Instructions
Visit a veterinarian to determine the cause of your dog's cough. For a croupy cough, you're probably dealing with either a collapsed trachea or kennel cough. A collapsed trachea requires either weight loss or surgery. If it's kennel cough, more everyday interventions are at your disposal.
Give your dog canine cough suppressants to prevent pain and allow him to sleep better. Kennel cough is caused by a combination of bacteria and fungus. As bad as that sounds, it usually goes away on its own in a week to 10 days. Comforting your dog is the best thing you can do.
Treat your dog homeopathically with natural supplements, including Plantago lanceolata, which helps expel mucus, and Bryonia C6, which clears mucus and re-moisturizes dry membranes. Many pet stores carry remedies with these ingredients.
Administer antibiotics from your vet if the kennel cough persists. In rare cases, kennel cough lasts as long as 21 days. Many vets will give azithromycin, an antibiotic, for severe kennel cough.
Return to the vet if your dog's symptoms haven't cleared-up after 21 days. Other, less common respiratory infections may be present. You may need to rule out heart worms, which can also cause coughing -- although not usually a croupy cough.
How to Help a Dog With a Croupy Cough
When your dog has a persistent, harsh, croupy cough, there are a few possible causes. But unless your dog is elderly and suffering from tracheal collapse, the most likely culprit is infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough. While your dog may be your baby, there aren't as many remedies to comfort a coughing dog as there are for kids. The main thing is to be sure of the cause and take the right steps to promote healing.