Dogs can develop a cough for several reasons. Canine coughs often sound worse, and this condition doesn't typically require medical attention.
While there is a chance that it is a symptom of a more serious health problem, you can try these home remedies for dog cough before seeking veterinary care.
It is important to note that if the cough is accompanied by other symptoms (like fever, lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea), you need to call your vet as soon as possible.
If there are no other symptoms and your dog acts like himself, you can give it a few days before scheduling an appointment.
If the cough lasts more than 5 days without getting any better, you should call your vet just in case.
What would you do if your human child wasn't feeling well? You'd encourage him to get as much rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids.
You should do the same with your dog. Pair this with one of the home remedies below, and your dog should be feeling better in no time.
4 Home Remedies for Dog Cough
1. Steam/Humidifier
If your dog is coughing because the air is dehydrated, a humidifier can make a big difference.
Putting a humidifier near your dog's kennel or bed will help moisturize the air, which means his cough will be a little less dry and less uncomfortable.
It also helps prevent his nose and eyes from getting dried out.
If you don't have a humidifier, you can bring your dog into the bathroom with you while you take a shower. The steam from the hot water will do the same thing for your dog's sore, dry throat.
2. Essential Oils
Essential oils seem to be popping up everywhere. They're used in many over-the-counter coughs and cold remedies for humans.
Recent research shows that several essential oils are effective at relieving cough symptoms.
To help a coughing dog, you can spray his crate or bedding with a blend of eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender.
This may help to reduce the coughing and disinfect the air. Other essential oils that may help treat a cough include:
- Thyme
- Bergamot
- Cinnamon
- Cypress
- Rosemary
- Geranium
You can spray essential oils around wherever your dog is lying, and you can also add the oils to a diffuser.
It's like a mini humidifier that mixes the oils with water vapor and disperses them through the air.
This option combines my first two home remedies for dog cough and may be especially helpful.
Because a dog's sense of smell is powerful, you must dilute the oils in water before spraying them around your dog's sleeping area.
The safest bet is to buy essential oil mixtures explicitly made for use with dogs.
3. Raw Honey
Honey has many proven benefits, and one of the most well-researched benefits is its ability to suppress coughing. If your adult dog has a mild cough, try a teaspoon of raw honey to soothe the throat and ease the coughing.
Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps fight viruses and bacteria in the body. Its properties make it one of the most effective home remedies for dog cough.
It's essential to use raw honey so that all of its medicinal properties haven't been cooked out by the pasteurizing process.
4. Bone Broth
It's essential to keep your dog well hydrated, especially when he has a cough. Coughing irritates the throat and dries it out.
It may be challenging to get your pup to drink water, but a bit of bone broth or low sodium chicken/beef broth should do the trick. Try feeding your dog 1/4-1/2 cup (depending on his size) 2-3 times per day.
If you use one (or more) of these home remedies and allow your pup to get plenty of rest, you should notice the cough getting progressively better over the next few days.
If you see any other symptoms develop or the cough worsens, it's best to call your veterinarian and ask for their advice.
They will likely want to see your dog for a quick examination.
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