Most humans will be familiar with hiccups and parents of young children will be more than aware of the trouble these noisy, sometimes annoying abdominal spasms can cause. Even adults may be unable to avoid a bout of hiccups from time-to-time.
But what about pets and, in particular dogs, can dogs get hiccups?
A question many dog owners will ask is whether their dog can get hiccups. Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm that cause rapid, repeated closure of the vocal cords. This leads to a “hiccup” sound followed by an exhalation of air. The answer to this question is yes, dogs can get hiccups just like people do.
Can dogs have hiccups?
Hiccups are a funny thing that humans experience. It’s not something you hear about in the dog world, but it does happen.
Though they’re rarely seen or heard of, hiccups do happen to dogs – and if your pup is hiccuping, it’s normally not something that you need to worry about.
Puppies are most likely to get the hiccups and normally they are caused when they eat or drink too quickly or when they become over excited or get too cold.
As dogs grow older then, just like people, they are less likely to get hiccups.
Make sure your dog is healthy
If you have an older dog and it starts having episodes of hiccups then there might be a more serious cause that should be investigated by a vet.
It’s not only the age that counts but also the overall health of your pet. If your pup is overweight or if they have been sick recently then this can also be a reason for hiccups.
Make sure that your dog is not taking part in any strenuous exercise before, during or after meals and try to keep them warm on cold days.
If they’re less active then this makes it more likely that they’ll get the hiccups because of the digestive system starting to work harder.
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Treatment for dog hiccups
There are a few things you can do at home to deal with your dogs hiccups. If they have just eaten, try feeding them some bread or try giving them a teaspoon of honey.
These remedies won’t work in every instance but they’re worth trying if you’re dog keeps getting the hiccups after a meal.
In some cases you might want to try massaging your dog’s neck and stomach as this helps calm the diaphragm muscle – but only do this if you have been advised to by a vet.
If your pup is experiencing hiccups on a regular basis then it’s important that you take them to see a vet.
They will be able to diagnose the cause of the hiccups and advise you on the best course of action to take.
How do you know if your dog has hiccups?
A common sight is a dog hunched over with their elbows tucked into their body while they exhale air.
This is a result of a diaphragm spasm . If the spasm occurs while your dog’s stomach is full, then that air will have nowhere to go but up – and you’ll hear it.
Extreme cases may cause your pup to gag or sneeze in order to clear their respiratory system.
Performing this action is not harmful and it doesn’t affect them in any way.
There are no serious health concerns when it comes to dog hiccups and they normally last for a very short period of time.
Normally when they want food, play, or they are excited so it is not much to worry about.
Can dogs have hiccups more than once?
Yes, your dog can actually get hiccups many times within a day or even multiple times in one hour.
Some people believe that this means that you should go to the vet as soon as possible because there could be something wrong with your pet. This isn’t necessarily true though because dogs get hiccups for many reasons – most being relatively harmless.
If you are concerned about how often your dog is experiencing the hiccups, you should take them to the vet so that they can check for any potential problems.
If you are sure that they are just experiencing hiccups and they seem fine, there is no need to worry too much.
Can dogs get hiccups in their sleep?
Dogs can get hiccups when they are in their sleep and it doesn’t mean anything.
Just like humans, dogs can sometimes get the hiccups while sleeping, but this is quite rare.
This is usually only seen in puppies because their digestive system hasn’t quite developed fully yet.
It’s also possible for dogs to experience hiccups during their sleep because they’re excited, but this is fairly rare as well.
Final Words
Hiccups are something that most dogs experience from time to time.
They are not always a serious concern, but there are times when they can indicate an underlying health issue.
If your dog has the hiccups, the first step is making sure they are in good health and have no other symptoms that could point to something more serious.
If they do not have any other symptoms, then you should simply monitor them to make sure the hiccups go away quickly.
If your dog is having frequent hiccups or is experiencing other concerning symptoms, take them to see a vet as soon as possible.
