My chihuahua has kennel cough and congestion. What should I do next?

Hello. After 3 weeks I would be a little concerned as to why Tristan is not any better. I would not use the Mucinex as this can dry out the secretions & actually make things worse. If your veterinarian has not done chest x-rays, this would be the very next step to see if there is something else going on. In the meantime, I would try doing some steam therapy with him. Sometimes the warmth & moist heat will help ease the breathing, but please try to have him seen soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh no, poor Rosie! I would not give her any more Robitussin, as too much is not safe for dogs. Kennel cough is a self limiting disease that last three to four weeks, and while medications can help with the symptoms, they will not completely prevent the symptoms of it. I would have Rosie seen by a vet, who can prescribe medications are safe to give her. There are some things you can do for her at home. Any dog with kennel cough should be isolated for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on the severity of the infection. Keep her in a well-humidified area, and use a harness instead of a collar to minimize coughing. Rest her for at least seven days to minimize irritation of the airways caused by excessive coughing. You can bring Rosie into the bathroom with you while you have a shower, as the steam may help with the respiratory irritation. I recommend having her seen by a vet tomorrow.

Poor Roxey. The changing of seasons can certainly cause these guys to get some congestion. Unfortunately since Roxey is older, I would take her to your vet for an exam. She could have a simple upper respiratory infection or something more serious like the canine flu, heart disease, or even pneumonia. Your vet will be able to listen to her heart and lungs. Your vet can also do blood work or chest X-rays if needed and provide the proper medicine to help make her feel better. Unfortunately there isn’t a good OTC medicine to help her feel better. You can try 75 mg (3 adult tablets) of Benadryl twice a day until you can get her to the vet. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better really soon.

You should not give Robitussin to your dog for kennel cough. Kennel cough is a viral infection and does not respond to antibiotics. The problem with giving cough suppressants like Robitussin is that if the infection does turn more serious (i.e. into pneumonia or bronchitis) suppressing the cough is not advisable, as it will likely prolong the infection. The best course of action is to have your dog rechecked by your veterinarian to determine if the infection has progressed and, if not, to give prescription cough suppressants.

I'm sorry that Pali has a cold! Unfortunately, by law the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach cannot recommend any specific medications, even over-the-counter ones, for any pet without an exam. If she seems congested or has a cough, you could try bringing her into the bathroom with you while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity will often help to break up congestion and provide some temporary relief for minor respiratory infections. If this doesn't help, or if her symptoms are severe, it would be best to take Pali to the vet for an exam to find out if she does have a cold, or something more serious. Your vet can prescribe an antibiotic or other medication for her if needed, depending on what is found.

Kennel cough, or Bordetella, is a common upper respiratory pathogen that is very contagious between dogs, and usually dogs have a loud goose-honk cough, sometimes ending in coughing up a bit of phlegm. This could be going on with your dogs. Don't worry, it isn't life-threatening, but I usually put these dogs on an antitussive to help alleviate the cough and sometimes an antibiotic. If you don't take them to a vet, the cough should go away in a week or two, but make sure you don't let them socialize with other dogs as they will spread it around.

If Roxy is having nasal discharge, a cough, or any other respiratory symptoms, she should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet can correctly diagnose the condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment.