Is it safe to give my dog honey if they have a URI or a cold?

Poor Baby. She likely has an upper respiratory infection. A lower airway infection (pneumonia) is possible also but typically pets are much sicker and have fluid sounds from the chest if this were the case. Upper respiratory infections in dogs are not like people colds, because they generally are caused by a bacterial infection which requires a short course of antibiotics to get rid of. Therefore, it's best if you get Baby seen by your local vet to be examined and prescribed medication. I would make it a point to get her seen within the next 24 hrs if at all possible, before her condition gets any worse. Don't be tempted to give her any over be counter cough medicine, because she has, what sounds like, a productive cough (coughing up fluid and phlegm) and therefore you don't want to suppress her cough. The vet will give her the exact medication she needs to get well again. I wish Baby a full and speedy recovery!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Honey is absolutely precious! Coughing, especially when accompanied by nasal discharge, can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection. However, it can also be a sign of a lower respiratory issue, such as pneumonia and it is concerning that Honey has some episodes of lethargy, as this indicates that she is not feeling well. I recommend having her seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. I hope Honey starts feeling better soon!

Poor puppy. Puppies are not like humans in this regard. They can have a small amount of honey mixed with warm water to help soothe the throat if puppy is coughing as well. Also a humidifier can help clear up any congestion he may have. Hopefully the Doxycycline will help clear up some of this upper respiratory infection he has going on within the next couple of days. That is likely the real reason they prescribed it to him, because this antibiotic is not routinely given post neuter. I hope your puppy Finley feels better soon!

A cold is caused by a virus so there is no treatment or it. You can give a little bit of honey and lemon to soothe the throat if it is bad or get an antinflammatory from your vet if you think Star is bunged up. In a young pup a check up would be wise as their immune system is not as good and a cold might actually be something more sinister that needs antibiotics.

I would not recommend it, especially garlic be had that is toxic to dogs. If there is bacteria in her upper respiratory tract, she will need antibiotics from a vet. If it's allergies they can tell you the dose for Benadryl. Please do not give anything over the counter until you talk to your vet. Kisses to Shelly!

There is no harm in giving her honey, though it may not help at all. When dogs are in heart failure, or have a history or congestive heart failure or heart disease, usually a cough is due to one of 2 causes-- 1) fluid in the lungs OR 2) the enlargement of the heart pushes on the on the large airways, causing a "tickle" type cough response. Take her in to see your vet. It would be best to have some chest X-rays taken to see if she is in congestive heart failure, and to monitor the size of the heart. If she is NOT in congestive heart failure, your vet may prescribe a cough suppressant medication to help ease the cough. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

You can give honey if you wish to try and soothe your dog's throat if he has kennel cough - it can sometimes help a little, and won't hurt anything. Normally, kennel cough causes relatively mild symptoms and resolves on its own within a week or two, but in rare cases it can progress to pneumonia or other serious problems. If your dog is not eating, acting lethargic, or coughing so much that he has trouble resting or sleeping, then I would recommend having him examined by a vet - he may need antibiotics and prescription cough suppressants to help resolve the infection more quickly and make him more comfortable.