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My puppy has kennel cough. What can I do to help? Is it dangerous?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 2 months and 25 days old | 7 lbs

I think my 4 month old puppy has kennel cough. What can I do to help? Is this dangerous?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 26th, 2018

Kennel cough is an upper respiratory disease that is caused by various bacteria and viruses, The most well known one would be Bordetella sp.
Kennel cough is a self limiting disease and will go away within 4 weeks even without treatment, We only treat the animal if it has a fever, or if the cough gets so bad that it is coughing almost all the time, or if there is a purulent discharge.
You do not need to do anything. Should your dog start coughing constantly or get lethargic or have a purulent discharge, you should take it either to your vet for an exam and cough medicine and antibiotics as needed or to a PetER if your vet is not open. But if your dog is happy and other than coughing occasionally appears not bothered by it, you can wait it out.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Maria DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 23rd, 2018
Kennel Cough is typically viral. I recommend putting Tobu in the bathroom while you shower so the steam will help. Typically I recommend a veterinarian to make sure it is kennel cough and to make sure his lungs are clear. If you did not want to take Tobu to a vet then if the coughing gets worse, he becomes lethargic, anorexic or has difficulty breathing he does need a veterinarian.

Kennel cough can develop into a secondary bacterial infection and they can get bronchitis or pneumonia with it. Always remember it is contagious so keep him away from other dogs.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on May 9th, 2017
Congratulations on your new addition! Kennel cough is an infection that occurs due to a large number of different infectious bacterial and viral agents. While a previous infection does not make Marley more susceptible to new infections of kennel cough, if he has been around a number of other dogs (dog parks, groomers, kennels), he is more likely to acquire another bout kennel cough. Very mild cases of kennel cough can resolve on their own, but more severe cases can progress to pneumonia. If you are concerned that Marley has been coughing (or his initial cough never completely went away), I recommend taking him to the vet for an exam. There is a chance that he may need another course of antibiotics or medications to dilate his airways to help him along. I hope that he feels better soon!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 12th, 2020
Hello. Coughs are quite common in older pets, but that does not mean they are not serious. But the first thing that needs to be done is a good physical examination to listen to the heart for murmurs & the lungs for sounds of congestion. Coughs can be cause by infection, like bronchitis, pnuemonia & tracheobronchitis, heart failure, lung disease, tracheal problems, or from heartworm disease. Once the underlying cause is found, the appropriate medications & treatments can be recommended. I do hope Lucky is feeling better soon & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Why is my puppy's kennel cough still loud after antibiotics?

Kennel cough is usually a self limiting infection and in 1 to 2 weeks time will completely disappear without any treatment. However sometime an anti inflammatory medication and an antibiotic treatment is indicated (and probably this was your case). Your puppy should gradually improve but if you do not see an improvement in the next 24-36 hrs I recommend a recheck at your veterinarian, earlier if she is getting worse. In the meantime I suggest to use a harness instead of a collar to walk her outside to avoid pushing on the inflamed trachea and make her cough even more. Good and post again if you would like further advices. I hope this answer was helpful.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Can I give my dog honey for kennel cough? How long until they recover?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a honking cough. Could it be kennel cough? What to do?

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has kennel cough. Should I see a vet or try home remedies?

There's really nothing that can be given at home to lessen the duration of the condition. Keep him warm and rested, away from other dogs and be patient. If he hasn't been seen by a vet, it's a good idea to since he may need antibiotics to help him recover faster. If he's coughing so much he cannot sleep or rest, that's another reason to get him seen so he can be prescribed cough suppressants. An occasional spoonful of honey can coat his throat and help suppress the cough temporarily.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has kennel cough after surgery. How can I treat it at home?

Kennel cough is usually a self limiting disease. Unless Anubis has a very bad cough or discharge from his nose or a fever, there is usually no treatment necessary. If the cough is bad, you can give him some OTC cough medicine such as Robitussin provided your veterinarian finds it suitable for your dog. Give your veterinarian a call and get permission to use it. Your vet knows your dog's health history and therefore can best assess the need.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is coughing and hacking like he's trying to throw up. Is it kennel cough?

This sounds like he may have an upper respiratory condition. This could be something as common as kennel cough, especially if you take Bakster to dog parks or if he has contact with other dogs. Usually, kennel cough is self-limiting, ie goes away within 3-4 weeks without treatment. It is caused by a number of different virusesw and bacteria, the most well-known being Bordetella bronchiseptica. Treatment is only necessary if the coughing get s excessive, and/or Bakster gets a fever or otherwise appears ill. You should take Bakster to a vet for an exam if he shows any signs of breathing problems, lethargy, not eating and/or drinking. Treatment for upper respiratory disease consists of cough medicine and antibiotics if indicated.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Should I treat my dog for kennel cough if she's not coughing?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The good thing is that kennel cough can self resolve meaning that it does not always have to be treated. When it is viral instead of bacterial in nature, it does not need antibiotics and usually self resolves though sometimes there is a need for cough suppressants. I would recommend to continue to monitor Lily for now. If she develops a cough or any other symptoms such as lethargy or inappetence to have her evaluated then. I hope she gets out of this in no time! Have a good day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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