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Natural Cough Remedies in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 06/14/2017Updated: 10/28/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What are Natural Cough Remedies?
Occasional, infrequent coughing is normal in a dog. However, if your dog coughs a lot, has a persistent cough or is otherwise unwell, it may be something more serious.
Infectious tracheobronchitis, also known as a kennel cough, is a viral condition that can affect dogs. It is a dry, almost hacking, cough that can affect your dog for approximately a week.
Natural cough remedies are known to be effective, and you can administer these in the comfort of your home.
A case of kennel cough is not considered life-threatening, but if the symptoms persist or worsen, it's best to see a veterinarian for advice.
Natural Cough Remedies Procedure in Dogs
Honey and Coconut Oil
The most common natural remedy for dogs with a kennel cough, or canine tracheobronchitis, is honey.
Manuka honey, which is usually imported from New Zealand, is the most preferred type of honey. And in recent years, it has become popular to supplement the honey with coconut oil since it contains fatty acids that can help your dog recover faster.
Honey and coconut oil are naturally tasty supplements, so it's not difficult to get your dog to eat the remedy. Most dogs love the sweet taste, so just put honey on a spoon, and your pet should happily lick it up.
If your dog is small or medium, you should give half a teaspoon of honey and if your dog is large, one full teaspoon. Repeat the dose up to four times a day.
When using coconut oil, the recommended dose is one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight, and you should divide this up during the day. For instance, if your dog is 30 pounds, you can administer one teaspoon in the morning, one at lunchtime and one at night. Your dog's stool may become loose or greasy, in which case, reduce the amount of oil being given.
If your dog has gastrointestinal issues or has ever suffered with pancreatitis, do not give them any oils.
Wild Cherry Bark Syrup
Found in many natural food markets, wild cherry bark syrup contains raw honey, apple cider vinegar, wild cherry bark, propolis, elecampane root, rose hips, licorice root, slippery elm bark, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil and ginger root.
You can mix this syrup with honey. For a small dog, give half a teaspoon three times a day and for a large dog, one full teaspoon three times a day.
Tossa K
Targeted towards fighting infection, Tossa K contains mustard seed, black seed, olive leaf and pau d'arco. It may relieve signs of upper respiratory infections when given four times per day in doses of half a teaspoon each. It claims to bolster the immune system and to help fight infection.
Efficacy of Natural Cough Remedies in Dogs
Because of its antibacterial properties, honey is extremely effective at soothing the uncomfortable symptoms of a kennel cough. However, one must consider that kennel cough has to run its course, so natural treatments are focused on managing symptoms and improving immune response, rather than removing the problem. Honey and other remedies can make the coughing less hoarse and provide a coating for the dog's throat which makes coughing a little less uncomfortable.
Natural Cough Remedies Recovery in Dogs
The recovery time from kennel cough can vary, depending on the severity. A dog can start showing initial symptoms within five to ten days after contact with other affected dogs. From the day of the first symptoms, mot dogs are recovered in about a fortnight.
If symptoms do persist longer than ten days or you don't see any improvement, it is recommended you visit a vet. And of course, if constant coughing turns into something more, like breathing difficulties or wheezing, you should also visit a vet clinic.
Kennel cough can be managed with natural remedies, but your dog's veterinarian may be able to provide more insight and assist your pet in their recovery.
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Cost of Natural Cough Remedies in Dogs
Depending on how many natural remedies you try at the same time, the cost of treatment can vary from as little as $1.99 to as much as $100.
There is an extensive range of available honey on the market, which can cost anywhere from $1.99 to $20. For the more effective manuka honey option, it can be purchased for $25, or it can go as high as $80, especially if you need to pay shipping and handling.
If you decide to supplement the honey treatment with wild cherry bark syrup, expect to pay an extra $20. For Tossa K, around $25.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Dog Natural Cough Remedies Considerations
Kennel cough is not a condition which can be cured, but its symptoms can be alleviated. One of the best ways to do so is to allow the dog to rest, and continue the use of honey and coconut oil for at least ten days.
There are no harmful risks associated with these natural methods if given at the correct doses. And just like a human common cold, kennel cough can worsen, or it can get better. If it worsens, it could potentially lead to pneumonia or trachea problems, which is why you should visit a vet if the coughing doesn't get better or if you notice symptoms other than just the cough. These can include:
- Green nasal discharge
- Lethargy
- Severe coughing
- Breathing trouble
- A fever
You should also consider that once the worst part of a kennel cough is over, your pet may still experience occasional coughing over the next four to six weeks while the airway recovers.
Natural Cough Remedies Prevention in Dogs
Pet parents can help prevent their dog from contracting kennel cough by applying the available vaccine for the Bordetella bacterium, which is one of the most common agents to cause a kennel cough. This vaccine is available in injectable, oral, or intranasal forms, and it is usually given in two doses that are two to four weeks apart, followed by a booster shot every six months to a year.
However, pet parents should note that it's not 100 percent effective and dogs can still suffer from kennel cough even after being vaccinated. Because, although the Bordetella vaccine can stop most cases of kennel cough, there are other cases that are caused by other agents, including the canine adenovirus type 2, canine parainfluenza virus, canine respiratory coronavirus, and mycoplasmas.
Dogs who are exposed to groups of other dogs, such as when boarding, competing, or being walked, may benefit from the Bordetella vaccine. In fact, proof of vaccination is commonly required by grooming, boarding, daycare, and training facilities.
If you notice your dog is coughing or if you plan to introduce your pet to large groups of animals, it's recommended to speak with your veterinarian first.
Also, feeding your dog a healthy diet can enhance the immune system.
Natural Cough Remedies Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Pug
Fourteen Years
64 found this helpful
64 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My dog constantly coughs until he finally settles down. But sometimes he may cough when settled. I tried the humidifier, a sprinkle of turmeric in his food for the inflammation, changed his foodv to freeze dried for diet and inflammation purposes. The meds are as follows trazodne 100mg 1/2 8-12 hrs, carprofen 1 tab evy 12hrs, and cough tabs(no name) 1/2 4-12hrs. Help I'm about to go nuts
Feb. 12, 2021
Answered by Dr. Maureen M. DVM
64 Recommendations
Hi,
Sorry about that.
The cough could be an allergic reaction to some envrinomemtal factors such as pollen, dust or change in weather.
In such situations antihistamines are prescribed as well as brochodilators to keep the airway open.
Could you please ask your vet for a change in medication?
Allergies can be a pain to treat. Unless the allergen is eliminated, the condition will persist.
Good luck
Feb. 14, 2021
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Miniature Pinscher
Eleven Months
74 found this helpful
74 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
My dog started hacking/coughing around 6:30am this morning. It’s been going on and
Off since then. Was wondering what I should do since her vets closed?
Dec. 13, 2020
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
74 Recommendations
Hello, So sorry to hear that your dog is having issues. You can try to give her some Robitussin DM. For a small dog, she would only need 1mL a day. If this does not help, it would be best for your vet to listen to her to make sure that she does not have an infection in her respiratory system or any heart issues. Your vet may want to take x rays to check her out too.
Dec. 13, 2020
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Pug
Fifteen Years
44 found this helpful
44 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My dog has been having coughing fits that have turned into wheezing fits that have been getting more frequent. My vet cannot see me until Saturday and another vet can’t see him until the 29th please help
July 10, 2020
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
44 Recommendations
Hello,
So sorry to hear about your pug. These coughing fits could be due to heart issue, or lung disease. It would be best for your dog to see your vet. If he is coughing so hard that he is having trouble breathing you may want to try to take him to the emergency vet. If not he may be able to wait until Saturday. The vet will want to take x rays and possibly run bloodwork to see what is going on. They can then prescribe your dog medication to help him feel much better.
I hope your dog starts to feel better soon.
July 10, 2020
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Maltese
K
10 Years
114 found this helpful
114 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Non-Stop Honking-Cough; Lethargy.
Oh yes do I ever! I thought my 14# maltese wasn't going to make it thru what sounded like either kennel cough or collapsed trachea (diagnosed in the past). So I was told to try this item from Amazon, exact name: LivOnLabs Liposomal Vit C, 30 packets of 1000mg each, $33...so we sent for it via Prime. The difference in giving him maybe 1/2t from the packet was like night and day, within 40 mins he was a different, bouncy, no longer honking-coughing literally nonstop! Believe me or not, I really can't tell you how Iv seen him struggle and get weaker and weaker coughing incessantly thru nights and days, up to 5 or 6 usually. He is about to be 10 yrs old and after 2 days of using this amazing Vit C in liposomal form (the key), he is back to jiggy walking all over my seniors apt bldg and greeting everyone, which he thinks is his official job! I was truly fearful that he would not make it thru literally coughing and honking-coughing every minute, he looked so wan and fearful and sooo weak. Now here he is back to his jolly little self and can't wait to go back out to walk! And all is quiet with his little throat and lungs. A miracle, but then, for those of us who care about these things, Linus Pauling won the Nobel for his exquisite discoveries about Vit C in mega doses! PS I've had a horrid virus and cough nonstop, and a relapse after 3 weeks, taking steroids (not helping much), and Tessalon Perles, and codeine cough syrup (not a thing like the kind that used to HELP us, but more like some plastic opioid goo that makes you feel otherworldly and not in a good way!). So, I took a normal adult dose of a packet of this C and wham, I felt amazing after about an hour and both me and my dear doggy headed out to welcome the incoming storms yesterday in Dallas! I felt I had to tell everyone I could, so no person nor doggy need suffer so terribly from the new types of flu and viruses that are literally killing so many. There is an answer! But stick to this brand because I found out about it from a newsletter by a holistic physician trying to help us seniors and everyone else, survive. TRUTH.
Sept. 4, 2018
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Chihuahua
ChiChi
Fifteen Years
34 found this helpful
34 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
I have a 15 year old Chihuahua about 10-11 lbs. She has a bad cough. Took her to the vets. They said she has bronchitis. Shes been on 3-4 antibiotics since last october. The cough seems to get better but then it comes back. I dont have money to go back to the vet. do you have any suggestions of what I can get for her that would help? I tried the cough, wheeze, and sneeze from the Doggone Natural Store and it didnt seem to work..trying manuka honey 1 tsp 1 or 2 times a day but it doesnt seem to be working. Vet said her heart is OK. still says is bronchitis. shes had cefpodoxime 10.50 each on 10/13/16...clavamox on 3/16/17..Zeniguin on 8/16/17..Theophylline sr 50mg on9/28/17.. I think one other one but cant remember name..
Jan. 23, 2018
34 Recommendations
Chronic bronchitis can be troublesome especially in an older dog, I would recommend checking our page on natural bronchitis treatments linked below and also consulting a Veterinarian specialising in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (second link below) who may be able to offer some assistance. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
https://wagwalking.com/treatment/holistic-bronchitis-treatment
www.tcvm.com/Resources/FindaTCVMPractitioner.aspx
Jan. 24, 2018
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