Home Remedies for Coughing in Dogs
A dog coughs when the trachea or airways become irritated. This can happen for a variety of reasons, from seasonal allergies to swallowing a bit of food wrong. Home remedies work best for a dog with a mild cough and no other worrisome symptoms. If the dog is coughing regularly for more than 24 hours, then it is time to call the vet.
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Environmental Factors
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"The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" states that to help a dog's cough at home, you should use a humidifier, make sure there isn't any tobacco smoke about and use a chest harness instead of a neck collar on the dog.
Quick Relief
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If the dog needs quick relief, bring the dog into the bathroom, run a hot shower and shut the bathroom door. Sit with your dog in the bathroom to comfort the dog and to monitor progress.
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Medications
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"Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" states that human cough syrups Robitussin-DM and Beneylin Expectorant are safe for dogs. Use one tsp. per 20 lbs. of dog. Dose every six hours.
Considerations
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A cough that sounds like a goose honk means the trachea is collapsing. The dog usually needs to lose weight, but he should be seen by the vet.
Warning
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Any dog that coughs and breathes rapidly or develops a swollen abdomen needs to go see the vet immediately. It could be a sign of heart disease.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Image from Wikimedia Commons.
