My poor boy was up in the night coughing every so often, but so loudly he woke the entire household. It's a very dry cough, like something is tickling the back of his throat, but he is very well apart from that and was eating and drinking fine. I called my vet who was out on a call and said to see whether it subsides and if it doesn't to call him again today. (I live very rurally, we only have the one vet!) I stupidly looked online at reasons for a dry cough in dogs and have been ridiculously scared by some of the things it could be, but I would be surprised if it was kennel cough as he hasn't been around any dogs other than my own for weeks. The vet is coming out at 3pm today but does anyone have any ideas of how I can help with the coughing in the meantime? Obviously the vet is not particularly worried but I hate to think of my boy being uncomfortable. Thanks

I'd be inclined to wait for the vet, you may do more harm than good by giving him something like cough medicine, it's unlikely to do anything any way in the short time you have to wait.
If you really want to try though, some warm honey wouldn't do any harm.

A dab of honey on his tongue should help soothe his throat a bit.

I gave him a tiny bit of warmed honey in water which the vet says did no harm at all. He is on antibiotics now as the vet thinks it's a nasty kennel cough.