4 tricks how to get rid of your dog hiccups
- Veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic
- Updated: 2023-04-12
A short hiccup... A slight wince.... To be honest, it's already cute when our beloved dog has a hiccup. The first reflex is, of course, to get our camera and film this cute spectacle. But at some point the question comes up: Are the hiccups a problem for my dog? If you still want to help your pet, here are some tricks as well as information on when a visit to the vet is necessary.
I can reassure you, because a hiccup is as harmless for our dog as it is for us humans.
How do hiccups occur?
Hiccups are nothing more than the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm during breathing.
The diaphragm is a muscle that allows us to breathe. It is located under the lungs and separates the chest from the abdomen.
When mammals inhale, the diaphragm contracts. Now there is enough space in the chest area for the lungs to fill with air. When we exhale, the muscle relaxes again and the air flows out of the lungs.
If the diaphragm tenses, the glottis (the opening between the vocal cords) closes abruptly. Inhalation is interrupted and we emit a "hiccup".
Normally, the diaphragm relaxes again after a few minutes and the hiccups disappear as quickly as they came.
3 reasons for a hiccup
1. eating or drinking too fast
As a dog owner, you certainly know this scenario: Your protégé eats as if he were on the verge of starvation. And he's just been given treats and a bone to boot. Especially when your dog wants to romp with you again, the food can not be devoured quickly enough.
Inhaling air while eating or drinking at record speed will cause hiccups faster than your furry friend can eat.
2. rapid breathing
3. excitement and stress
Hiccups in puppies
Especially often we can observe a hiccup in our young dogs. This is also quite normal. Almost every Puppy gets it once. Some more often than others.
Puppies are usually much more excited and playful than adult quadrupeds. They eat and drink too quickly and try everything. Within a very short time they wake up and are full of energy. It is only a matter of time before they then give a "hiccup".
In addition, their respiratory organs are not yet so well developed. This naturally increases the likelihood of hiccups.
4 tricks against hiccups
Usually, after a few minutes, the hiccup disappears all by itself. Even though it is very sweet, after a while we want to help our four-legged friends get rid of the annoying "hiccup".
Similar methods can be used as for humans. However, you must remember that some tricks are not suitable for dogs. So you can hardly get your darling to hold his breath.
Also, you should not give him anything sweet, as it is not good for his stomach. The classic scare might get rid of the hiccups, but that would probably bother your protégé more than the hiccups themselves.
- Give drink - This calms breathing and relaxes the diaphragm. However, make sure that your furry companion does not drink too quickly.
- Breast massage - Your faithful companion not only enjoys the crawl, it also has other benefits. While lying on his back and having his chest massaged, breathing becomes calmer and the diaphragm relaxes. A nice way to get rid of the hiccups!
- Light exercises and movement - A short walk or playing with the ball normalizes breathing and the hiccups are gone.
- Smaller portions - To prevent hiccups from occurring in the first place, smaller amounts of food will ensure slow eating. Should your quadruped gobble too hastily and without chewing, you can solve this problem with a Anti-snare put an end to it.
When should you take your dog to a veterinarian?
Usually you don't have to worry about your pet's hiccups at all. It arises in any mammal and is usually gone again after a few minutes.
In rare cases, however, a hiccup is a Symptom of a more serious illness, such as pneumonia, asthma, pericarditis, or heat stroke.
A visit to the veterinarian is necessary if the hiccups do not stop after several hours, are repeated regularly, or if breathing becomes difficult or irregular.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hiccups are harmless spasms in the diaphragm in both humans and dogs. The diaphragm is a muscle that is necessary for breathing. If it cramps, the typical hiccup sound is produced.
Hiccups are harmless and temporary in dogs as well as in humans. Only in exceptional cases, the hiccups can be a symptom of a more serious disease.
To help your dog get rid of the hiccups, you can give him water, massage his chest or motivate him to exercise. If your dog relaxes in this way, the hiccups will also subside.
Hiccups can occur spontaneously all by themselves, but can also be caused by some actions. For example, when your dog eats or drinks too quickly.
As a rule, hiccups are harmless. A visit to the vet is necessary if the hiccups do not stop after several hours, are repeated regularly or if breathing becomes difficult or irregular.
My Conclusion
My last tip from my own experience would bethat you - even if the hiccups are still so sweet and funny - keep your calm and don't let anything get to you. Why?
You have to hand it to them: They have a peculiar method of learning and persuasion that we usually can't resist.
So they can also stage a lot of things, just to be tickled nicely on the belly or even pitied.
You can break this circle by surprising him the next time and giving him water to drink or not doing anything at all. In this way, his consciousness learns to "cure" the hiccups on its own.
If the hiccups are serious, you will notice them anyway by the noticeable accompanying symptoms. Then you should definitely seek advice from your veterinarian.
I am a veterinarian and writer on animal health topics. Animals are my passion, and it is my personal goal to create medically accurate articles and videos to educate pet owners as much as possible.
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Hello, have learned a lot. Good tips that I can apply... Thank you, Merry Christmas Reinhardt family