What Are The Remedies For Kennel Cough?

Most people have pets at home, and it’s definitely a pride and joy to have loving pets at home. But if you are a beginner, there are many things to take care of like health, exercises, training, including potty training, food, and much more. Among them, health is the utmost priority.

These puppies have to be given proper care to keep them healthy and strong. When you look at the health conditions, kennel cough is an uncommon condition found in dogs.

However, a dry and consistent cough accompanies them. Below are listed some of the best remedies that can be tried for controlling kennel cough. 

Kennel Cough:

Kennel cough is an infection that is caused by the inflamed trachea and bronchioles resulting in dry cough. Initially, the dogs may experience only mild coughs, but the situation may worsen and lead to life-threatening pneumonia in some cases.

And so, it’s important to monitor the symptoms of kennel cough and give necessary care and treatment on time.

Common Symptoms of Kennel Cough:

Before starting any treatment for kennel cough, you need to make sure that the dog is suffering the infection or it’s just a cough. To confirm this, check out the common symptoms listed below to find out whether it’s a mild one;

• Consistent dry and hacking cough
• Puking with the production of white color foam
• Continuous cough at night

If the condition is severe, the symptoms may change, and it’s better to seek a vet’s help during this condition;

• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Difficulty in breathing
• Lack of interest in daily activities

Best Remedies for Kennel Cough:

For mild kennel cough, some home remedies can be followed to treat the cough. First, keep monitoring the dogs whether the cough is getting better or worse.

Humidifiers Can Help:

Humidifiers are found helpful in giving relief. Place a small humidifier near the dog near their resting area. The humidifier will keep the area moist, and this aids the dogs in breathing.

Your dog needs more rest:

Ensure that your dog is getting ample rest and try to avoid or reduce the exercising sessions included in the daily routine. Reducing physical activity provided with rest helps in fast recovery from kennel cough.

Honey is a great remedy:

Honey is found to be a great home remedy for kennel cough. It relaxes the throat and reduces the cough. You may give one tablespoon of honey mixed with warm water for large dogs.

Whereas, for a small dog, two teaspoons of honey is enough. This can be given three to times a day depending on the cough condition. If your dog is reluctant to take honey, you may mix it with its favorite treat.

Try a steam treatment:

Giving steam treatment to the dog can help in congestion in the throat. Steaming can be given during shower time. The hot steam will help in soothing the throat and reducing the cough.

Ensure to keep the dog hydrated:

It’s not only helpful in coughing but for overall health; keeping hydrated is important. So, ensure that your dog drinks enough water.

This helps a lot in flushing out the toxins from the body and also aids in getting rid of the virus faster. If he hesitates to drink water, you may add chicken broth to make the liquid taste better and flavorful.

Avoid Exposing the Dog from Smoke and Dust:

If you want the pet to recover fast, it’s good to keep him away from smoke, dust, or other irritants. If the chemicals or dust get into the dog’s airways, it can worsen the existing condition. Similarly, if you are a smoker or anybody in the family smokes, try to stay away from your dog.

Try giving a cough suppressant:

If your dog is continuously coughing, you may consider giving a coughing suppressant after getting approval from the veterinarian. A vet can suggest you the best effective suppressant and the right dosage.

How Long Does it Take to settle down the Cough?

If the dogs suffer from a mild cough, it usually lasts for one to two weeks and recovers with proper care and treatment for kennel cough. In common cases, the kennels recover pretty fast as the symptoms are mild.

If the symptoms are serious, the cough may last up to three to six weeks and take much time to recover. Frequent monitoring of the health conditions and seeking a vet’s help will aid in fast recovery.

Following best remedies for kennel cough and proper rest will help your dog to recover from the cough. However, if you find that the condition worsens or prolongs for a long time, you should take the dog to a vet clinic.

A veterinarian will diagnose the condition of the dogs and prescribe the necessary medication or antibiotic to treat the cough.