When Dogs and Puppies Get Hiccups- It Means This…

Dogs are known to hiccup much as humans are, but much more is happening inside a dog’s body when it hiccups. The “hic” sound that is heard when a dog hiccup is the fast inhalation of air through its voice box. It may seem cute or funny for your pup to start hiccuping now and then, but it is a common and fairly normal behavior, and your dog shouldn’t be too bothered by it.

Signs of Dog Hiccups

In most cases, dogs will have hiccups from one to five times a day without any reason or illness involved. Hiccups are more common in puppies than in adult dogs, but this isn’t to say that an older dog can’t hiccup. If your dog has hiccups more often than usual or exhibits other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, or problems breathing, then it is time to pay a visit to the vet.

Why Do Dogs Get Hiccups?

Dogs hiccup for the same reasons that humans do. If your pup has had too much food or water, gets scared easily, eats too fast, or is nervous about something, they are more susceptible to hiccups. More often than not, however, dogs will hiccup because of an empty stomach or because they are exhausted. This is because when your dog’s stomach is empty, it contracts in much the same way that a human’s stomach does when they haven’t eaten in hours. If you find yourself waking up with hiccups, then try drinking some water before going back to sleep, and the chances are that you will be rid of them.

How Do Dogs Get Rid of Hiccups?

If you want to get rid of your dog’s hiccups, hold their stomach and rub it gently until the spasms stop, and then feed them a small meal or give them some water to drink. You can also try giving them a treat if they seem upset about having the hiccups while holding your dog’s tongue in place with your thumb. Keeping their tongue in place will help prevent choking if they accidentally swallow it while breathing normally. In some cases, a dog may have hiccups from being nervous or stressed, which is why you should make sure that your dog isn’t feeling anxious before going to sleep at night or after having a bath.

Is It Bad That My Dog Keeps Getting Hiccups?

There is nothing to be worried about if your dog has the occasional bout of hiccups now and then. However, if your puppy is vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or showing other symptoms mentioned earlier in the article, then it is time to make a trip to the vet for some professional advice.

Dog Hiccups After Food

If you leave food or water bowls down for your dog, then they may be hiccuping after finishing them off. This is because these bowls are usually left out all day long, and your pup may drink more than one bowl of water before you collect them to take back inside. If this is the case, try feeding your dog smaller meals instead of one large meal throughout the day. If you are worried that your dog may have developed a habit of overeating, then try feeding them in different locations around the house to keep them from associating hiccups with their food bowls.

Is Your Dog Hiccupping More Than Usual?

If your dog is breathing normally and not showing any other symptoms, there is not much to worry about if their hiccups last longer than usual. However, it might be a good idea to take your dog for a checkup so you can make sure that everything is okay before the problem starts happening more often.

How Can I Make My Dog Stop Hiccupping?

Once your dog has had their hiccups and they have stopped, there is nothing much you can do to make the problem go away completely. If it is something simple like an empty stomach or getting tired, then sitting with them for a while should be enough to soothe them back to sleep. If this isn’t working, try massaging their sides and stomach until the hiccups go away. If your dog is still young, you can also help them get rid of their hiccups by holding their tongue in place with your thumb. This will make it more difficult for them to swallow while breathing normally.

How Long Do Dogs Get Hiccups?

On average, dogs can get hiccups as long as they need to, and there isn’t anything you can do to make the problem go away more quickly. However, some dogs will still have their hiccups after a couple of hours or even all night long. If this is the case, holding your dog’s stomach and gently rubbing it should quickly release the hiccups. If this doesn’t work, then it might be time to make a trip to the vet.

Is Your Dog Watering?

If your dog is watering and their hiccups go away quickly, there is also not much you can do about it. However, if they restart shortly after stopping, your puppy could be hiccuping because they are dehydrated. This is something that you should take your dog to the vet for to get re-hydrated by intravenous drip if needed.

Is Your Dog Vomiting?

If your pup is vomiting and their hiccups are still going strong, this could signify that they have a more severe problem. Depending on what your dog is vomiting, it could be a sign that they ingested something poisonous or got into an argument with another animal and hurt their stomach. If this is the case, you should get them to the vet immediately so they can treat whatever injuries need treating and provide life-saving care if necessary.

Conclusion

If your dog is hiccupping, then it probably isn’t anything to worry about. Most dogs will get the occasional bout of hiccups every so often, and they should be able to deal with the problem generally without any help from you. However, suppose they begin vomiting or have developed a more serious medical condition in addition to their hiccups. In that case, you should take your dog to the vet immediately so they can be safe.