My chihuahua is spacing out after Robitussin. Should I be worried?

Unfortunately, it is illegal for use to recommend using any OTC drugs on Owen because we can't see him in person. We can't say it's safe. In addition, we can't know if it's the right drug. This horrible cough could be due to a respiratory infection, but it could also be due to a collapsing trachea or heart disease, neither of which robitussin can treat. Keep him as calm as possible, rest him, offer him smaller amounts of water at a time, and have him seen by a vet as soon as possible.

I would not recommend giving Mocha Robitussin total cough, cold and flu extra strength. It contains pseudoephedrine and acetominophen which can both be toxic in dogs if not used very carefully (and Mocha is a small guy). I wish I could give you a good recommendation for an over the counter medication, but the safest cough medications for dogs are only available by prescription. I would recommend contacting your vet about Mocha's cough and see what they would recommend for him. Coughing can be caused by anything from irritation to a virus to something much more severe, so I would make sure to keep your vet in the loop and have Mocha evaluated right away if he seems to get worse or not feel well. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Teddy! The most common cause of a chronic cough in a papillion is due to a collapsing trachea. Sometimes products like Robitussin can help, but there are other causes of coughing - specifically heart disease or bronchitis that should be ruled out by having a chest xray performed. Legally I cannot give dosing information for Robitussin to you unless I have performed a physical exam on Teddy. There are better medication options if his vet does confirm a collapsing trachea is the cause of his cough.

I would not advise it. If he is in congestive heart failure, the cough is likely due to fluid overload for which Robitussin will not help. If he is on lasix, talk to your vet about rechecking him as his dosage may need to be increased. Sometimes, enlargement of the heart can result in the heart pushing on the airways which can contribute, robitussin isn’t likely to have any significant positive impact for that cause of cough either. Follow up with your vet soon, and if he’s in distress, or if his respiratory rate at rest is over 50, or if he is coughing very persistently, week emergency care. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would not give this to Waldo unless prescribed for him by your vet, and under their supervision. You can discuss with your vet if this is safe to give him, and they can give you the dose information.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Fluffy is having coughing issues. I think you are asking about Robitussin DM? This is a human product that is designed for cough related to colds. Unfortunately it will have no effectiveness against fluid build up in the lungs, and it is also not tested and deemed safe for dogs. As a result I cannot recommend it. If Fluffy's cough is worsening even on the fluid pill (diuretic), I would recommend taking her back to your vet who can adjust the dose of the pill, and/or provide another medication that can help provide some relief. If the cough has suddenly worsened, it would also be worth having your vet investigate for any new causes for the cough, such as infection, masses, or chronic inflammation, or worsening heart disease. I hope this helps, and that Fluffy is feeling better soon.

You should contact your vets office for a recommendation as we are not in a position legally to give out dosages. In order to do legally so we would have to have a patient-veterinarian-owner relationship with you. Your veterinarian also knows your dog and the potential risks for your dog receiving this medication.