My new pet is coughing and wheezing. Can I give human cough medicine?

Unfortunately no, there are not. Many human medications, especially OTC ones, can be toxic to cats and fatal if given. It's true that Buddha could be coughing because of a respiratory infection, but it could also be due to allergies or something more serious such as heart disease. I would have him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing his cough, and can prescribe safe medications for him. I can also give you some things at home that may help him, and are safe to use in conjunction with medications from the vet. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. Good luck, I hope this helps!

No, I cannot recommend doing that. For one, I cannot legally say it's safe, and two I cannot say it's the correct treatment. Boo Boo could be coughing due to heart disease or respiratory disease. You need to have him seen by a vet tomorrow for this.

Poor cat. You didn't mention the name of the medication that you are trying to give Lady. Regardless, we would not be able to verify that it is ok to give a medication prescribed to one pet to give to another pet without first doing a proper exam. Mainly because we don't know what we are treating for here. Congestion can be caused by an upper airway infection, underlying heart disease, or a lower airway infection (pneumonia). It is best to get Lady seen by your vet soon to have this properly diagnosed and treated. It sounds like multiple antibiotics may be needed, as well as other medication to help open the bronchi in the lungs, making it a bit easier to breathe. I would recommend using a dehumidifier in the meantime, to help break up any congestion and help with Lady's breathing. I do hope that your fur baby is feeling better soon! Best wishes and take care.

She could have an infection or asthma causing the cough and wheeze so she should be examined by a vet. Your vet can take an x-ray to evaluate her heart and lungs and then prescribe medications to treat. She may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and/or a bronchodilator to help with the cough and wheeze. Your vet can also check her teeth to make sure she doesn't have a dental problem.

Colds are viral in nature, so supportive care is recommended. Occasionally, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat secondary infections. Coughs have many causes, so you would need to have Luna physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause so that the appropriate treatment can be administered. Potential causes include infection (bacterial, fungal or viral), allergies, inflammatory conditions such as asthma, heart disease, trauma or foreign body.

No, cats are very delicate and have bad reactions to most human medications. Paracetamol can kill a cat so there aren’t any medications that can be given safely to cats. If you are worried about Dexter, the best thing you can do is to have him checked over by your vet. Hope this helps and that Dexter gets better soon.

She could definitely start having asthma at her age. I would recommend having a vet listen to her heart and lungs, and take a chest x-ray. They can send the x-rays to a be read by a radiologist if you'd like a second opinion. The treatment for asthma is usually steroids and inhaled broncodilators. You would need a prescription for those things. So unfortunately, there isn't much you can do totally alone, but it does sound like she needs some help.