Its a heartbreaking sound: the persistent, honking cough coming from the dog you love. A dose of honey for coughing can soothe his throat and reduce his coughing, but its important to chat with a veterinarian before introducing your dog to a new food. Some dogs, including diabetic and overweight dogs and puppies under a year old, should not be fed honey.
Though theres a lack of scientific research regarding the effectiveness of honey in treating canine problems, theres no shortage of anecdotal evidence arguing its value. For people, however, studies have shown that honey reduces the frequency of coughing. Just like how people use honey to soothe a sore throat, dogs can have honey to soothe a sore throat caused by coughing. Giving dogs honey for kennel cough or other coughing is a natural way to alleviate their throat pain.
If the cough is persistent or if it is paired with blood or an inability or refusal to eat, see your veterinarian immediately. Coughing can be a symptom of many medical conditions, so its always best to get your canine checked out as soon as possible.
Local Raw Honey Relieves Dogs’ Skin Allergies
Medical research supports the use of local honey for dogs to combat their environmental allergies. Note that we said local honey. A local product contains tiny amounts of the pollen in your area, so that when your dog ingests the honey, his body can adjust to the potential allergens gradually, which should help prevent a full-blown attack. Hint: Be sure you’re dealing with an environmental allergic reaction. Itching, scratching, and hot spots can also indicate a food allergy. See “Suspect Your Itchy Dog Has a Food Allergy?” for more info.
What are the most common symptoms of kennel cough?
The first sign you’ll notice is the persistent cough. The sounds the dog makes are quite similar to a goose honk. At first, it might even seem funny, that is until you realize the poor things simply cannot stop coughing and it’s making him miserable. Other symptoms resemble those of a common cold, such as:
There’s no need to rush to the vet though. If your dog appears to have kennel cough, you should try some easily available remedies. However, if they don’t work and the dog doesn’t seem to feel better in a day or two you should absolutely take him to the vet.
It will seem like an eternity, but generally speaking kennel cough resolves itself within three weeks. Medicines targeting the bacteria in his throat might speed up things. On the other hand, a senior dog with other pre-existing ailments might keep coughing up to six weeks.
Vets often prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria and to prevent pneumonia. A young healthy animal might get over kennel cough even without antibiotics, but with an elderly dog with a weak immune system it is better not take any chances.
Honey for collapsed trachea in dogs
That deep, dry, honking cough that you keep hearing from your canine companion could be a sign of a collapsed trachea. Dogs with a collapsed trachea, or windpipe, have weakened cartilage along the trachea walls that starts to sag, causing them to have difficulty breathing air into their lungs. Middle-aged and senior dogs are most commonly affected as well as toy breeds, like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Yorkshire terriers, and toy poodles
A collapsed trachea will need to be treated by a veterinarian with either medical treatment or surgery, but honey is a helpful home remedy to relieve some of your dogs honking cough. Use 1 teaspoon for every 20 pounds of a dogs weight. Honey can also be mixed with lemon juice.
FAQ
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