If you're dog is coughing and showing no other symptoms, you can safely treat your pet at home--as long as the cough resolves itself within a few weeks and your dog does not develop other symptoms. If your dog is coughing, most likely it is kennel cough. This is an upper respiratory ailment that is contagious, but is not usually life-threatening unless it develops into a more serious condition such as pneumonia, or unless the dog is very young, very old or has other health complications.
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Steam
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Placing your dog in a room with a vaporizer, or putting him in the bathroom and turning on a hot shower, may help to ease some of his symptoms. He should be left in the room with the steam for about 20 minutes and this treatment should be provided several times a day.
Feeding
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Getting your dog to drink lots of fluids and to continue eating is very important. Ensure you have fresh, clean water available at all times. You might also try making chicken broth available to encourage him to consume liquids. Providing a canned food or moistening his regular dry food is a good idea. His throat may be irritated or sore, and plain dry food may be difficult for him to swallow.
Comfort
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Keep your pet comfortable. Just like when you have a cold, your dog needs a quiet and warm place to rest. His resting place should be out of drafts and should include a warm blanket or bed. Taking off your dog's collar may keep him from coughing as much.
Homeopathic
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Providing your dog with a teaspoon of honey will help to ease his irritated throat. Common homeopathic coughing treatments for dogs include plantago lanceolata. This herbal remedy is a cough treatment that eases inflammation in the bronchial tubes. Echinacea purpurea helps boost the dog's immune system and bryonia C6 moisturizes the mucous membranes and clears mucous out of your dog's system.
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