My dog has kennel cough. What OTC meds or home remedies can help?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

  Veterinary Technician

  Published on March 18th, 2015

  Kennel Cough can be both viral or bacterial in nature, so treatment may vary depending on the cause of your dog's cough. If your dog is experiencing a bad cough, or signs of a bacterial infection, then making an appointment with your local vet is best as medications used to treat chronic cough are regulated and not usually available over the counter, and antibiotics may be needed if the cause is bacterial. Do NOT give any over the counter medications to your dog without first consulting a vet, as the dosage, amount and duration may be different in dogs than humans, and some medications may be toxic to pets.
  
  For viral Kennel Cough, caring for your dog's symptoms and helping him to overcome his illness are best. Make sure he is well hydrated, still eating and has plenty of rest to help recover. As Kennel Cough is contagious, keeping him away from other dogs until his symptoms resolve will help stop its spread.
  
  If your dog frequents locations such as the dog park, day cares, or kennels, it is a good idea to start him on a vaccine protocol for Kennel Cough. The vaccine can be given either yearly or every 6 months, and is usually given in the nose or mouth. This does not protect against all types, but is useful in preventing and lowering the chances of Kennel Cough in the future.

  

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• Answered By Chad Brown, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 8th, 2018

  Hello and thank you for your question. Because all of the cough medicines that are over the counter are not labeled for dogs, we cannot recommend any of these medications to you because we have not examined your pet. However, your regular veterinarian has multiple anti-tussive medications at their clinic that can help with this cough. Even if they do not have these medications at their clinic, they can write a prescription for you at a human pharmacy for you to pick them up. So yes, there are many different cough medications that you can give your pet but it has to be at the recommendation of the pets regular veterinarian.
  
  Thanks a lot for your question. I hope I have given you some help.

  

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• Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 28th, 2018

  Poor Jumpin Jack Flash (I love his name!). Any dog with kennel cough should be isolated for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on the severity of the infection. Keep him in a well-humidified area, and use a harness instead of a collar to minimize coughing. Rest him for at least seven days to minimize irritation of the airways caused by excessive coughing. You can bring him into the bathroom with you while you have a shower, as the steam may help with the respiratory irritation. I would also take him into the vet. The vet can prescribe medications to help with his symptoms. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

  

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• Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

  Veterinarian

  Published on January 24th, 2019

  Usually this type of infection is self limiting and resolve within few days.
  If not resolving in 4 days and causing systemic signs (like lethargy, inappetence for example) a check up and antibiotics may be needed as it could worsen and become a bronchitis and possibly complicate in a secondary pneumonia.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful