Great Dane colds are common during seasonal changes, especially in puppies or dogs with weaker constitutions. A simple cold is usually not hard to cure, but the symptoms of a Great Dane's cold can resemble many other diseases, so understanding the signs is very important.
Symptoms of a Great Dane Cold
1. Sleepiness and poor energy
The Great Dane is normally active and always busy. But when it catches a cold, it becomes very different from usual. One of the first signs, just like in humans, is low energy, loss of interest in things around it, and obvious drowsiness. Once the owner notices these changes, the possibility of illness should be considered and the dog should be taken to the veterinarian promptly.
2. Reduced appetite
Great Danes usually have a strong appetite and will eat almost anything except foods they dislike. They often lack a strong sense of fullness, so unless the owner controls portions, they could keep eating for a long time. But once the dog is sick, appetite often drops sharply. It may not want to eat and may even avoid drinking water. At such times, some owners replace water with unsalted chicken broth to help with hydration, nutrition, and recovery speed.
3. Constant nose licking
Great Danes sometimes lick their noses normally to keep them moist, but frequent nose licking is different. The owner should check whether nasal discharge is running continuously. If the discharge is cloudy or gray-green, the dog may already be sick. In such cases the dog often keeps licking its nose simply to remove the mucus. A dog with a runny nose may even blow small mucus bubbles while sleeping. During this period, the owner must be especially careful to prevent the dog from getting chilled.
4. Sneezing and coughing
Besides barking, Great Danes do not usually make many other sounds. One of the earliest signs of a cold, however, is coughing. This cough may sound like something is stuck in the throat, so owners sometimes mistake it for choking. In either case, the dog should be seen by a veterinarian. Sneezing also means the dog may have gotten chilled, and the owner should pay more attention to keeping it warm.
5. Tearing and bloodshot eyes
Some tear staining is normal, but if the tears become heavier and the eye whites are red, it suggests that the dog's body is not in a good condition. Owners should not ignore this and should first determine whether the cause is really a cold or something else.
6. Body heat
Because dogs have different fur and sweat gland patterns than humans, their normal body temperature is already several degrees higher than ours. That is normal. But if the Great Dane's body temperature rises beyond a normal range, the owner should be cautious. High body temperature is a dangerous signal and requires prompt medical attention, because fever can lead to complications.
How to Distinguish a Cold From Similar Diseases
If a Great Dane has rhinitis, the temperature usually does not rise, but the nasal mucosa becomes red and swollen and the discharge becomes thick or blood-streaked. If the dog has distemper, the body temperature may rise to 40 to 41 degrees Celsius, then drop slowly, and rise again after about a week, often with sticky eye discharge. If it has canine parainfluenza, the disease is contagious, the cough is severe, the tonsils are red and swollen, and the nasal discharge is thick. If it has bronchitis, the cough tends to be short, severe, and dry.
How to treat a Great Dane's cold
To confirm that the Great Dane only has a simple cold, it should first be examined at a veterinary clinic. After confirmation, the owner can decide whether treatment at home is appropriate or whether hospital treatment is better. Many owners say that for a simple cold, some Great Danes may be given things such as antiviral oral liquid or amoxicillin, but any home treatment should follow child-level dosing and should stop immediately if the dog does not improve. At the clinic, the veterinarian may give injections or IV fluids and combine them with several days of medication.
What medicine can a Great Dane take for a cold?
At an early stage, some owners give children's cold medicine such as pediatric cold granules, but always at a children's dose, never an adult one. If the dog still does not improve after medication, the owner must seek professional help promptly.