What Causes Hiccups in Dogs

A canine owner usually has heard dog hiccups at one time or another. Hiccups, just like in humans, are common in dogs, especially in puppies. Sometimes these hiccups come in rapid succession, or in other times, they can have a long delay in between them, but lets find out what causes hiccups in dogs.

What Causes Hiccups in Dogs?
Puppy owners get scared, when they hear their pet dog getting hiccups. It is very common for a puppy to get hiccups. We will see what causes hiccups in puppies, but remember, they often outgrow this habit as they grow up.

Hiccups are caused due an to involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. As soon as the diaphragm contracts, it causes the vocal cords to close quickly, which in turn results in the familiar noise that we know as hiccups. There are some advantages of hiccups. They help the stomach to get rid of a bit of gas, relieve the esophagus of any sort of irritation, and at the same time, they resolve a temporary loss of coordination between the nerves controlling the diaphragm movement.

Frequent hiccups in puppies can also be caused due to eating or drinking something too fast. Sometimes, if the dog is overjoyed with the treat you are giving him, he may gulp down the food very fast, giving rise to hiccups. Stomach disorders can also give rise to hiccups in your pet. Sometimes, there is a possibility that something your pet dog is eating or drinking is giving rise to hiccups. Read more on dog foods.

It is unbelievable, but it is true that hiccups can also be caused due to nervousness. You will have to find out if your canine is suffering from nervousness, due to any reason. Like nervousness, fatigue can also give rise to hiccups. You will have to keep a close watch on the daily activities of your beloved pet, to find out if he is suffering from fatigue. Along with nervousness and fatigue, stress is another cause of hiccups. Excitement is also seen as a cause of hiccups. Often, chances are high that there will be no apparent reason for these hiccups.

Sometimes, there can be reverse hiccups in dogs, and these can be confused with normal hiccups. If you notice that your pet has a series of rapid, loud and forced inhalations through the nostrils, which last anywhere between 10 seconds to 2 minutes, understand that it is a bout of reverse hiccups. You will notice this, especially when the dog is trying to clear the mucus from its sinuses. The exact cause of reverse hiccups in dogs is not known, but they can be associated with sinusitis or some respiratory disorders.

Cure for Hiccups in Dogs
There is no specific action which you need to take to cure your dog's hiccups. They, normally go away on their own. You may want to give your pet some water to drink, so that in case of any sort of irritation in the esophagus, you dog will be relieved of the hiccups. You may try feeding your dog. Eating will help in changing his breathing pattern temporarily. This will help in relieving your pet of hiccups. You may take your dog for a walk or may even make it run. Exercise may help the dog to be relieved of gases, if any. If you notice that your dog has hiccups all day long, you may want to have it shown to the veterinarian. There can be a serious underlying problem.

For more information, you may want to read up on

• Dog Health
• Dog Illnesses

Hiccups can be very irritating for your dog, but you may not have to worry about them. I hope this article helps you to find answers to your questions about what causes hiccups in dogs and how to get rid of them.