The Best Home Remedies For Kennel Cough In 2024

If you are a dog owner, you may need to know more about home remedies for kennel cough treatment as kennel cough is a common disease among dogs in kennels.

Most dogs suffer from kennel cough at least once throughout their lives.

The term “kennel cough” was coined because this disease tends to spread among dogs in kennels as shelters.

More precisely, kennel cough is more likely to occur in crowded places with dogs.

Today, a huge number of dogs are found in many places such as dog parks, doggy dog care, dog shows, and rescue centers.

Therefore, this condition isn’t limited to kennels exclusively, the term “kennel cough” is being replaced with a more appropriate term which is known as canine cough.

In this article, you will learn more about kennel cough, home remedies for kennel cough treatment, and their effect in relieving cough symptoms.

Kennel cough is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious in dogs.

Kennel cough is also known as infectious tracheobronchitis or canine infectious respiratory disease(CIRD).

Here are some home remedies for kennel cough and their effect on the treatment of kennel cough:

1-Raw honey:

Honey is useful as one of the home remedies for kennel cough as it contains many flavonoids, enzymes, and antioxidants.

Honey is considered a complete food as it contains copper, iron, protein, potassium, and vitamins E, D, and  C.

Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory so it is effective in fighting bacteria and viruses.

Giving honey to your dog can help in relieving kennel cough symptoms as it can soothe a dog’s throat, minimize cough, and is effective with nasal discharge that is caused by kennel cough.

The amount of raw honey that is given to your dog mainly depends on the dog’s size.

large dogs may need one tablespoon of raw honey twice.

Smaller dogs may need one teaspoon of raw honey twice.

2-Using a humidifier:

You can use a humidifier as one of the home remedies for kennel cough treatment.

You can try to place a small one near the dog’s resting place to moisten the surrounding air and make the dog’s breath easier.

It is preferred to use a cold humidifier than a warm one to avoid injuries that may happen with a warm humidifier.

3-Food:

You can offer your dog small amounts of these foods as cooked rice and boiled chicken every 2 hours.

If your dog eats well, he will recover faster.

4-Keep your dog hydrated:

You should make sure that your dog always gets enough amount of water daily.

You can give him chicken or meat broth.

Giving dogs with kennel cough more fluids can help their bodies flush out the toxins.

5-Avoid smoke and fumes:

We can consider stopping smoking as one of the home remedies for kennel cough treatment.

Make sure to smoke away from the dog.

If you want to clean the house, you should put your dog in a separate room to keep him away from any bleaches or harsh chemicals as they can worsen the dog’s throat irritation.

6-Steam:

Inhaling steam is one of the home remedies for kennel cough treatment as exposing the dog to steam can help him to loosen up the gunk in the throat and relieve the cough.

You can leave the dog to inhale the steam for 30 minutes while you take the shower.

7-Rest:

Getting rest is one of the most important home remedies for kennel cough because if the dog gets enough rest, his body can fight the virus and recover faster.

8-Robitussin as a cough suppressant:

Robitussin can be given to your dog if he is coughing up a storm.

Robitussin must be given under a veterinarian’s approval to determine the proper dosage for your dog.

9-Cinnamon:

Cinnamon is one of the home remedies for kennel cough as it has antiviral properties.

Cinnamon is very effective in lowering blood pressure to its normal baseline and improving dog’s heart problems.

You can add a half teaspoon of cinnamon over your dog’s food.

If your dog doesn’t like the smell of cinnamon, you can add a small amount of water and get the food a little wet.

10-Coconut oil:

Coconut oil also has antiviral properties as cinnamon so it is preferred to be used as one of the home remedies for kennel cough treatment.

Coconut oil has medium-chain triglycerides that have medicinal properties and play an important role in suppressing kennel cough.

You can give 2 teaspoons to your dog daily.

11-Probiotics:

Probiotics contain beneficial bacteria that can do wonders to support a dog’s immune system.

Give your dog a probiotic supplement that is made for dogs.

12-Aromatherapy:

Some essential oils can be used as home remedies for kennel cough as they have soothing properties.

If these essential oils are used properly, they can reduce cold symptoms in dogs.

Full-strength essential oils can be dangerous to dogs so you should consult your veterinarian before adding essential oils to your dog’s routine.

Here are some essential oils that are used for kennel cough:

• Lavender oil which calms and soothes
• Peppermint oil
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Nutmeg
• Geranium

13-Rose hips:

They are natural sources of vitamin C and they are better than synthetic vitamin C supplements that cause diarrhea.

You can add 1 tsp to each cup of food.

Causes of kennel cough in dogs that require using home remedies for kennel cough

Kennel cough in dogs is caused by different viruses plus a specific type of bacteria.

This type of bacteria is called Bordetella.

1-Bordetella bronchiseptica

It is the most common bacteria that induces kennel cough.

It causes upper respiratory tract inflammation.

2-Canine Parainfluenza

It is one of the most common viruses that cause kennel cough and it is also known as CPIV.

3-Canine adenovirus 2

It is also known as infectious canine laryngotracheitis or CAV-2.

Infectious canine laryngotracheitis causes kennel cough and spreads from one dog to another by coughing.

4-Canine distemper

It can be transmitted among dogs through shared food or the air.

Some factors that make dogs more susceptible to kennel cough and need to use home remedies for kennel cough

1-Cold temperature

2-Dust or smoke

3-Age, especially puppies

4-Stress

5-Exposure to crowded areas such as shelters and kennels.

The common symptoms of kennel cough in dogs

To detect the proper home remedies for kennel cough treatment, you should know the symptoms to be noticed in your dog if he has kennel cough.

These symptoms include:

• Persistent dry cough
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Discharge around the eyes
• Retching

Robitussin for kennel cough

Robitussin is a cough suppressant and it is taken with a mild cough.

The main active ingredient of Robitussin is Dextromethorphan which suppresses cough reflex signals and it also contains guaifensein.

Robitussin is for short-term use only and its dosage is determined by a veterinarian.

Robitussin has some side effects if it is used for a long time or in a high dose as:

• Hallucinogenic effect
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Nervousness

Some Robitussin variants have codeine but it is toxic to dogs,

so make sure to stay away

Robitussin with codeine and it is preferred to consult your veterinarian before giving Robitussin to your dog.

How can kennel cough spread among dogs?

Kennel cough spreads among dogs in the following ways:

• Airborne droplets are released when the infected dog sneezes or coughs.
• Direct contact with infected dogs.
• Contaminated surfaces as toys or shared water bowls.
• Poor air quality can make dogs more susceptible to kennel cough.

How long does kennel cough last?

You can use home remedies for kennel cough treatment until your dog recovers completely.

Dogs with kennel cough recover completely within 1-3 weeks and it may last for 6 weeks in elder dogs or those with medical conditions.

But if kennel cough is improved, that can lead to pneumonia, and then you must follow up with the veterinarian and it will take a longer time for the dog to recover.

Prevention of kennel cough

The best way to prevent kennel cough is vaccination.

If you want to give your dog the vaccine, you need to know that it will take e few days for the vaccine to be fully effective.

The vaccine can work very well in the short term, but if you want long-term protection for your dog, you should make sure to offer the vaccine to your dog at least one time per year.

The vaccination can help your dog to be healthier and prevent him from getting kennel cough.

It is better to give the vaccine to your dog as the cost of vaccination is less than the cost of kennel cough treatment.

Summary

If you own a dog, it is natural that he has been exposed to kennel cough, and therefore you must know the home remedies for kennel cough treatment so that you can treat the matter quickly so that it does not develop into something that may be life-threatening as pneumonia.

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