What can I safely give my bulldog for congestion while on Keppra?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend using a humidifier until you can get him to the veterinarian. Do not use any decongestant products over the counter as these can have harmful toxic effects on animals. Avoid any essential oils and no vapor rubs as these can be irritants to the airway. I hope this helps!

Hi there! You can give him some benadryl (diphenhydramine) at 1 mg per pound. The tablets usually come in 25mg. You can go a tad higher too and it usually won't hurt anything. For example, if the dog is 10 pounds, I'll just have owners give 1/2 of the 25mg tablet which comes out to 12.5mg, or if the dog is 5 pounds, then 1/4 tablet which is 6.25 mg, etc. If your dog is really small, you can pick up the children's benadryl and use that to get a more accurate dose. The benadryl may or may not help, but it can't hurt. I think it's worth a try until you can get him in to see his veterinarian again. I would have him seen though since he has started medications and it still seems to be getting worse. Just be sure to check labels and make sure the only ingredient is diphenhydramine (or diphenhydramine hcl). Some of the benadryl products can have pseudoephedrine in them, and you don't want that. I hope this answer was helpful! Best of luck!

Yes, absolutely, she needs to be seen by the vet again. Unfortunately, being a bulldog, it is a lot harder for her to get rid of congestion and mucus, as the upper airways are often obstructed or very narrow due to the brachycephalic head. You can try loosening some of that mucus by having her inhale very warm saltwater steam or taking her into the shower with you. Please take her back to the vet for a recheck.

This difficulty breathing could be related to his bronchitis, but the conformation of his nostrils and soft palate could be contributing to it as well. Because of his flat face, Jax will have an undersized throat and breathing passages, and when there is inflammation in the airways, it will be even harder for him to breathe. If he's congested, he may need bronchodilator, and you'd have to speak to your vet for a prescription for that. At home, you you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. When he's better from the bronchitis, it would be worth a discussion with your vet about his facial conformation. If he has stenotic nares, an elongated soft palate, and everted laryngeal saccules, having surgery done to correct this things will help with his breathing in the future.

Many, many medications over the counter and/or human medications are not safe for pets. We can't diagnose or prescribe here without exam, and Dr/ patient relationship. The best advice is to get him seen by your veterinarian in the morning. If there is trouble breathing/respiratory distress, you'll need to go to the ER. In meantime, you can try 5_10 min in a steamy bathroom to help break up congestion.

Poor Dolly! You can try to hold her in a small bathroom while your run a hot shower and let her breathe in the steam. Obviously, don’t put her in the water. And picking her up allows her to get more steaks since steam rises. You can also try some Benadryl. See the link below for more information. If she isn’t improving or if she is lethargic or not eating then I would have your vet look at her. Your vet will be able to listen to her heart and lungs and help determine the cause. She may need some antibiotics to help her feel better. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

Allergies are a possibility along with the start of a respiratory infection. You can give Benadryl to dogs and at his weight it would be closer to a whole 25 mg tablet instead of a 1/4. I would say get him checked if the symptoms continue or you notice them progress