Why Do Dogs get Hiccups? Some advice on how to get rid of them
Dogs get hiccups due to many reasons. It is usually an irritation to the diaphragm caused by eating too fast, bloated stomach, excitement or stress. Just like you do every time you notice uncommon behavior in your pet, you keep track if your dog has constant hiccups. You might also want to learn some advice on how to get rid of dog hiccups.
Why do dogs get hiccups?
If you are a dog owner, you have probably noticed your pup gagging in a rather funny way. You might even worry a little bit but then, should you?
Let´s start by understanding why dogs get hiccups. The truth is that any dog breed that has a diaphragm will suffer hiccups. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It allows space for the lungs to inflate.
Since the diaphragm is connected to some nerves in the throat, it causes your dog to make a sound for every spasm, but it is not a serious disease. What causes dogs to hiccup is not very clear but there are some reasonable explanations. Some veterinarians believe that hiccups are exercises that a dog does for their lungs.
The following is a short list of hiccup triggers:
- Inhaling gases that might irritate the dog’s respiratory system.
- Eating unhealthy food.
- Drinking too little water.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Rapid absorption of food due to fast eating.
- Some puppies have reportedly had hiccups after jumps or violent games with other dogs or kids.
- If a dog chews something, he might have to deal with long hiccups.
When your dog has constant hiccups and these cause him to regurgitate, then you might want to take him to the vet. If your pup has many hiccups but does not vomit, he will be ok.
How to get rid of dog hiccups
There are multiple ways to get rid of dog hiccups. The first thing to do is to try to calm your dog and taking him for a long walk. His irregular breathing, if upset, will make it difficult for him to stop. Now, the following techniques on how to get rid of dog hiccups are simple but they are not 100% guaranteed to work. This is simply because it will depend on what caused them.
- Try to make him drink a little water.
- If hiccups happen after he eats, you might want to control the amount of food he eats.
- Massage your dog´s tummy and pet your dog.
- Try to get your pup engaged in other activity in order for him not to focus on the hiccups.
- Try to avoid food with grains.
- Give him something sweet to eat.
You can find more information on how to deal with your pet’s hiccups and other dog health tips at Dogalize. Follow us across all our social media platforms.