Best Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs

Best Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs

Hello Friends, Today i am going to tell you Best Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs. This is the Best Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs. So you can check Best Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs Below Here. In the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, many displaced dogs are winding up at animal shelters up and down the East Coast, where they are exposed to various strains of kennel cough. This airborne virus is highly contagious to dogs and spreads frighteningly fast from cage to cage. For the lucky dogs who were reunited with their owners or adopted by new families but came home with a case of the cough, the good news is that kennel cough is not communicable to people or cats, and is easily treated at home. The key is to keep the dog away from other dogs until he’s no longer contagious.
Sadly, for the dogs in my home city of New York, the strain of kennel cough that goes around the NYC shelter system is particularly virulent.

I’ve cured many cases of this particular kind of kennel cough in my day, so I’ve got a stash of simple home remedies, which work to combat all strains. Actually, kennel cough is not that different from any cough you’d get yourself as part of the ordeal we call the common cold — and it so happens that the remedies listed below work beautifully on humans, too. Try them out the next time you or a loved one on two legs starts hacking pitiably!

1. Steam Inhalation
Steam is the easiest and most effective kennel cough home remedy. The warmth of the steam helps open up the bronchial tubes of the infected dog, which in turn helps clear extra phlegm from his or her throat.
Once your pet gets rid of the phlegm, he or she will start feeling better and the healing process will also speed up.

Take your dog into the bathroom and turn on a hot shower. Keep the door closed to allow the steam to build up.
Let your dog breathe in the steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
Repeat twice daily.
Note: Do not leave your dog unattended in the bathroom.

2. Honey
Another effective home treatment for your infected pet is honey. The antibacterial property of honey helps fight the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Honey even helps alleviate the nasal discharge that accompanies kennel cough. Plus, honey has an immune-boosting nature that helps build your pet’s immunity to fight off any kind of infection.

Give your sick pet ½ to 1 teaspoon of honey, 3 or 4 times daily until the cough is cured completely.
Alternatively, mix 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in ½ cup of warm water. Give this mixture to your pet twice a day for a quick recovery.

3. Coconut Oil
In recent years, coconut oil has gained huge popularity as an effective kennel cough treatment in dogs.

The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil help kill harmful bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Give 1 teaspoon of coconut oil per 10 pounds of your pet’s body weight daily in divided doses. As most dogs like the taste, coconut oil can be fed from a spoon or added to your dog’s food. You can also add 1 teaspoon of honey in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and feed it to your dog a couple of times a day.

Regular use of coconut oil will even help prevent your dog from becoming infected.

4. Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide
Though it may take some searching to locate a food-grade hydrogen peroxide, it is highly effective at suppressing a cough. Furthermore, peroxide aids in killing the harmful agent that causes kennel cough.

Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is pure and usually highly concentrated at 15 percent or higher.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon of raw honey in about 6 ounces of warm water. Then, add 3 drops of food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Soak a piece of bread in the solution and feed it to your pet. Repeat this remedy twice daily.
You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide to sterilize water bowls and other items used by your pet.

5. Vitamin C
When dealing with a pet suffering from kennel cough, you must not forget about the importance of vitamin C. This vitamin helps speed up the process of recuperation in your dog.

You can boost the immune system of your dog by adding a bit of vitamin C to his or her diet.

Consider giving your dog 500 mg of vitamin C (half that amount for small dogs), 3 times per day for as long as the infection lasts.

However, if you have any doubts, it is best to ask your veterinarian about giving vitamin C supplements to your pet.

6. Oil of Oregano
Oregano oil has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, which are effective at treating colds and coughs in pets as well as humans.

This essential oil contains powerful phenols, such as carvacrol and thymol, which have the ability to kill harmful bacteria and microbes responsible for this infectious disease in dogs.

Add 2 or 3 drops of oregano oil to your pet’s meal and feed him or her 3 times a day.
For topical use, mix 1 drop of oregano oil with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Apply it on your dog’s neck and throat area to ease discomfort.
You can even add a few drops of oregano oil in your humidifier. Put it near where your pet spends the most time to aid smooth breathing.

7. Probiotics
Probiotic foods like yogurt have great nutritional value for humans as well as their four-legged companions.

Probiotics help get rid of harmful bacteria from your pet’s system, so that he or she can start feeling better soon. Probiotics are also a known immune booster, which is important to fight off any infection.

Include yogurt in your pet’s diet for the treatment of kennel cough.
You can also give probiotics in supplement form, after consulting your vet.
Note: If your pet has been prescribed antibiotics, do not give your pet antibiotics and probiotic supplements at the same time. There should be gap of at least 2 hours between the two.

8. Herbal Teas
Herbal teas like licorice tea and sage tea can be of great help in soothing your beloved dog’s cough. These herbs contain anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial properties that help fight infections and reduce inflammation in the airways.

Heat 2 cups of water in a pot.
Add 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder in it.
Bring the solution to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
Allow it to cool to room temperature, then strain it.
Mix 2 to 3 teaspoons of this licorice tea in your dog’s meals, twice daily for a few days.
You can store the remaining tea in the refrigerator for up to 5 day.