All About Cough Suppressants for Dogs

A persistent cough is no one’s idea of a good time. And if it’s your dog who’s keeping you (both) up at night with endless bouts of coughing, that goes double. However, here’s the good news: Cough suppressants for dogs may be the answer to give your dog—and you—some much-needed relief.

Although coughing in dogs can be harmless, there are situations when coughing is more serious and needs treatment. So here’s a helpful guide covering when to use cough suppressants for dogs, how they work, and how to choose the right one for your dog.

Cough Medicine for Dogs: Why It’s Important

In the grand scheme of things, a cough might not seem like a big deal. But constant coughing can have a big impact on a dog’s quality of life.

If your dog is coughing all day and can’t rest well at night, their overall health can suffer. In addition, persistent coughing can irritate and inflame a dog’s airway, which then leads to even more coughing.

Dog cough medicine can help break this vicious cycle of chronic coughing and inflammation. Cough suppressants may also be helpful in cases of respiratory illnesses like dog colds or kennel cough, bronchitis in dogs, and tracheal collapse. All of these conditions can cause persistent dry coughs in dogs.

However, not every dog cough needs to be treated. Some nuisance coughs may go away on their own. Other coughs may be the sign of a more serious health condition. And it can be nearly impossible to judge the difference on your own.

That’s why it’s so important to consult with your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s cough. Your veterinarian can provide a thorough exam and diagnosis, along with treatment recommendations to help your canine companion kick that cough for good.

Types of Cough Suppressants for Dogs

There are many different types of cough medicines available for dogs. Which kind your dog needs often depends on what’s causing their cough.

The two main types of cough medications for dogs are suppressants and expectorants.

• Dog cough suppressants are designed to reduce coughing.
• Dog cough expectorants promote coughing to loosen up and clear out mucus in the airways.

Vets typically prescribe cough suppressants to treat chronic, dry coughs in dogs. Dog cough suppressants are generally classified as opioid or non-opioid. Opioid suppressants act directly on the cough center in the brain to reduce coughing. Non-opioid suppressants work in several ways, including reducing airway inflammation and relaxing airway muscles.

Expectorants are different kinds of cough meds for dogs. They treat “productive” dog coughs that bring up mucus. For example, if a dog is coughing due to bacterial pneumonia, your vet might prescribe an expectorant to help clear the airway of accumulated mucus.

Dog cough medicines are primarily available with a prescription and come in several formulations. You can give them to your dog by mouth in tablet or pill format. Many cough medicines are also available in liquid form as cough syrup for dogs.

Even though coughs often affect humans and dogs in similar ways, always give your dog a canine cough medicine, not one meant for humans. Over-the-counter human cough medicines may contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic in dogs. Also, doses of human cough medicine are too high for dogs, increasing the risk of overdose.

Best Cough Suppressant for Dogs: 6 Top Picks

Below, we’ve listed our top picks for cough suppressants for dogs. Remember, though, that the “best” cough suppressant for dogs is often dependent on the underlying cause of a dog’s cough. Your vet is best suited to decide which suppressant will provide the most effective treatment, based on your dog’s health needs.

Codeine (generic only)

Codeine is an opioid cough suppressant and is available as a tablet, liquid, or canine cough syrup. In addition to suppressing dog coughs, it also helps relieve pain. Veterinarians generally consider codeine to be safer for dogs than morphine, another opioid that can be used to suppress coughing (but usually isn’t). 

Codeine slows down gut motility — a common side effect of all opioids. Therefore, it’s not recommended for dogs who have recently had digestive tract surgery. Other potential side effects include muscular spasms, sedation, and constipation.

Highlights

• Effective cough suppressant
• Safer to use than morphine

Things to consider

• Slows down gut motility
• Available only by prescription
• Side effects (more common in cats) include muscular spasms, excitement, sedation, and constipation

Hydrocodone (generic only)

Hydrocodone is another opioid cough suppressant. It is a more potent cough suppressant than codeine. Vets often prescribe this medication dogs whose coughing is due to bronchitis.

Highlights

• More potent than codeine
• Indicated to suppress coughing due to bronchitis

Things to consider

• Available only by prescription

Dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan is a non-opioid cough suppressant for dogs. Its use as a cough suppressant in dogs is “off label,” meaning vets may prescribe it even though it’s not FDA-approved for dogs.  

Dextromethorphan for dogs is available as a tablet, gelcap, or liquid. Your dog can take this medicine with or without food. It gets to work quickly, helping to reduce coughing within 1 to 2 hours. 

Adverse side effects of the drug are common and include drooling, sleepiness, and decreased appetite. Also, dextromethorphan may interact with other medications, such as opioids. Ensure your vet knows all your dog’s current medications to avoid any possible drug interactions.

Highlights

• Non-opioid
• Several formulations
• Short-acting
• Given with or without food

Considerations

• Side effects include drooling, sleepiness, and decreased appetite
• Drug interactions are possible
• Available only by prescription

Theophylline (Theo-24®, Theochron®, Elixophyllin®, Theodur®)

Theophylline is a non-opioid cough suppressant. It is a bronchodilator, which means it suppresses coughing by relaxing airway muscles. Theophylline is an effective cough suppressant in dogs with conditions such as tracheal collapse and chronic bronchitis.

Dogs can take theophylline on a full or empty stomach. It comes in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. And it is also available as extended-release (administered 1 or 2 times a day) or immediate release (given every 6 to 8 hours).

Potential adverse side effects include reduced appetite, digestive upset (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea), excitability, and increased urination.

Dogs with certain medical conditions, such as epilepsy, kidney disease, and liver disease, should not take theophylline. Theophylline can also interact with many medications, such as prednisone and diuretics.

Highlights

• Non-opioid
• Bronchodilator
• Available as liquid, tablet, or capsule
• Extended or immediate release
• Can be given with or without food

Considerations

• Do not use in dogs with epilepsy, kidney disease, or liver disease
• Drug interactions are possible
• Side effects include digestive upset and excitability
• Available only by prescription

Terbutaline (Brethine®)

Terbutaline is another bronchodilator cough suppressant. Used off-label to relax a dog’s airways and reduce coughing, it is available as a tablet and can be given with or without food. 

Terbutaline takes effect within 1 to 2 hours, with effects lasting approximately 6 to 8 hours. Potential side effects include excitement and a slightly increased heart rate. 

Terbutaline may interact with several medications, including theophylline and diuretics. For dogs with certain medical conditions, like epilepsy or diabetes mellitus, terbutaline should be used with caution.

Highlights

• Bronchodilator
• Available in tablet form
• Given with or without food
• Takes effect in 1 to 2 hours

Considerations

• Side effects include excitement and increased heart rate
• Drug interactions are possible
• Use with caution in dogs with epilepsy or diabetes mellitus
• Available only by prescription

Trimeprazine with Prednisolone (Temaril-P, Vanectyl-P®)

Temaril-P is a combination cough suppressant. It contains both trimeprazine (an antihistamine) and prednisolone (a corticosteroid that reduces pain and inflammation). Veterinarians commonly prescribe it as a cough suppressant for kennel cough, bronchitis, and chronic coughing of unspecified origin.

Temaril-P is formulated as a tablet and can be given with or without food. It is short-acting, taking effect within 1 to 2 hours.

Side effects of this cough suppressant include sleepiness, increased appetite, and panting.

Highlights

• Combination medication: antihistamine and corticosteroid
• Indicated for coughing due to kennel cough, bronchitis, and chronic coughing of unspecific origin
• Tablet formulation
• Given with or without food
• Short-acting

Considerations

• Side effects include sleepiness, increased appetite, and panting
• Use with caution in dogs with conditions including seizures, diabetes, and heart disease
• Available only by prescription

How to Choose Cough Suppressants for Dogs

It’s always best to work directly with your vet to treat your dog’s cough. Your vet will choose the best cough medicine for dogs that fits your pup’s needs after considering several factors:

• Cause of the cough
• Treatment goals (suppress vs. promote coughing)
• Is the cough acute or chronic?
• Impact of the cough on dog and owner’s quality of life
• Treatment of the underlying cause

Be aware: Not all dogs respond to medications the same way. So you may go through some trial and error as your vet determines which cough suppressant works best for your dog and the ideal dose and dosing frequency.

Some cough suppressants are more commonly prescribed for specific medical conditions. For example, kennel cough medicine often contains trimeprazine and prednisolone because these ingredients are proven effective against the condition.  

If you have a puppy with a persistent, dry cough, your vet will reduce the dosage to accommodate your puppy’s smaller size. The cough suppressants listed above do not have restrictions for use in puppies.

Along with the cough suppressant, your vet may also recommend some home remedies to relieve your dog’s coughing. Home remedies for dog coughing include steam therapy to help soothe and moisten dry airways. Steam therapy involves having your dog stand in the bathroom while you run a hot shower.

Humidifiers can also help moisten the air in your home and tamp down your dog’s urge to cough.

Some herbal remedies, like slippery elm, may help ease coughs in dogs. However, it’s important to check with your vet before giving your dog any holistic or herbal medication. Your vet can tell you whether it is safe for your dog and ensure it doesn’t interact with other medications, like dog cough suppressants. 

Canine Cough Suppressant Tips

Always follow your vet’s instructions when giving your dog a cough suppressant. Your vet will instruct you on the dose, dosing frequency, and how to administer the specific formulation.

Monitor your dog for reduced coughing and improved quality of life (e.g., better sleep). Contact your vet if your dog’s cough persists or worsens or other symptoms (if present) worsen.

With veterinary care, the proper dog cough suppressant, and some good, old-fashioned TLC, your dog should be breathing easier soon. And that means you’ll be resting easier, too…which is a win-win for everyone!