Cough drops are a very common treatment when we have a cough. They come in many flavors and are made with many types of ingredients. Many people use cough drops; however, their fur babies may believe the cough drops are candy. In that case, the dog may try to lick or eat the cough drop.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
While cough drops are safe for us, what happens if a dog licks a cough drop?
Has your dog licked a cough drop? Are you worried the cough drop will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog does something like this.
In this article, we’ll take a look at cough drops and whether or not they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What are Cough Drops?
Cough drops are small sweets that are sometimes referred to as throat lozenges. The drops are meant to be taken by mouth and allowed to dissolve slowly. They work to soothe a sore throat and to calm a cough. Many people take cough drops when they have the flu or a cold. Cough drops also work to soothe a scratchy throat due to allergies and other causes.
When it comes to ingredients, there’s a wide variety of ingredients commonly used in cough drops, including:
- Menthol (toxic to dogs)
- Zinc gluconate glycine
- Eucalyptus oil (toxic to dogs)
- Benzocaine (a topical anesthetic)
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Honey
- Lemon (toxic to dogs)
- Pectin
As you can see, cough drops may contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. What’s more, some cough drops are sweetened with xylitol (an artificial sweetener), which is very toxic to dogs.
So, can cough drops make a dog sick? The answer is yes; however, it’s usually if a dog eats the entire cough drop. It’s also possible for cough drops that contain xylitol, menthol, and eucalyptus oil to make a dog sick, even if he only licks the cough drop.
How to Help Your Dog
If your dog has licked a cough drop, then take the cough drop away from your dog first. Next, check the cough drop packaging to see what ingredients are in the drops. If you find there are toxic ingredients in the cough drops, then it’s best to call the vet right away.
The chances are that one lick will not make your dog sick, but it really depends on the amount of the toxic ingredients contained in the drops. So, it’s best to call the vet if you find toxic ingredients in the cough drops.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now
