I’m sure you’ve had hiccups before — we all have.
Since dogs and humans share some of the same health issues (and annoyances), you might wonder if dogs get hiccups, too.
The answer is yes!
If your puppy hiccups a lot, you can rest assured that this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
Here’s more about dog hiccups…
What Causes Hiccups In Dogs?
Just like humans, dogs get hiccups — it’s a natural bodily function.
As in humans, they’re caused by rhythmic contractions or spasms of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates the lungs from the abdomen.
Hiccups in dogs are often brought on by excitement or by eating a large meal. Usually, hiccups are the result of swallowing too much air.
Are Hiccups In Puppies More Common?
Puppies are more prone to hiccups than adult dogs are — especially puppies younger than 6 months of age.
As your puppy matures into an adult, the hiccup episodes will usually decrease in frequency.
That said, adult dogs (especially nervous and excitable dogs) do still get hiccups.
How Long Do Dog Hiccups Last?
Puppy hiccups will usually go away on their own after a few minutes. Although, it’s not unheard of for hiccups in puppies to last for several hours.
In rare cases, hiccups may be a sign of heart or respiratory problems.
But hiccups in dogs are usually not cause for concern — unless they always last for a really long time or they tend to occur often.
What Should You Do About Puppy Hiccups?
In most cases, you don’t need to do anything about dog hiccups — they’ll go away on their own after a few minutes.
You could try these 2 things:
- Offer your dog some water.
- Give your dog a soothing belly massage to calm them down.
Both of these activities will help ease the spasm of the diaphragm that causes your dog to hiccup.
Another trick that can help your dog recover more quickly from hiccups is to engage them in physical activity:
- Throw a ball.
- Distract them with one of their favorite toys.
By personally interacting with your dog, you will increase your dog’s breathing rate and (hopefully) stop the spasmodic contractions of their diaphragm — which is causing the hiccups.
Can You Prevent Hiccups In Dogs?
To prevent puppy hiccups, make sure your dog is in a quiet place whenever they’re eating a meal.
Why? Because excitement and eating too fast are 2 things that can trigger hiccups in dogs. Both of those things lead to the excessive swallowing of air.
Drinking water too quickly can also bring on a bout of hiccups in some dogs.
The type of diet your dog eats can also be a factor. If your dog eats a high-grain diet, you could switch them to a lower grain dog food and see if this relieves the hiccups.
When looking for the best food, meat and a named meat meal — like chicken meal or lamb meal — should be listed before any grains. Our dogs and cats are designed by nature to eat protein from meat sources, not grains. The high grain content of many pet foods is a primary contributor to the growing obesity and allergy problems in pets (this does not mean that all grains are bad for dogs and cats).
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If your dog gets hiccups often, let your veterinarian examine the dog to make sure a medical problem isn’t at the root of your dog’s hiccups.
The Bottom Line
Hiccups are quite common — especially in puppies. Overly excited dogs frequently get hiccups, too.
Usually, they’re nothing to worry about. But if they last for more than 30 minutes, are associated with other symptoms (like vomiting), or happen frequently, you should talk to your veterinarian.
Otherwise, try to keep your dog calm and relaxed — especially while they’re eating. The less air in your dog’s stomach, the fewer hiccup episodes your dog will have.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Meals Quickly
If your dog tends to gulp down their meal really quickly every time you put food in their bowl, I would encourage you to do this: try a slow feed bowl.
I have one for my dog. I use it more as a “fun” way to feed my dog and give him extra food on some days (like when he’s really bored and he deserves an extra treat). It’s like a dog food bowl and an interactive dog puzzle all in one!
The one I have is the PAW5 Rock ‘n Bowl. But there are lots of slow feed dog bowls available.
The idea is to make it a tiny bit more challenging for your dog to eat — so they’re not gulping down their food in just a few bites at mealtime every day.
Here are some tips to help you decide if you should replace your dog’s bowl with a slow feeder.
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of.
I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube).
My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year!
When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.
