Natural Remedies to Treat Kennel Cough in Dogs

| Modified on May 16, 2023
Honey, Hydrogen Peroxide on Bread
Posted by SUSAN (Devon) on 06/12/2022
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

3 Drops of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of manuka honey on a little piece of bread stopped my 15 week old puppy coughing straight away.

He coughed 3 times the previous day just after he barked. I thought he was barking in a way that was bothering his larynx. Then come bed time he had some dreadful sounding honking. rasping, choking coughs.

I brought him to the vets first thing just to be sure he was ok. Vet confirmed it was kennel cough and no treatment was needed. (so glad they stopped giving out antibiotics willy nilly)

I came home and tried the peroxide remedy and it was like a miracle. I am astounded at the swift difference. The vet said he may well get worse before better but all he did was get immediately better. No rasping or rattling that night. He coughed quietly the next day once for two seconds. Today he has no symptoms.

I gave him 3 doses about 10 hrs apart. Do try this remedy it's fantastic.

Thank you so much to the person who originally posted it.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Aims (Kelowna, British Columbia) on 11/05/2014
★★★★★

I have an old retriever who picked up a case of Kennel Cough. I started using Honey, Food Grade Peroxide, Lemon and Distilled Water and her cough seems to have almost gone. I was just wondering how long I can keep this process up, and if anybody knows how many drops are allowed for a dog per day. Right now she gets 3 drops in her water with about 2 cups of water. It has definitely helped but I wasn't sure how long it is safe to carry this on. Thank you, Amy

Garlic
Posted by Eve (Ny) on 10/16/2017
★★★★★

My dad gave our dogs a garlic pill per day to keep fleas and mosquitos away. He did this for 13 and 16 yrs...that's how long our dogs lived.

Never had any illnesses.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sam (San Diego, Ca ) on 04/08/2016
★★★★★

This 2 drops of 3% peroxide remedy is amazing.

My pug has had a dry hacking cough for years. He has been on many meds and has seen many vets. Still never got down to the root of the problem. Cough is at its worse point. Today I tried this remedy and it has worked. The first hour he had very minimal cough. He seems so much more comfortable. Wish I would have found this site sooner. Thank you for sharing. It's making a huge difference.


Garlic
Posted by Dana (Spartanburg, Sc) on 09/25/2010
★★★★★

I took my St Bernard to the Humane Society to be fixed, when she came, she brought Kennel Cough home with her. Knowing that the rest of my dogs could catch it, I immediately started them all on garlic. I used fresh garlic (about 4 big cloves), some broth, bolied carrot and put it all in a blender. Poured it over their food and they ate it right up. After 2 days of doing this my St's cough was pretty much completly gone. I did this for a week and by the end of the week, she was as good as new. I also put a capful of hydrogen peroxide in their water bowl each time I had to fill it. Hope this helps someone.


Garlic
Posted by Joanne (Las Vegas, Nv) on 08/31/2011

I cannot believe how many people are suggesting to feed and feeding their pets garlic! Garlic is considered to be toxic to dogs in anything more than trace amounts (such as the little bit added into dog food) anything more, such as whole garlic cloves as some people on here are suggesting can cause red blood cell damage in dogs just like onions. PLEASE do not feed your dogs whole cloves of garlic. If your dog is sick, take them to the vet! Alternative remedies can be great, but dogs are not people, their systems are different and they cannot handle all of the foods that we can.


Garlic
Posted by Stellasmommy (Seattle, Pnw) on 09/04/2011

Garlic, just like many other foods said to be toxic to dogs is really only toxic if your dog has an actual allergy to it. I have had dogs eat chocolate and not even so much as fart afterwards let alone die from it. I've had a dog eat onion and survive with nothing more then me calling her vet to ask what I should do. I think it's more risky if for example you have a smaller dog who's body can't process things like a larger dog can. The dogs that I'm speaking of all weighed over 65lbs. I'm not saying go ahead and give huge doses of whatever you want to your animal, but if you're going to try a natural remedy be prepared for what COULD happen and let your vet know what you are going to be trying.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Evelyn (Rhode Island) on 09/14/2016

I know Noelle's post is old but I had to comment on how she "shot" the solution into her dog's mouth. The proper way to give an animal any liquid from a syringe is to fill the syringe and put it inside the cheek (between the teeth and cheek) and slowly squirt the solution in. Otherwise the animal may aspirate the solution into the lungs. I lost an animal that way.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jackie (Clifton, Nj) on 05/21/2013
★★★★★

My dog contracted kennel cough from neighborhood dog. Cough gradually was getting worse after a weeks time. Found this remedy and it worked after one dose. I dissolved 1 tsp. of raw honey in warm water, added a few more ounced of water to total about 6 oz. Then added 3 drops of store bought hydrogen peroxide. He wouldn't drink it so a broke up pieces of bread in the bowl with it and he lapped it up. Coughing stopped immediately and didn't return. I did give him a second dose about 6 hours later to make sure. That was 1 month ago.

Vitamin C, Antibiotics
Posted by Nat (Las Vegas, Nv, Usa) on 07/23/2012
★★★★★

My puppy started hacking the middle of the night... Kennel cough. Took her to vet. Started antibiotics with 500 mg of Vitamin C and honey in morning and before bed. She stopped coughing the next night. Sorry, but folks at least take your dog to vet. Make sure there is not collapsed trachea, obstruction, etc. One person on this page asked what to give a pup with pneumonia.... TAKE THEM TO THE VET! I appreciate holistic and home remedies and use them alot. In fact my vet helps plan them, but to completely disregard vets and take the word of people you have never met on a web forum for the welfare of your animal is lacking in wisdom. I do the vet, apply appropriate veterinary items and do the holistic things they prescribe after our discussion.


Honey, Hydrogen Peroxide on Bread
Posted by Jessy (California) on 05/16/2023
★★★★★

Hello Susan! I followed your instruction for this remedy and let me tell you it definitely works. I saw a difference in less than 24 hours. Thank you so much! Jessy


Coconut Oil
Posted by David (Ohio) on 05/24/2021
★★★★★

For kennel cough .. For small dog one full teaspoon and for large dog give 1 tablespoon of unrefined coconut oil once a day. It will boost their immune system,


Bee Propolis
Posted by Maggie (Idaho) on 12/03/2019 36 posts
★★★★★

Bee propolis extract / honey paste cured my little dog of what seemed to be a terrible cold with hacking cough, blocked up nose and gagging. She didn't want to eat and kept getting worse and worse. I tried a lot of home remedies but nothing seemed to work. I finally tried the bee propolis / honey paste and within 2 hours she was a lot better. Gave her another dose and after another couple of hours she was running and wanting to eat and had stopped coughing and could breathe easily. I couldn't believe it worked so fast. Every now and then she'd cough so I continued to give her the mixture a few more times and she's well now. What I gave her was between 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon of the bee propolis / honey paste mixed with some water that had been mixed with some canned food that I knew she liked. I strained the water / dog food mixture so I could mix it with the propolis paste and use a syringe without the needle to give it to her. The water with the canned dog food has to be strained or else the syringe will clog up. She was so sick and not wanting to eat that I had to use the syringe to get it in her because I knew she wouldn't take it on her own. After she started feeling better, I just put the propolis in her food and she ate it, didn't have to use the syringe. I was so surprised to see her feel better after only 2 hours after taking the propolis. Now I keep a jar on hand at all times.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 06/29/2015

Hey Blanca!

Just an FYI - the gagging cough that the tussigon treats is very different than the cough caused by the kennel cough [viral/bacterial infection].

'Kennel cough' is a complex of infections—both viral and bacterial—that causes inflammation of the dog's voice box and windpipe. It's a form of bronchitis and is similar to a chest cold in humans.

The Tussigon that you are using to treat the side effect coughing from the vetmedin, is an anticholinergic and narcotic cough suppressant combination. The anticholinergic works by drying up secretions and the narcotic depresses the cough reflex in the brain.

These are two very different treatments for two very different kinds of coughing; using the honey/hp to treat your dog's cough may at best have no effect - and at worst cause him suffering and worsen his condition and quality of life for lack of an effective remedy.


Honey and Lemon
Posted by Faething (Appleton, Wi) on 12/26/2009
★★★★★

Honey & Lemon for Kennel Cough

My poor dog was miserable with a hacking dry cough that made him gag! I called my local pharmacist about the remedies that I found on this site, and she said that I could safely treat my 80 lbs golden retriever with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of lemon juice with LOTS of water. I heated up some water, added the honey and lemon juice (a crushed up dog treat too because he wouldn't drink it at first), and within 30 seconds, no more cough! The pharm says to repeat every 4 hours. This will get us through the holiday weekend, and if he's still got the cough on Monday, we can take him to the vet then. The pharm also added that if the cough persists at night, we can get Robitussin DM, but that I'd need to get exact dosage online. Thanks to everyone that commented on this page!!

Reading everyone else's input first helped a lot.

Monolaurin
Posted by Gabriella (Los Angeles) on 09/13/2019
★★★★★

Our Great Dane had developed a bad cough which sounded as if he had something stuck in his throat. The vet said he had kennel cough and prescribed Tramadol, whose side effects include seizures. We gave him Monolaurin pellets pressed into hard butter, twice a day. Two days later he is totally healed.


Kennel Cough Prevention
Posted by Vicky (Australia) on 04/02/2017
★★★★★

I believe dogs get kennel cough from being cold-That's why dogs always get it from being at the pound- its all cement there- COLD. At home... dogs don't always do what's good for them- they sleep on cement... and the cold goes deep into their bones. They mostly sleep right at the back door so they can't miss if you happen to come out- even if it's unprotected from the rain at the door- put a mat there to save the dog from kennel cough and from arthritis later in life. I have 2 mats so that when one gets wet in the rain I move it to dry out (or to hose down wash) replacing it with the dry one.

Mine sleep in the garage on a thick dog bed and there's linoleum on the floor in the garage just so they CAN'T sleep on the cement floor (lino is cheap- and easy to mop) and they have never gotten kennel cough. Keep them warm and they may not ever get it again. I believe in Hydrogen peroxide and also in collodial silver water but not at the same time) :)

Colloidal Silver
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney) on 08/21/2016
★★★★★

For a kennel cough, dosage is 10 mls 3x a day for 3 days then 2 xd ay until cough is gone.


Colloidal Silver and Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ria (Washington, Dc) on 06/19/2016
★★★★★

I have male rescue pit bull (about 5 years old) about 60 pounds, that came to me from a shelter. At the time I was fostering another pit bull.

The rescue had a terrible cough when he came to me and promptly spread it to the other dog. I used colloidal silver ( a couple of capfuls) in each of their full water bowls along with about a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide. It cleared up within a month as I recall. I've had him a couple of years now and no recurrence. The foster has been returned to his owner and she has not had any further problems either.


Herbal Tea for Calves
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 02/24/2015
★★★★★

Hello!

We had two calves that came to the farm rather sickly. They developed a cough and runny nose. They sounded awful! I made them a bucket of herbal tea each day.

Here is the recipe:

Bring 5 quarts of water to boil. Remove from heat.

Add 1/4 cup each of dried leaves of the following:

  • hyssop
  • comfrey
  • mullein

Cover. Let steep (with no extra heat) for 2 hours. Strain out the leaves. Stir in 1/2-3/4 cups of blackstrap molasses. When the tea is warm (a comfortable drinking temperature) but not hot, feed to calves. My calves loved it, in fact, they fought over it.

Here is a video of it:

Calves Fighting over Herbal Tea

The calves "shared" one bucket of tea each day. I did this for about 2 weeks. The best part is that the cough and runny nose did clear up! And the calves and I became friends. :)

~Mama to Many~

EC:

Honey, Hydrogen Peroxide, Lemon Juice
Posted by Dogwood (Thousand Oaks, Ca) on 05/13/2014
★★★★★

Recently rescued a mastiff mix from a shelter - a week later she started a bad cough with discharge from her eyes and nose. Used this HP/honey/lemon recipe (3 drops Food Grade 3% HP, tsp organic honey, small squeeze fresh lemon) administered every 4 hours - she stopped coughing within 20 min, discharge cleared up in a day. However, the rest of the dogs started coughing - administered it to them with a turkey baster two times and they stopped coughing within minutes - all but one stopped coughing/sneezing entirely after the 2nd dose. (I'll post separately my continued problems with remaining dog.) The properties of this particular recipe appears to be quite effective.

Garlic
Posted by Jay (Ohio) on 02/04/2017

This has been found to be untrue. This statement came from a single study done in japan on four dogs. Think again.


Garlic
Posted by Gemma (Pacnw) on 12/26/2017
★★★★★

Our VET suggested garlic in low doses, as other vets we have seen through the years. High doses are toxic, just like high doses of other meds. But our vet suggested garlic for the dogs and he is not a holistic vet.



NEXT