Can Dogs Get Colds?

Colds in dogs are pretty common and are often caused by the various germs and viruses, just like in case of humans. The following article explains ways to treat common colds in dogs, and lists out other illnesses that produce similar symptoms as well.

Dogs can contract a cold by being in proximity with a dog who is already infected. Along with this, stress, low immunity levels, and inhospitable weather conditions can be additional contributing factors.

But most pet owners usually have trouble discerning a common cold from a serious ailment. To make things a little easy for you, we have here a list of symptoms indicating that your dog has a cold.

Symptoms of Common Cold in Dogs -
Coughing
Runny eyes
Yellowish-green discharge from the nose
Frequent sneezing
Lethargy
Can my dog catch a cold from me?
The answer is a resounding 'no'. Dogs can pass viruses among themselves, but a human-to-dog transmission is unlikely. This is because the virus that gets a dog down with a cold is different from the one that affects humans. Therefore, owners should not be concerned about either, passing this illness onto their pets, or contracting it from them.

Helping Your Dog Recover

Increasing Fluid Intake
If your dog has common cold, the simplest way to get rid of it is by feeding him/her lots of nutritious liquids. Chicken broth, for instance will work wonders for your dog too.

Steam Therapy
Try to get your dog to inhale steaming water which will unclog the sinuses. Bring over a tub of hot water, and gently lead the dog to inhale the vapors. Be careful not to allow the dog to go too close to the steaming water.

Boost Immunity
If your dog is prone to catching a cold, use preventive measures, like feeding him/her immunity-boosting food items. This in turn, will keep the germs and bacteria at bay, which can otherwise lead to a cold. A good immune system will ensure that the dog is better equipped to cope with fluctuations in the weather, which is also a common cause behind contracting a cold.

Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapies help in boosting a dog's immune system. Provide the dogs with vitamins A, C and E when he/she's suffering from a bout of cold. By including these vitamins in the diet, the immune system will become strong, enabling the dog to fight off most illnesses.

Cough Suppressant
If these home remedies don't work, call your vet about prescribing medication. Cough suppressants can be given to provide temporary relief. Although they may not be able to get rid of the symptoms entirely, they can be given to minimize the discomfort.

Preventive Measures
It would be a good idea to keep the dog indoors when the mercury dips. This is to protect the dog from getting out in an environment where it's easy to catch a cold. Cover your pet with a warm blanket to keep him/her warm during the winter months.

Other Respiratory Illnesses in Dogs

Canine Parainfluenza
This respiratory illness produces symptoms similar to common cold in humans. It is possible to treat canine parainfluenza with the use of home remedies in the early stages. If symptoms persist, you need to speak to the vet.

Kennel Cough
The symptoms of kennel cough include a harsh-sounding cough and discharge of phlegm. Kennel cough, in most cases, is caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and Adenovirus type 2. Adenovirus type 2 is known to produce cold-like symptoms in dogs.

Pneumonia
Pneumonia in dogs occurs when the respiratory infection and cold do not resolve on their own, and are left untreated. Pneumonia causes an inflammation of the lungs and its symptoms include difficulty in breathing and chronic coughing. Dogs suffering from pneumonia need immediate medical care.

Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a very grave illness, so ensure that your dog is vaccinated against this disease. It is highly infectious. Canine distemper produces symptoms such as coughing and sneezing along with gastrointestinal disturbance. It weakens the dog's immunity and can prove fatal.

Other Illnesses
In some rare cases, cold-like symptoms may be caused by certain parasites, which enter the heart and the lungs. Fungal infections, which occur when the fungal parasites get into the lungs, produce symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, etc.

If your dog's condition does not improve, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as dehydration, infrequent urination, poor appetite, vomiting, etc., and if the dog seems perpetually distressed, it is recommended you contact a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, if the dog is very old or very young, it is best to consult a veterinarian, rather than attempting to cure him/her at home.

Toothbrush Bracelet Making Instructions

Has it ever occurred to you that a toothbrush can be transformed into a pretty piece of jewelry? If not, then this article on how to make a toothbrush bracelet, is sure to take you by surprise. And if you think frugal fashion is cool, you're sure to love it too!

In today's times, when the environment is under threat due to the tons of plastic waste that is released into it every day, even a small "green" step from each one of us can help. And what better place to begin than our own home? But what can we do to contribute to the protection of the environment, you may ask. Well, the simplest and one of the most effective ways to go about it is recycling. If each one of us begins to recycle even a small percentage of the waste generated in our homes, especially non-degradable waste such as plastic that can cause harm to the environment, imagine how much safer and greener our planet's gonna be! And what better way to recycle than creating something pretty out of scratch that makes you look good! Making funky and stylish jewelry out of common discarded household items, is fast catching up as a trend, and when it comes to homemade jewelry ideas, people are getting more innovative by the day. In this article, we shall have a look at how a toothbrush can be transformed into an interesting piece of jewelry. Sounds great? Well, then read on...

How to Make a Toothbrush Bracelet

It is a fact that we change our toothbrush once every few months, but what we normally do is throw away the used toothbrushes. But what if I tell you that with a bit of creativity, you can transform it into a funky bracelet in no time? Will you be surprised? Probably yes, and curious too! So, here I bring to you the procedure of making a trendy bracelet using a toothbrush, in a series of simple steps. But wait, first let's have a look at what all things you need to get going.

Materials Required
A colorful toothbrush
Pliers
Cooking gloves
Saucepan
Food tongs
Big glass bowl
Now that you know what all things you need, let's begin with the steps.

Step 1: Removing the Bristles

The first step in making your toothbrush bracelet is removing the bristles. To do this, hold the toothbrush and using the pliers, pull out the bristles. Try to pull out as many bristles as possible. However, do it gently so that you don't end up with a broken toothbrush! If you find that some bristles just won't come off, relax! We can handle these during a later stage of the process.

Step 2: Softening the Toothbrush

Once you have removed the bristles from the toothbrush (again I say that it doesn't matter if a few remain!), the next step is to make it soft enough for you to bend it. How to go about it, you may ask. Well, it's simple. Take the saucepan and pour water in it. Now switch on the cooking stove in your kitchen and place the saucepan on the stove. Once the water starts to boil, place the toothbrush inside the boiling water in the pan and wait for at least 10-15 minutes for the brush to soften.

Step 3: Bending the Toothbrush

After a few minutes, remove the toothbrush using food tongs, but be careful not to touch the hot toothbrush with your hands. At this stage, you can pull out the remaining bristles, if any. Now, put on your pair of cooking gloves and try to bend the brush into a circular loop to give it the shape of a bracelet. If you find that the brush is still stiff, place it again in the pot of boiling water for a few more minutes, before you make a bracelet out of it.

Step 4: Cooling the Bracelet

Once you have bent your bracelet into shape, your next task is cooling it. For this, pour some ice-cold water into the glass bowl and throw in a few ice cubes as well. Place your bracelet in the bowl and allow it to cool till it hardens. Your toothbrush bracelet is ready!

The following tips will make your task of making a toothbrush bracelet easier.
Choose a toothbrush that when bent, can fit on your wrist. If you have a thin wrist, for example, go for a smaller toothbrush.
When heating to soften the toothbrush, make sure that the base of the pan is wide enough to accommodate the length of the toothbrush.
Remember NEVER to touch the toothbrush when it is in the pot of boiling water, because it would be extremely hot.
So, the next time you feel the urge to flaunt something unique on your wrists, grab a toothbrush or two in lovely colors and create a style statement of your own. You can even use your creativity to embellish your bracelet with ribbons, beads, etc. Have fun!