My 8-pound dog is coughing. Should I give her dextromethorphan?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If your dog is coughing, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian for an exam and chest x-rays at their next available appointment. She could have pneumonia, asthma, or something such as heart disease that is causing her to cough. It is important to determine why a dog is coughing before suppressing the cough, as this could worsen something like pneumonia or heart disease, which require medications such as antibiotics or diuretics, respectively. Please do not give anything like cough syrup to her, as these can contain chemicals that are toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would not give this to Waldo unless prescribed for him by your vet, and under their supervision. You can discuss with your vet if this is safe to give him, and they can give you the dose information.

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While Dextromethorphan (the active ingredient) in Tussin Adult Cough Medicine can be given to dogs, Unfortunately for legal reasons, I cannot give dosage information for over the counter human made drugs through the internet. You may inquire about the dosages of this medication through your primary care veterinarian. So sorry and I hope Have feels better soon!

Poor Dixie! Unfortunately, by law we are not permitted to give any specific dosing recommendations without an exam - but I can tell you that doxycycline is not likely to be helpful in this case, since the coughing is due to airway irritation from the smoke rather than a bacterial infection. If she seems to be breathing okay and acting normal otherwise, you can try bringing her into the bathroom with you with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity often help to soothe irritation and relieve symptoms in cases like this. You can also try giving her a small amount of honey several times a day to help soothe her throat. If there is no improvement by tomorrow morning, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam - she may need prescription anti-inflammatory medication or cough suppressants to treat the cough.

You may be able to use dextromethorphan depending on what she is currently taking, but you will need to contact your veterinarian for a dose. Bronchodilators may also be of benefit in treatment. Legally, we are prohibited from providing such information or telling you to give it in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (Veterinarian-Patient-Client Relationship).

We do not normally recommend a cough suppressant over the counter for coughing in dogs without first examining the pet as there are some cases where a cough suppressant would be contraindicated. If your dog is coughing, I would definitely recommend an examination by a veterinarian as there can be many different causes for the cough, including infectious disease, anatomical abnormalities like collapsing trachea, heart failure, heartworm infection, and more. We need to try to determine the underlying cause of the cough before we can properly treat the cough.

Delsym can be used in dogs, however you should call your veterinarian to obtain a safe dose. Do not medicate your pet without the advice of your vet. Additionally, cardiac disease should be ruled out since you have an older dog. This will require a physical exam along with chest xrays and/or an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).