Kennel Cough: Natural Remedies for Dog Cough

Dog cough – also referred to as Kennel Cough or Infectious Tracheobronchitis Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) – is a respiratory disease in dogs that can be highly contagious. It mainly spreads when an otherwise healthy dog is exposed to the secretions from the respiration of an infected dog. Dog cough can result in mild symptoms in some breeds of dogs and can lead to pneumonia that may threaten the lives of some other breeds. This post will teach you some natural remedies for dog cough to help your infected canine companion deal with the disease.

You will learn the following from this post:

What is Dog Cough?

Dog cough results from infectious bronchitis that inflates the bronchioles and trachea, leading to a hacking, dry cough. This cough can sometimes sound like there is something stuck in your dog’s throat.

One of the causes of dog cough is multiple microorganisms (e.g., Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus, and mycoplasma).

Some dogs may suffer just a mild cough, while others can face some life-threatening pneumonia. Therefore, it is essential to identify the symptoms of dog cough and then seek immediate treatments like natural remedies for dog cough.

How Do Dogs Get Dog Cough?

A healthy dog may contract the disease by inhaling aerosolized viruses or bacteria from an infected dog.

The virus and/or bacteria can spread from an ill dog through sneezing or coughing. Dogs can get the disease from infected objects like water bowls, toys, food, etc. Healthy dogs are prone to dog cough when they are in a crowded area with poor airflow and moist, warm air. Dogs can begin to develop a dog cough around three to four days after being exposed.

Some of the areas in your dog can get the disease include:

• Dog parks
• Animal shelters
• Grooming facilities
• Boarding kennels
• Dog daycare facilities

Besides the natural remedies for dog cough, there is also a kennel vaccination that can help prevent your dog from getting a dog cough.

What are the Signs of Dog Cough?

The symptoms of dog cough include the following:

• Vomiting and producing white foam
• A persistent hacking, dry cough
• All-night coughing that prevents you and your dog from sleeping

Severe symptoms of dog cough include the following:

• Labored breathing
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Loss of appetite

Is Dog Cough Life-threatening?

Most dogs that suffer from dog cough usually recover without any complications. However, some dogs can become very ill and develop pneumonia that can claim their lives.

Canines that are more prone to dog cough include the following:

• Dog with pre-existing respiratory diseases such as severe respiratory allergies, tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis
• Puppies with immune systems that are still immature; most especially young puppies that have not yet received complete vaccination
• Pregnant dogs with low immunity
• Older dogs have become weak due to their decreased immune defense, or older dogs with some other serious diseases like diabetes, heart failure, or cancer.

How Long Does Dog Cough Last?

Canines with mild dog cough usually recover after one or two weeks of getting sick from the condition. These dogs typically experience only mild clinical symptoms, and they quickly recover from the cough, which means the prognosis is good.

Canines with severe cases of dog cough can be sick for about three to six weeks, and their recovery is often slow. If a dog is severely affected by a dog cough and develops pneumonia in the process, such a dog may die if not given proper attention and treatment.

What is the Treatment for Dog Cough?

Treatment depends on the severity of the cough and the kind of dog you have.

Treatment for Mild Cases of Dog Cough

For mild cases of cough in your dog, supportive care may be the treatment your dog needs. This supportive care will focus on hydration, nutrition, and rest.

Your dog’s veterinarian may recommend a cough suppressant to help in reducing the frequency of the cough. It often takes not more than a fortnight for dogs suffering from mild cases of dog cough to recover. Some dogs can even recover on their own without even going through any treatment process.

Treatment for Severe Cases of Dog Cough

Complicated cases of the condition can make your dog very sick. For example, a canine with a severe case of dog cough will be acting lethargic, coughing, and not willing to eat or drink anything.

If a dog with a severe case of the condition has developed pneumonia, you can follow the following treatment options:

• Oxygen therapy
• Hospitalization
• Antibiotics
• Intravenous fluids

Home Remedies for Dog Cough

For a mild case of the condition, there are some home remedy options you can choose from. However, it would be best to watch out for signs and symptoms that will show that your dog’s condition is getting worse or the dog is not getting better.

Add Honey to Warm Water

Honey is excellent at minimizing coughs and soothing your dog’s throat. First, you can give your canine companion one-half to 1 tablespoonful of original honey already mixed with warm water. Then, depending on how often your dog is coughing, you can offer the remedy one to three times daily.

Use a Humidifier

Place a small humidifier near your dog while they are resting. The job of the humidifier is to moisten the air that your dog breathes, which can help alleviate irritation of the respiratory tract.

Do Steam Therapy with Your Shower

Allow your dog to stay in the same closed bathroom with you whenever you take a hot bath or shower, but do not allow the dog in the tub or shower. The job of the hot shower is to help decrease irritation by providing steam therapy.

Allow Your Dog to Rest Well

When your dog is recovering from a dog cough, it is imperative to get adequate rest. Reduce the amount of exercise and stress you make your dog go through daily. The rest can help in reducing coughing spells and improving general healing.

5 Natural Remedies for Dog Cough

Garlic

Organic unrefined/virgin coconut oil

Medicinal mushrooms

Bone broth

Homeopathic remedies

1. Garlic

Garlic is an excellent addition to the diet of a dog suffering from a dog cough. It also reduces the likelihood of your dog becoming ill from some other health conditions. This is because garlic contains a compound known as alliin. When you cut garlic into bits, the alliin mixes with enzymes and becomes allicin. The allicin immediately converts into sulfur-containing compounds that empower disease-fighting white blood cells.

Place some peeled garlic cloves in a jar. Cover the cove with some good organic olive oil and leave the mixture to infuse for 24 hours. Add a drop or two of the mixture to each meal the dog takes. The garlic will help reduce coughing and hacking. Continue to use until the symptoms are gone.

2. Organic Unrefined/Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil also possesses some remarkable immune-enhancing properties. The oil contains fatty acids that are both anti-bacterial and anti-viral. A dosage of 1 or 2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil per 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight each day should b divided into your dog’s food to help battle dog cough. Generally, half of this dosage is also excellent for maintaining your dog’s health in the long term. If you discover any sign of loose stool in your dog, you can reduce the dosage further.

3. Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms provide more benefits than basic nutrition. One of the myriad benefits of medicinal mushrooms is protecting your dog against colds, coughs, and flu. In addition, mushrooms contain antioxidants that help protect your dog’s immune cells from damage, generally boosting the immune system. Mushrooms also have prebiotic polysaccharides known as beta-glucan. This polysaccharide feeds the healthy bacteria in your dog’s stomach, which then produce metabolites that improve your dog’s health.

Mushrooms contain many properties that fight against infections. Researchers have discovered that certain mushrooms like reishi, maitake, and shiitake can:

• reduce the symptoms of cold and cough
• prevent the growth and replication of some viruses
• stimulate a humoral and cellular immune response
• protect against influenza

The best and most convenient way of giving your dog medicinal mushrooms is by using the mushroom supplement. However, make sure you do not use a mushroom supplement produced from mycelium. Mycelium is just like the root of the mushroom, which does not have rich beta-glucans. Therefore, mycelium lacks the immune-stimulating power to fend off viruses in your dog.

4. Bone Broth

Keeping your dog well-hydrated at all times is quite essential, especially when the dog has a cough. Excessive coughing irritates the throat and dries it out; because of this, it may be challenging to make your dog drink water. However, you can trick the dog into getting enough fluid into its system by providing it with low-sodium beef/chicken broth or a bit of bone broth. You can feed your pub a quarter to half a cup of broth (depending on the size of your canine companion) 2 to 3 times each day. The sweetness and pleasant aroma of the broth will allow your dog to lap it up excitedly, automatically allowing adequate fluid into its system and ultimately fighting the condition.

5. Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic remedies can be pretty fast-acting. They are also safe to use. When selecting the best remedy, pay more attention to the symptoms rather than the cause. There are various choices for treating coughs in dogs, but the following natural remedies for dog cough are the more common options:

a. Drosera

Drosera is an excellent remedy for dog cough. It is effective for a violent coughing spell and a dry, hacking cough. When you apply drosera, the throat of your dog will feel ticklish. However, drosera works effectively in batting coughs, especially when there is pressure on the neck, which can trigger a bout of coughing. Coughing in your dog can even worsen when it is lying down. Drosera is generally famous for ailments like lung infections, stomach ulcers, coughs, and asthma. The roots and flowers of drosera are the elements used in making it medicinally.

b. Aconite

Aconite is very effective at the early stage of the condition, most notably when the symptoms of dog cough first appear. This is the stage when the coughing or hacking seems like your dog has something stuck in its throat. When you notice this, commence the treatment process immediately.

c. Rumex Crispus

This particularly homeopathic remedy is excellent for battling coughs that are persistent and dry. In addition, it helps in reducing the tingling feeling in the throat.

d. Spongia Tosta

Spongia Tosta is most effective for barking and croupy coughs. This kind of cough can improve with eating or drinking warm food, but it gets worse when your dog eats or drinks anything cold. Spongia is excellent in relieving the kind of cough that startles your dog from sleep.

How to Give Homeopathic Remedies to Your Dog

You can purchase any of the homeopathic remedies at any health food store or online. They often come as granules or pellets.

As soon as you have your remedy, add 2 or 3 pellets to a small glass of water. If it comes in granules, add a few of them to a glass of water. Avoid coming in contact with the remedy as any touch can negate the potency. Stir the water for about 20 minutes.

Use a tablespoon or dropper to apply some of the remedies to your dog’s gums. You can apply about 3 to 4 doses in the first couple of hours (no more than two hours). You can stop administration if your dog begins to improve; that means the remedy is working. However, if the symptoms start to return, you can begin to administer it again. If you don’t notice any improvement, you may try another homeopathic remedy. It would help if you worked with a professional when using homeopathic remedies for the first time.

Final Thoughts

When you use any of these natural remedies for dog cough and allow your dog to get enough rest, you should begin to notice a reduction in the frequency of coughing and hacking in your dog. However, if you notice any other symptoms coming up or your dog’s condition is not improving, you should ask for your veterinarian’s assistance. It is likely your dog undergoes surgery or a quick examination for any underlying health condition. Therefore, it is necessary to be certain that your dog is suffering from a dog cough before beginning the treatment process.