Best Pet Respiratory & Asthma Medications

Updated November 2019
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Triamcinolone Acetonide
Tablets for Dogs and Cats
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Steroid for Cats and Dogs
Bottom Line

Affordable steroid that helps improve breathing and can help treat other conditions.

Pros

Available in 0.5 and 1.5 mg dosages. Synthetic steroid that reduces inflammation in the lungs, which helps your pet breathe easier. Pills are small and easy to swallow. Can help treat IBS, arthritis, and skin allergies, among other conditions.

Cons

Not an ideal medication for pets with diabetes.

Temaril-P
Tablets for Dogs
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Cough Suppressant
Bottom Line

Tablets that help treat dogs with coughs and throat irritation due to allergies.

Pros

Helps reduce inflammation and relieve throat itchiness due to allergies, which can often cause a cough.Often prescribed as a cough suppressant.

Cons

Can cause drowsiness. Only for use with dogs.

Best Bang for the Buck
Prednisolone
Generic Tablets
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Affordable Steroid
Bottom Line

Affordable steroid that treats a variety of conditions including allergies and breathing issues.

Pros

Available in 5 mg and 20 mg dosages. This steroid can treat allergies, dermatitis, lung infections, and long-term conditions including rheumatoid arthritis. Pill can be given whole or crushed and mixed into food.

Cons

Not ideal for pets with heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Cyclosporine
Capsules for Dogs
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Works with Immune System
Bottom Line

Prescription medication that helps treat allergies that can cause breathing issues as well as other diseases.

Pros

Available in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg dosages. Medication works with the immune system to suppress reactions to allergens. Can also be used to treat autoimmune diseases.

Cons

The medication can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Theophylline
Extended-Release Tablets
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Opens Airways
Bottom Line

Prescription medication that helps open airways for easier breathing in pets with a variety of conditions.

Pros

Opens airways to make breathing easier for pets who have a variety of conditions including heart failure, asthma, and pulmonary disease. Available in 300 mg and 400 mg dosages. Can help improve quality of life for pets with chronic diseases.

Cons

Pill size may be difficult for some pets and can cause nausea and vomiting.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

20 Models Considered
6 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
233 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Asthma and respiratory medications for pets vary in the ways they work, but they all have a goal of making it easier for your pet to breathe. Some are steroids that help reduce inflammation, including inflammation in the lungs. These medications can also be used to treat a variety of other conditions including skin allergies. Other medications work by opening up airways to make it easier for your pet to breathe. Some focus mainly on treating coughs and throat irritation that can happen due to allergies and bronchitis. Certain medications don’t work well for pets with certain conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, so make sure to discuss your pet’s entire health history with your vet.

The team that worked on this review
  • Jennifer
    Jennifer
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer

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