Dog Hiccups - Causes, Ways to Fix It, and Things You Should Know

Dog Hiccups Explained - What are they?

Like in humans, dog hiccups occur when the diaphragm has involuntary and uncontrollable contractions and spasms. The diaphragm is a sheet having internal muscles.

It separates the abdomen from the chest. It is the key muscle that is involved in respiration. It contracts and moves downwards when a dog breathes in and it relaxes when it releases its breath.

Usually, the movements are smooth and normal, and sometimes when the muscles spasm, hiccups happen.

How Long do Dog Hiccups Last?

Usually, the hiccups last for a few minutes and everything goes back to normal. However, in some dogs, the time could be extended and this could be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Breathing defects, asthma, pneumonia, pericarditis, heat stroke, fever, loss of appetite, coughing, and tiredness could also cause dog hiccups.

‘What do dog hiccups sound like?’

At first, the sound could be scary for the pet owners but, mostly, they are harmless. The diaphragm spasms involuntarily and causes the ‘hic’ sound.

Dog Hiccups Causes - What Causes Dog Hiccups?

‘Why does my dog get the hiccups so much?’

Dog hiccups could be caused due to a number of reasons. Usually, the reasons are not very serious as, most often, it happens due to unintentional and uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm.

This is quite common among dogs but sometimes the condition could be indicating a serious underlying health condition.

Hiccups in Adult Dogs - What are the Causes?

Since adults and older dogs have a developed nervous system, they get hiccups occasionally. However, if you notice that your dog has repeated bouts of hiccups then consulting a vet would be better.

To know the reasons for hiccups in your dog, you should note down the occasions when your dog had hiccups. This will help you to identify the triggers of hiccups in your dog.

Sometimes, dog owners mistake focal seizures and reverse sneezing as hiccups. To avoid any such situation, it is important to have complete information.

‘What gives a dog hiccups?’

Some common causes of hiccups in adult dogs are anatomical changes in the diaphragm. Electrolyte anomalies or health conditions like kidney diseases, nervous system diseases, and chronic gastric issues could also cause hiccups.

Hiccups in Puppies - What are the Causes?

The puppies are still in a growing stage and this is why they have more hiccups than the adult dogs. They get excited about food all the time and they try to devour every last bite in their bowl.

Due to their excitement for food, they swallow rather quickly and, in the process, they swallow some air also. This air could cause dog hiccups after eating.

Usually, rolling your puppy gently from side to side is enough to stop the spasm.

In some cases, these cute hiccups could be a sign of a more serious health issue. Below are some common possibilities of hiccups in puppies. Make sure you give your puppy vet recommended dog food.

Parasites - parasites could also be the causes of hiccups in puppies. In case your puppy is having hiccups for an extended time, accompanied by vomiting, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

Some common reasons for it could be heartworms and roundworms that disrupt the dog’s respiratory tract. The larvae of the worms settle into the puppy’s respiratory tract and cause several issues.

Gastric Issues - some of the common symptoms of gastric issues are diarrhea, vomiting, and bloody stool. This could also be a reason for hiccups in puppies and there are other gastrointestinal issues that your puppy could develop.

Luckily, most of the conditions could be treated but you will need to diagnose them correctly.

Respiratory Issues - some of the common symptoms of respiratory issues in puppies include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and discharge from the nose. Puppies are exposed to a number of respiratory conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, and heat stroke.

These conditions could be life-threatening and this is why it is important to monitor your puppy properly. Sometimes, adult dogs and puppies could have dog hiccups after sedation also. Some medicines could cause a hiccup-like reaction.

Besides eating or drinking too fast, dog hiccups during sleep also. Usually, this happens when the dog or puppy is in the REM sleep phase. In this phase, the body is most relaxed and the sleep is at its deepest.

Puppy owners could try some home remedies to stop doggie hiccups of your puppy.

Stopping Dog Hiccups - How to Get Rid of Dog Hiccups?

‘How to stop dog hiccups?’

Usually, dog hiccups go on their way. To cure hiccups of your dog, try the following methods.

• Slow them down when eating and help them regulate their breathing pattern.
• Increase their level of activity to normalize your dog’s diaphragm. Take them on a walk or try some good indoor dog games.
• Give them food or water to interrupt the dog’s breathing and help his diaphragm get normal.
• Notice your dog’s eating pattern and foods that could trigger hiccups and avoid them.
• High-grain foods, often, cause hiccups so try limited ingredient dog food for your dog.
• Give small meals throughout the day instead of 2 big meals.
• Give them something sweet like honey to soothe the airways and stop the hiccups.

Hiccups are quite harmless but you must not let them go unnoticed if your dog has frequent and prolonged hiccups.