We just adopted a 1 year old mixed breed dog named Monty about 2 weeks ago from our local shelter. He had a runny nose at the time but we were told that he’d be okay and that it would clear up within week. It went away a few day later but now it’s back and we can tell he also has some chest congestion & a cough. With it being Sunday, there aren’t really any vets in our city open. What do we do or what can we give him to help?
Coughing in dogs can have a number of causes. Given the history, I agree that Kennel cough seems to be a likely culprit, but it is definitely worth seeing a veterinarian to confirm there is nothing else going on. Here is an article more about kennel cough and another article about dogs coughing in general that have some useful advice.
The treatment for Kennel Cough is generally bed rest, but in some cases, they do require additional therapy such as antibiotics as there can be a bacterial component to the disease. I would keep your dog indoors, warm, well hydrated, and if you want to do additional therapies, you could keep the air moist with a humidifier or just being in the room with a hot shower to help him be a bit more comfortable. Kennel cough can also be very contagious to other dogs, so it is important to avoid contact with other dogs and keep him indoors as much as possible until Monty is better.