don’t often have a problem for this reason alone. Eating too much bone, such as chewing up a whole marrow bone, can cause constipation soon afterwards.
Some physical factors can cause constipation. Any mass in the pelvic canal can block the passage of faeces. The commonest cause of this is an enlargement of the prostate – a common problem in older uncastrated male dogs. This is usually a benign enlargement and is reversible with castration, but tumours and infections of the prostate can also occur. Any cancerous growth in this area has the potential to cause this.
Another problem which can cause constipation is a condition known as a ‘perineal hernia’. In this condition the muscles to one or both sides of the anus become weakened and eventually break down, allowing the rectum to try and come out around the anus instead of holding it back. There will be a swelling to one side if this is the case. This condition requires surgical repair to resolve.
Treatment of constipation usually requires some lubrication to shift the faeces. In mild cases, liquid paraffin is used orally. In more severe cases and enema may be required, sometimes with an anaesthetic to allow a full manual evacuation of the bowels. In the long term, any underlying cause should be addressed. Your vet may recommend a high fibre diet or even other fibre supplement to help prevent the problem.
Coughing
The commonest cause of coughing in dogs is Infectious Bronchitis - more often known as Kennel Cough. This causes a dry cough, often quite severe, typically followed by a retching noise. The dog is usually still bright and alert.
This disease is highly infectious and is passed around much like the common cold and is caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. Dogs will pass this disease around whenever they meet, especially in kennels and at dog shows. It takes 7-10 days for the cough to appear. In most cases the disease is not severe and clears in 2-3 weeks, but occasionally it may cause a pneumonia. The dog will appear quite unwell if this occurs.
Pneumonia will also cause coughing as will breathing in some foreign object, but in these cases the dog will definitely appear unwell. A dog that is coughing and appears sick should certainly be taken to your vet.
Coughing can also be a sign of deteriorating heart disease. The cough generally occurs when the heart starts to fail and fluid builds up on the lungs. This cough is generally worse when the dog wakes up from lying down, as the fluid moves about in the chest. If your vet has diagnosed you dog with a heart murmur and it starts coughing, it is time for a recheck as they are likely to need medication at this point.
Lungworm will cause coughing in dogs. It is not common in the UK and most wormers will not treat it well. It is seen more frequently in Ireland or dogs that have come from there.