Types of Cough Suppressants for Dogs

Kennel cough can become a very big problem for your dog. The best way to treat kennel cough is to prevent it, but if for some reason your dog has come down with a cough, there are a few treatments available to help cure the ailment.

  1. Kennel Cough Symptoms

    • A kennel cough sounds different than other coughs. As if to clear its throat, your dog will tend to cough when more energy is being used than normal. To properly diagnose kennel cough, the veterinarian will rub a certain part of the dog's throat called the larynx. If the dog coughs, kennel cough is diagnosed.

    Kennel Cough Defense

    • A company called PetALive has released an over-the-counter treatment for both dogs and cats to help treat kennel cough. The product is called KC-Defense, and it works by calming the throat and chest in canines and felines. This FDA-registered product contains 100 percent natural homeopathic ingredients. It does not matter where or how your pet developed the cough, KC-Defense will battle kennel cough and every other cough your pet might have. By improving your pet's everyday respiratory health, KC-Defense will not only cure the cough, it will prevent it from coming back. The product comes packaged as dissolvable granules that are taken orally.

    Pediatric Robitussin

    • Sometimes your puppy might develop a little bit of a cough that will not only keep him up, but it may keep the entire family awake at night. An over-the-counter remedy that many people do not know they can use is pediatric Robitussin. This antitussive can be used four times a day with dogs as young as 2, but is not 100 percent effective. If the cough persists, you need to contact the veterinarian immediately, as antibiotics might need to be started to fully defeat the cough.

    Vapor Rub

    • Using a product such as Vicks VapoRub might work at suppressing a bad dog cough. To treat properly, put your dog into a smaller room, and rub a little of the Vicks VapoRub on the dog's chest and back. As your dog breathes in, he will inhale the vapor rub, effectively curing the cough. If this does not cure the cough after four or five days, contact your veterinarian for more instructions.

    Vaccine

    • A kennel cough vaccine is not 100 percent effective, but it is recommended to administer to younger dogs as many dogs who acquire the cough become quite resistant to it in the future. Recommendations depend on different breads as some are more susceptible to kennel cough than others. Consult your veterinarian to find out whether it is smart to go with the vaccine.