Many people often have one or many pets in their house. They often are a dog, cat, or even less popular pets like rabbits, ferrets, parrots. However, the companion animal is often a dog or cat. They are very intimate and close to the human. They provide both physical and emotional benefits to his or her owners. For most of owners, they even become one of the closest friends. In many cases, they can help the handicap so much in the physical and mental activities. So in one day, what should you do if your dogs or cats are having cough a lot or making choking sounds? In common cases, they may experience canine infectious tracheobronchitis or called kennel cough.

Home Remedies For Kennel Cough In Dogs And Cats – For The Pet Owners

I. Things To Know About Kennel Cough

Kennel cough, or called Bordetella or called canine infectious tracheobrochitis, is an upper respiratory infection, one of the common conditions in dogs and cats. It is often caused by a bacterium named Bordetella bronchiseptica. Some other causative agents are canine parainfluenza virus, canine coronavirus. This condition is highly contagious through sneezing and coughing or contacting with contaminated surfaces. Normally, a dog or cat is infected with a virus at the same time with Bordetella. These viruses are often canine reovirus, parainfluenze virus, canine herpes virus, canine distemper virus, and canine adenovirus. They will make the dog more susceptible to contracting Bordertella infection.

The classic symptom of this condition is a forceful and persistent cough sometimes including eye discharge, a runny nose, or sneezing or even gagging or coughing up foamy looking white phlegm. The dog or cat that is experiencing kennel cough may have a poor appetite.

In many cases, this condition can be solved without using medical treatment thanks to healing itself naturally in your pet’s body. However, if your pet have no signs of recovering and may get serious, you need curing.

In fact, there are some vaccines that are used to prevent kennel cough, but it seems ineffective. However, if your pets are experiencing kennel cough, AllRemedies will show you some useful home remedies for kennel cough. You can try one of them because they may be useful for your pets.

II. Useful Home Remedies For Kennel Cough

1. Cough Syrup

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Cough syrup is also one of the useful home remedies for kennel cough in dogs and cats that you can try. You can find it at any drugstore. With this syrup, you can measure out a teaspoon of the syrup and use a syringe to squirt the syrup down the throat of your pet carefully. After that, massage his or her throat gently so that he or she can swallow it. Do it again third a day.

2. Raw Honey

Honey is often a great ingredient for beauty and health. You can use it for your pet’s condition, of course. Thanks to its antibacterial property, raw honey can help your pet get healthy quickly. For this remedy, you only need to provide your infected dogs or cats 1 tablespoon twice a day until kennel cough gets away. If your pets are having a runny nose that accompanies kennel cough, raw honey can alleviate this sign. However, you should use the raw honey that is produced from pollen, honeycomb, and propolis in order to get the best result.

Another way is to use 2 tablespoons of honey and mix with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and ½ cup of water and stir well. Use this mixture for your pets to drink twice a day until the condition is better.  Vitamin C found in lemon is very useful for improving the immune system of the dog and cat.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has an antiviral property that is very good for your pets. So using cinnamon is also a good way to treat kennel cough. You can use it to sprinkle over his or her food bowl when he or she is having kennel cough. However, Ceylon Cinnamon is often recommended because of its fragrance.

4. Vitamins

It is found that vitamins can help speed up the recuperating process in dog and cat effectively. Especially, vitamin C is considered as a useful remedy for both humans and dogs in treating bacteria and viruses related to infections. A good dose should depend on the pets’ weight.

5. Coconut Oil

Like honey, coconut oil is one of the great home remedies for kennel cough in dogs and cats thanks to its various properties and nutrients.   With this oil, you only need to give your pet about 2 tablespoons daily until his or her cough is treated completely. Or you also add a few drops of coconut oil into his or her food bowl and let her lick directly and easily.

6. Chicken Soup

Chicken soup seems a strange remedy for soothing kennel cough. However, according to many people, it sounds effective for infected dogs and cats. This soup can contribute to soothing the throat as well as boosting the immune system of the dog. Provide this soup to the infected dogs until they are treated completely.

7. Raw Garlic Or Garlic Pills

Garlic is a great spice in your kitchen and an effective remedy for many diseases in human and pets. It is helpful for recuperating the immune system in dogs and cats quickly. If you want to get a quick result, you can use garlic pills to treat this condition. You simply provide your favorite pet a 500-mg garlic pill with his or her daily meal.

8. Keep The Air Moist

When your pet is having throat problems, keeping the air moist will be very useful for quick healing. Along with the above remedies, a humidifier or vaporizer near to the place where your pet are often sleep will help soothe his or her dry throat. Or air conditioners with humidifier mode may be a good choice.

9. Robitussin

Robitussin is only recommended for nonproductive, dry, and persistent coughs and 2-year-year-old-or-more dogs. You can give his or her Robitussin 4 times a day within from 5 to 7 days. In case your pet’s condition is not improved, you should talk to a vet.

10. Steam Or Hot Water Bath

Steam is also helpful for treating kennel cough. Using this remedy can help your pet open up the bronchial tubes; thereby clear the phlegm from the throat more easily. You can do it by using hot shower in the bathroom. Turn on the shower and let the room fill with steam. Then place your pet in the bathroom so that he or she inhales the steam for about 20 to 25 minutes. This action will help your pet ease breathing.

11. Warm Steam Vaporizer

Among home remedies for kennel cough in dogs and cats, using a warm steam vaporizer is very effective. You can find a warm steam vaporizer in all pharmacies. However, you should put it far away to make sure the safety of your pet. You put a vaporizer and you dog in a small bathroom and direct the vapor in the direction of your pet’s head. Let your pet breathe the vapor for about 20 minutes. Do it again twice or third a day in at least 2 or 3 days to get the better result.

12. Strengthen The Immune System

A strong immune system can help your pet fight against the viruses and bacteria including the virus causing Kennel Cough. In order to make your pet stronger, you can add more vitamin C and E and omega 3 fatty acids in his or her diet. Vitamin C has an antiviral property, vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids support the immune system, since then help your dog and cat get a strong immune system against the diseases like kennel cough.

13. Licorice Root Tea

Licorice root tea is considered as a good remedy for dogs that are suffering from kennel cough. With this tea, you can see some following ways to treat kennel cough for your dogs.

Firstly, you mix 1 tablespoon of dried licorice roots with 2 cups of cold water and bring to boil this mixture. Wait until you get a warm mixture. For each tablespoon of licorice tea, you mix with 1 teaspoon of honey. Use the mixture of tea and honey to give your dog before meals.

Another way is to mix a little amount of this mixture with the food for your dog.

This tea should be kept in the fridge for about 5 days. Licorice tea can be replaced for other herbs like sage leaves, thyme, blackberry leaves, and elder blossom.

14. Essential Oil

Some essential oils like tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, chamomile, oregano, and lavender can be useful for your pet with kennel cough thanks to their soothing, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. You can mix some types of essential oils together and dilute the mixture. Spray it into the air around your pet and he will reduce coughing and breathe more easily.

15. Nosedes

Nosede is known as a homeopathic remedy for this condition. It is derived from a pathological specimen. Nosedes seem effective because they can help stimulate the natural immune system in the pet’s body to react against the disease.

16. Anise Hyssop

This herb is also one of the popular herbs to alleviate mucous accumulations and the various respiratory issues like irritated throats. You can find it at any health store.

17. Drosera

Drosera is also useful for you sick dogs. It can be used for the dogs suffering from both dry cough and kennel cough.

18. Dulcamara

This is also a good herb for the dog suffering extreme phlegm in throat or chest. Using this herb can help clear the phlegm more easily.

19. Plantago Lanceolata

Plantago Lanceolata is a common herb that is useful for soothing the inflamed throat and upper respiratory tract.

20. Echinacea

Echinacea is very helpful for the dog suffering from kennel cough. It can help maintain the strength of the immune system in dogs as well as fight against bacteria and viruses. This herb can be used until your pet is cured completely. It is also used in a form of Echinacea capsule.

21. Astragalus

The Chinese herb can help fortify the immune system and stimulate the regeneration of bronchial cells. Some people said that it is also good for supporting lung function.

22. Slippery Elm

Like other herbs, Slippery Elm is known as one of the good home remedies for kennel cough in dogs and cats. It is said to be effective in soothing soreness as well as irritation in your pet’s throat.

23. Some Other Herbs

Some other herbs that are good for respiratory health include wormwood, mullein, yarrow, kelp, marshmallow root, elecampane, coltsfoot, rosehips, mustard seed, black seed, and wild cherry bark.

III. Do’s And Don’ts For The Pets

If your pet is suffering kennel cough or any condition related to his respiratory diseases, you should not smoke cigarette in your house and especially, not use any toxic cleaners because these actions can make your pet’s condition get worse.

Besides that, you should keep your children away the pets with kennel cough because of its contagiousness.

A healthy and dust-free environmental condition, cleaning regularly his foods and water bowls, and removing the collar of the pet will be useful for treating kennel cough in your pets. Your pet should be kept warm and calm, drink a lot of fresh water, and eat wet foods, especially, checked periodically by the vet in order to prevent and treating the condition best.

The above include home remedies for kennel cough in cats and dogs that we want to share with you. Besides applying these remedies, you also notice some advice you should or shouldn’t do. They may be useful for you during your taking care of a pet. In case you have any question or idea, you can leave your comment in here. We will reply to you soon.

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