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Kennel cough is an illness that is airborne, meaning it can be easily caught by our canine friends if we are not careful. People and cats are less likely to catch this, and with just a few good home remedies for kennel cough to apply to your dog, he or she will be free from kennel cough. Also, another important thing to do is to keep your dog away from others if he is infected with the illness, until he heals.
Home Remedies for Kennel Cough
Treating and curing this condition with home remedies for kennel cough is not really as hard as you think – you can even do this at home without spending too much money. It is pretty much like the common cold for humans so it is going to be easy for you to treat it. Here are a bunch of good home remedies for kennel cough:
- Probiotics – these supplements and foods have great nutritional value not just for humans but also for our four-legged friends. Their task is to wipe out bad bacteria in your pet’s immune system, making him feel better and more alive. Probiotics for dogs can come in supplement form. Also, antibiotics can be recommended by your vet as a medical prescription. In this case of prescription, make sure to wait for at least 2 hours after giving the antibiotic, before giving the probiotic medicine to your dog, because antibiotics and probiotics are as we know at war with each other.
- Honey – this is another dog-friendly home remedy for kennel cough. It gives your pet a relief from the nasal discharge that comes with the kennel cough, and is a very sweet treat for your dog to enjoy. One tablespoon of honey twice a day should work for your dog and heal his kennel cough. Also, be sure to feed him raw honey, not ones with preservatives and artificial flavorings.
- Cough syrup – as with humans, dogs also have a decongestant cough syrup that can heal their kennel cough. Good products may include Nature’s Way products (Sambucus and Umcka Cold Care). Also, make sure that it has a good flavor that your dog will love, to make him heal faster. One teaspoon of syrup three times a day (depending on your dog’s size and age) will do.
- Cinnamon – this is another good food supplement for your dog to be healed of kennel cough. You can sprinkle cinnamon over your dog’s food or daily meals. Cinnamon has antiviral properties which can heal your dog faster.
- Coconut Oil – as coconut products are being the fad these days when it comes to home remedies and natural healing, coconut oil is no exception, even for dogs. As Kennel cough is caused by the Bordetella virus, coco oil has a good formula for exterminating it, because it is also antiviral like cinnamon. You can either pour it down his bowl of food or have him directly get spoonfuls of it. Your dog will love the fragrant smell and aroma of coco oil. These home remedies for kennel cough do work so give them a try when the need arises.
Has this article been helpful? Please share the article with other dog owners.
Lyndi
Apr 7, 2019 at 6:41 pm
I’m assuming since they were talking about coconut oil they did not mean Coco oil. That is very different and possibly toxic to your dog.
terrybiloki
Jun 27, 2018 at 9:31 pm
my mini chahuahaha I gave him honey & it helped but I will try ciminnion thanks
Doris
Jul 29, 2017 at 5:02 pm
I used the coconut oil for my dogs kennel cough this past week and she loved it plus it took it away completely! I'm sold on it! I had her boarded at a place she loves that has lots of dogs to play with and even though she had her shot and they require it there she developed kennel cough anyhow!
Henny Fischer
Oct 17, 2015 at 9:43 am
I put 1tsp of cinnamon on my dogs food, did a great job on the kennel cough, but now he he has loose stool and poops 5-6 times a day all in small pills. Has even pooped in the house (which he never does) this has been going on for 5 days
Carole Heath
Jul 9, 2015 at 5:26 am
My Shih Tzu Jasper 14 years old has a tickly cough it comes and goes. But he never gets the problem when he is out walking. I am trying honey and lemon at the moment. I also have Robitussin in my bathroom cabinet i will give that a try also thanks Lisa and other comments.
september
Jan 18, 2015 at 6:57 pm
@trudi if you google benilyn it is available in canada and does contain codiene. Maybe before you bash cyndi you shoulf do research first
Sheri
Jun 10, 2014 at 6:54 am
One of my babies, a Pom is diabetic. What can I give her?
(They were treated to a grooming and one has been coughing ever since)
Can someone please suggest something? I can’t afford to take her to a vet right now
andyroo
May 28, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Super late. In the future i suggest pet insurance.. 80 dollars down 20 a month to treat all your pets illnesses.
Sean lewis
Jun 11, 2015 at 3:33 pm
What insurance is this exactly?
Celeste
Feb 12, 2014 at 2:55 pm
I used the coconut oil advice. I had some in my cupboard and thought it would be easier than honey. My one year old border collie was coughing every 30 seconds. He stopped coughing immediately after the coconut oil (1 teaspoon) and hasn’t coughed since (about an hour). I’ll give him some more in a couple of hours. He has a bit of a fever, but is moving around and eating, so just a mild case, although the cough sounded like he was choking. My other dog ate some as well and I know I don’t have to worry about it being bad for either of them. Thank you for reminding me about this remedy! I am glad we didn’t have to wait for the vet in the morning to make him comfortable.
KZ4ZZZ
Dec 14, 2013 at 8:58 pm
P.S. Diamond is going to the vet on Monday.. still coughing.. everyone talks about stopping the cough.. How long till the cough goes away ? And does the dog need pills or shots to help kick it ?
Deanna Fauser
Dec 1, 2013 at 9:52 pm
I’d just like to know if it is ok to use Umcka cold & flu natural relief instead of just the cold formula? I have a 4 year old yellow lab (Dusty) who weighs 107lbs and has came down with kennel cough yesterday. We took him to get his vaccinations and must have been exposed there as there aren’t any other places he was except home with no other dogs around. I really hope you can let me know asap if this is ok or not to use.
With sincere thanks,
Deanna Fauser
what is kennel cough
Nov 7, 2013 at 12:56 pm
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Ree De Lacey
Sep 10, 2013 at 6:58 am
Hi everyone, my dog Marley is a miniature Jack Russel, one & a half years old. He has recently caught the dreaded Kennel cough virus. I took him to his usual vet & she has given him Clavaseptin tablets 2 times daily, with Metacam oral susp to be given once a day. She also strongly advised me to buy & use junior Benylin to help lower his temperature & sooth his throat. We (Marley & me) are on day 5 of treatment with very little & slow improvement. It truly is heart breaking to watch my darling Marley suffering so badly, every time he gets excited. This is the very 1st time he’s ever been ill too. I have picked up a few useful suggestions from this site which I will try to ease Marley’s suffering. Thank you x
Dawn
Jul 7, 2013 at 9:06 am
New 6 mon. old pup from the shelter we think was exposed. Is she too young to give honey too if she presents with symptoms? It has been 4 days so far, so hoping we got her out in time!
KZ4ZZZ
Dec 14, 2013 at 8:57 am
We just got our 7 month old Crested Power Puff “Diamond” from the county dog pound and she developed KC from the Doggie hospital used to get her spaded (air tube down the throat during the operation). We used raw unfiltered honey from the local health store. She weighs 7.5 lbs. we used 2x 1/4 teaspoons every two/three hours or so as needed and the cough stayed under control.. not stopped but 80% less frequent. 7 month old dog = 4 year old human. I had some too and it tasted great and not a dangerous medicine but a food product that’s good for you.
mike
Jul 2, 2013 at 12:00 am
Just commenting on two responses that seemed to mis-read on Cough Syrup. If they would actually read it the article doesn’t say give human cough syrup. In fact it offered suggestions on natural products for dogs that relieve an/or help cough.
“dogs also have a decongestant cough syrup that can heal their kennel cough. Good products may include Nature’s Way products (Sambucus and Umcka Cold Care). Also, make sure that it has a good flavor that your dog will love, to make him heal faster. One teaspoon of syrup three times a day (depending on your dog’s size and age) will do.”
Learn to read the whole article rather than jumping to conclusions.
AllClassKennels
Jun 19, 2013 at 7:56 pm
1tsp honey 1tsp lemon 3 drops 3% hydrogen peroxide mix with approx 300mls of warm water to melt honey, soak slice of bread and feed to dog! Wallah! Easier this way than to get them to drink it 🙂
I agree with Cindi, human medication was not designed for animal use however works in a substantial amount of illnesses However, there are no dosage rates and certain medications frequently used in human cough medicine is NOT safe for dogs.
For the sale of all please do not administer any drug without veterinary advice!!!
Rowanlea
Jul 2, 2013 at 8:51 pm
RobitussinDM for children works well for dogs with kennel cough, 1 tsp per 20 lbs of body weight. However, some vets would rather let them cough as it is better to get the phlegm out of the lungs. I’ll try the honey and lemon juice as an alternative.
Rochelle
Jun 18, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I actually had my vet tell me about honey as a treatment for kennel cough and thought she was crazy but it actually worked very well and my dog enjoyed it a lot too 🙂
Carol
Apr 15, 2013 at 2:54 pm
THANKS for the advice….It is good to know for future problems if they arise.
I also have used HUMAN CREAM for a sprained muscle in my dog’s from leg called…VOLTAREN Emulgel…..used for muscle,joint and back pain…..
I rubbed her shoulder muscle,down her leg, and wrapped her leg with a bandage WE WOULD USE if we sprained our ankle……rubbed it in the morning,put the bandage on…..keep her quiet during the day….and put a leash on her going up and down the stairs, to,control her possibly running or darting…causing further damage….took the bandage off at night when she slept. IT WORKED and she was back to her old self in a day or so.
Trudi
Mar 27, 2013 at 10:15 am
CYNDI!, really? If your old enough to administer it, you can surely read, yes? I have given cough syrup before and also suggested by my vet, unlike a Yankee vet… into the pharmaceutical industry to make a quick buck, probably wouldn’t suggest it! As with a child, you have to be “smart” about it. And don’t you get OTC from a store and not a doctor? I have never heard of cough syrup in OTC w/ codeine. Hmm!
Elvira
Jul 30, 2013 at 4:03 pm
I haven’t seen one with codeine but many are laced with tylenol (acetaminophen)and are deadly to dogs.
cyndi
Mar 27, 2013 at 9:01 am
Kennel Cough. Do you realize how many people will grab a human cough syrup from the medicine cabinet that might contain Codeine? Very bad suggestion! Alot of dog owners have no idea what can kill their dog?
Lisa
Nov 10, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Vets recommend childrens Robitussin DM 1 teaspoon for 20lb of dog. It did wonders for my Pug.
Carole Heath
Jul 9, 2015 at 5:29 am
I will give it a try Lisa. I wasn’t sure if human cough mixture was good for dogs but it seems it is ok. If he does improve the vet is next to see what the problem is.