Introduction
Have you noticed your furry little friend experience bouts of hiccups? Don’t worry – hiccups are a common occurrence in puppies. Watching your puppy getting the hiccups can be a bit peculiar, but there’s nothing to be concerned about. In this article, we’ll dive into why your beloved puppy may have hiccups and what you can do to help them.
7 reasons why your puppy may be experiencing hiccups
Various reasons contribute to your puppy’s constant hiccups, including:
Overfeeding
Overfeeding your puppy can lead to hiccups. As puppies are growing, they may consume a lot of milk or food. Too much food can create a surplus of air in the puppy’s stomach. This extra air can cause your puppy to experience hiccups.
Excitement and anxiety
Just like humans, dogs can become overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety, excitement, or stress. These emotions can have physical manifestations, and hiccups may be one of them.
Swallowing air
Puppies are prone to swallowing air during or after eating. Drinking water too quickly or eating food too rapidly can cause your puppy to swallow air, which leads to hiccups.
Playing and exercise
Puppies lead an active lifestyle, and with increased energy comes increased playtime and exercise. Since puppies are continuously moving, they breathe faster and may swallow more air, leading to hiccups.
Fast eating
Puppies may eat too quickly, leading to gulping of air while they eat. The air that they swallow can cause the diaphragm to contract involuntarily, leading to hiccups.
Cold environment
Puppies may develop hiccups due to temperature changes. They are vulnerable to cold environments; hence, sitting in a drafty room, feeling a breeze, or stepping outside on a chilly day can prompt your puppy to get hiccups.
Irritation in the diaphragm
If your puppy smells or sniffs something in the environment or drinks/ eats something irritating, the diaphragm can get irritated. This irritation can result in hiccups.
Understanding hiccups in puppies: causes and solutions
Whether your puppy’s hiccups come from overfeeding or anxiety, finding a way to prevent them is crucial. Below, we have listed some causes and their appropriate remedies:
Overfeeding
Feeding your puppy in smaller portions and doing it gradually over the entire day can help prevent hiccups. This will also ensure that your puppy will not get too hungry and, thus, eat too quickly.
Excitement and anxiety
You can calm your puppy down by reassuring them with some gentle pets or by offering a light massage. If your puppy has hiccups during a stressful situation, remove them from the excitement and have them rest in a quiet room until the hiccups subside.
Swallowing air
There are two ways to help prevent hiccups from swallowing air – adjust how you present water to your puppy, and slowing your puppy down while eating.
Giving your puppy a small amount of water at a time can help. Lifting the bowl, so it’s closer to the puppy’s neck, might also reduce the amount of air swallowed.
If your puppy is a fast eater, you can buy a slow-feed bowl. These bowls feature obstacles that will make your puppy take more time-consuming his food. Sitting with your puppy and offering a few pieces of food at a time can also help slow down your puppy’s eating habits.
Playing and exercise
You can make sure that your puppy takes a breather every once in a while so that they don’t overexert themselves. Encouraging moderate exercise and games can prevent excessive breathing and, thus, prevent hiccups.
Fast eating
When it comes to stopping hiccups caused by fast eating, you can feed your puppy smaller meals throughout the day, use slow-feed bowls, or hand-feed them themselves a few pieces at a time.
Cold environment
If your puppy develops hiccups because of a chilly environment, warm their living space and bedding with a blanket or heating pad. Ensure that the temperature is a comfortable 75°F-80°F degree range.
Irritation in the diaphragm
Ensure the environment is free from anything that can cause irritation, like pollutants or harmful chemicals. Avoid giving your puppy irritants like spicy food or acidic fruits if hiccups occur after ingesting.
Puppy hiccups: are they normal or a cause for concern?
Puppy hiccups are typically nothing to be concerned about, but it’s crucial to know when to worry. Hiccups are common and occur for various reasons, so if your puppy has hiccups, it’s not an immediate cause for panic. Relief measures like taking a break from eating or allowing them to rest might ease the hiccupping.
If the hiccups persist for a long time or occur frequently, you should take a closer look at your puppy’s symptoms. Does your puppy have shortness of breath or coughing? Does your puppy seem to be in lots of physical discomfort or is vomiting? These signs might indicate something more severe than typical puppy hiccups.
How to stop your puppy’s hiccups: tips and tricks
Stopping your puppy’s hiccups can be achieved in various ways:
Giving your puppy a drink of water
Drinking water can soothe your puppy’s throat and diaphragm and, thus, stop hiccups. However, only give them a small amount at a time to prevent them from swallowing too quickly and inhaling air, which can make hiccups worse.
Resting your puppy
If your puppy develops hiccups after exercise or playing, try letting them rest and relax to give their body the chance to “settle down” and recover.
Making your puppy burp
If your puppy develops hiccups immediately after eating, try having them burp to release air trapped in the stomach. Holding your puppy close to you, then tap their back several times, which may encourage them to burp up any trapped air.
The science behind puppy hiccups and how to soothe them
Hiccups occur when your puppy’s diaphragm experiences involuntary contractions. This contraction causes the breath to be drawn in suddenly, producing a sharp noise. Dogs and puppies may experience hiccups because of all the reasons mentioned above.
To help soothe puppy hiccups, make sure to offer a steady source of drinking water. You can also pet your puppy softly and keep them in a warm, comfortable environment.
Should you take your puppy to the vet for hiccups?
Typically, puppy hiccups are nothing to worry about. However, if your puppy’s hiccups persist for an extended time or are accompanied by vomiting, coughing, or obvious physical discomfort, it’s essential to take them to the vet.
The veterinarian might perform an X-ray to evaluate gastrointestinal disorders or respiratory problems. Simple blood tests can help rule out underlying health problems like liver disease or parasites.
Conclusion
Eventually, if your puppy has hiccups, you can adequately address the issue through patience and practical solutions. Hiccupping is normal, and your puppy’s hiccups are unlikely to indicate serious health problems.
If you encounter a situation where hiccups persist for extended periods and are accompanied by other symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. Your vet will be able to provide your puppy with the proper diagnostic testing to identify the right course of action.