[dogmelissa]

Here's what's going on:
- I have an almost-4 year old Maltese cross, Cube.
- I've been working for just over a week at a doggie daycare, but he's only gone with me 3 times, the first time last Saturday (a week ago). None of the dogs there (most come every day) have any symptoms of kennel cough, though I can't rule it out for Cube.
- It's been really cold here and Cube hasn't gone for a walk in more than a week because the cold triggers reverse sneezes (I compare this to going outside on a really cold day and sniffing and having your snot freeze). We have a humidifier in our house that is working properly, and he comes in the bathroom when we shower.
- Today is my one day off this week and I really wanted to sleep in, however, just after 8:30 this morning (it's currently 9:00), Cube started coughing. They sound dry and non-productive, but they're really strong, like they almost make him gag. They sound a little bit like whooping cough in a person, but I really don't think dogs can get that.

I am going to phone my vet tomorrow if he doesn't get better in the next couple of hours, but they are closed today and I don't think this is an emergency (at least not right now, but if it gets worse, I will take him to the emerg)
I read an article just now that said coughing in dogs tends to make their throat irritation worse, and that if it's an allergy cough or pollutant (or from the weather/humidity) that I should give him Robitussin cough syrup. Well, there's no way I'm going to give him any cough syrup cause they contain alcohol and I don't want a drunk dog. But just recently doctors discovered that honey worked really good at stopping kid's coughing. Can I give him honey? Or is there a non-alcoholic cough syrup that I can give him? (And how much of either do I give him? he weighs about 10 lbs) I don't want to make him sicker, but this article said that because of the way their throats are, coughing itself tends to make irritation worse, so I'd really like to help him rest his throat.

Can anyone help??

Thank you,
Melissa