5 Ways to Soothe Kennel Cough Symptomsnzymes helps dogs

Kennel cough in dogs is often referred to as Bordetella or Bordetellosis, and can be easily compared to the “common cold” in people: it’s pretty contagious, rarely fatal and is usually out of the system in a number days. The most common symptoms of kennel cough are a dry, hacking cough, gagging (as though something is caught in their throat) and sometimes they’ll even drool a white foamy substance. As with people, it hits the very young and old harder because their immune systems are more vulnerable, though all dogs can easily contract this disease.

Before taking a look at some great natural remedies to help with symptoms, it’s worth noting that kennel cough is both viral and bacterial in nature. This is important because many vets will prescribe an antibiotic – which only treats the bacterial infection – not the virus. It takes about a week for symptoms to show up once the disease has been contracted and can continue for up to 10 days. Even after our furry friend is symptom free, he can still spread kennel cough to other dogs for up to two weeks (a good thing to know if you’re planning a trip to the dog park, vet or kennel anytime soon).

Next, we’ll look at some remedies for bothersome SYMPTOMS of this respiratory problem:

Remedies for Kennel Cough Symptoms & For Getting Resolution

1. Honey

One of the best, healthiest and quickest ways to soothe your dog’s itchy throat is a simple spoonful of honey. Research shows honey is far more than a sweet treat – it is a powerful disinfectant (containing antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties).
Dogs normally enjoy honey’s sweet taste and it’s easy to feed them straight from the spoon. Large and small doses are safe and effective, but a minimum dose of 1 teaspoon of honey three or four times per day is recommended if you’re dealing with that awful dry, hacking cough that comes with kennel cough.

2. Coconut Oil

In recent years, coconut oil has become a popular supplement for both people and pets. The fatty acids kill harmful bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites. Some people use it as an all-purpose infection fighter. Some dog owners use it as a daily supplement to prevent possible infections. It has also been promoted as one of the best remedies for kennel cough symptoms.
The recommended maintenance dose is 1 teaspoon of coconut oil per 10 pounds of body weight every day. If your dog is dealing with kennel cough, you can easily double that dose. The only side effect I have heard about is the detoxifying effect (loose stools, nausea, etc.) when given too large of a dosage.
Coconut oil and honey go well together. Many will use them in combination as a homeopathic treatment for kennel cough and other contagious diseases.

3. Special Supplements

There are natural supplements on the market that are specifically designed to help with respiratory problems like kennel cough. Nzymes Ox-E-Drops is made with a sodium chlorite solution that helps these symptoms first by oxidizing infecting invaders directly within respiratory areas, when used in a vaporizer. Secondly, when taken internally (added to diet with water), this oxidizing effect helps to neutralize the infecting invaders, bacterial or viral, wherever they may exist in the body; thereby, creating a very effective dual-layer approach to combating troublesome kennel cough issues.

Vitamin C is another helpful remedy for kennel cough symptoms, as it can act as an anti-viral. The daily dosage will depend on your dogs size.

Colostrum (made from the first milking of cows) and Probiotics are also great for immunity health, which is definitely needed when fighting kennel cough.

4. Herbs and Oils

Natural food markets and pet supply stores carry many herbal products that also help coughing dogs. You may want to call ahead and ask them to carry any of the following:
Dried licorice root, sage or blackberry leaves, thyme and/or elder blossom. These are all great ingredients to make a special soothing tea for your pup. You can also use essential oils like eucalyptus or ravensare for a helpful and enjoyable dose of aromatherapy. It’s recommended to use an aroma diffuser or simply add a few drop to the water in a vaporizer.

5. The Best Defense

Controlling your dog’s exposure to other animals is obviously one of the best ways to prevent kennel cough, canine flu, and other contagious diseases – but it’s also a bit unrealistic (especially if your fur baby is a social butterfly). By far, a better defense against any irritating infection is a strong immune system – which you can boost with nutrition, exercise, and natural supplements (like those mentioned here).
For now, if your dog has contracted a respiratory infection, use these tips and tricks to turn it around in record time!

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Products Recommended for Kennel Cough / Bordatella in Dogs

Nzymes Healthy Respiratory Kit

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