I personally woudln't go with the cough medicine unless it is something your vet prescribed. Does the dog have kennel cough? If it does then the meds your vet gave you are only to keep it from turning into pneumonia which can be very serious. Kennel cough is like the human cold- nothing will make it go away- it just has to run its course. When layla had kennel cough i put a warm air humidifier near her crate at night and this really helped. If you dont' have one- turn the shower on very very hot and close the bathroom door and hold your pup around the steam (obviously not too close
) if you do this for a few days it should help with the coughing.