If your dog is hiccupping like crazy, you may be worried. Here’s what could be going on.
Like humans, dogs occasionally get hiccups. Scientists are not sure why. They believe hiccups are a remnant from when a puppy is developing in its mother’s uterus when hiccups occur to test the breathing muscles. This could explain why puppies are more prone to getting hiccups than adult dogs.
Another reason dogs can get hiccups is from swallowing too much air. This can happen if the dog eats or drinks too quickly. It can also occur during periods of stress, excitement, or heavy physical activity when the dog breathes rapidly. Puppies tend to hiccup when they are overexcited, tired, or cold.
It is not anything to worry about if your dog is hiccupping, even if he or she is doing it every day. However, the hiccups should not last more than a few minutes. You should consult your dog’s vet if the hiccups are more prolonged or accompanied by excessive drooling, coughing, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, or lethargy.
Most of the time, hiccups in dogs subside within a few minutes. However, if the hiccups seem to be bothering your pooch, you can try calming him down and giving him some room temperature water with a bit of honey or Karo syrup. This sugary drink can serve as a distraction and normalize your dog’s breathing.
Another thing that sometimes works is gently massaging your dog’s chest and throat. This stimulates the swallowing reflex and can interrupt hiccupping in dogs.
Light exercise, such as a walk outdoors, can also help to regulate your dog’s breathing and stop hiccups. If your dog loves belly rubs, then a cuddle and belly rub may just do the trick.
Avoid large meals if your dog has hiccups. This can potentially lead to choking and aspiration (entry of food particles into the breathing tubes and lungs).
If your puppy is prone to hiccups and tends to eat or drink very fast, try to slow her down. Give her smaller amounts of water to drink and smaller portions of food at a time. There are some slow feeders on the market designed to slow down dogs who are gobblers.
In most cases, hiccups are nothing to worry about. If your dog’s hiccupping is occasional and lasts less than 15 minutes, you don’t need to do anything specific. However, if the hiccups are persistent and bothersome, talk to your dog’s veterinarian to rule out any health issues. Severe and persistent hiccups can be a sign of health problems in dogs such as lung or heart problems, nausea and upset stomach, heatstroke, or ingestion of a foreign body.
03 December, 2022