Dog hiccups are quite common and generally harmless. However, in some cases, diaphragm spasms are associated with conditions that can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to deal with a situation when a dog has hiccups?
Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. The diaphragm is a thin, strong muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is the main muscle involved in breathing. When the dog inhales air, the diaphragm contracts and moves down, making room in the chest cavity for the lungs to expand. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and moves into the chest cavity, and the lungs contract. The movements of the diaphragm are usually smooth and regular, but when the diaphragm suddenly contracts, the glottis closes and air is drawn into the lungs incompletely and intermittently. As a consequence, the characteristic sound of hiccups appears. Usually this condition lasts a few minutes. Sometimes, however, hiccups in dogs can be long-lasting.
Fast, hurried, greedy eating, especially after intense physical exertion (e.g. after playing, a long and active walk), which leads to the stomach filling with swallowed air.
Hypothermia, especially in dogs with poor tolerance to low temperatures (a dog may freeze while walking or lying in a poorly insulated outdoor kennel).
Immaturity of the phrenic nerve and diaphragm in puppies contributes to the appearance of hiccups from several to several times a day. In addition, puppies are much more prone to hiccups than adult dogs because they tend to swallow more air due to their higher levels of tension and agitation. Puppies may also begin to hiccup when they are tired, cold or excited. In the event that puppy hiccups are not accompanied by other symptoms, there is no cause for concern, this is a normal phenomenon.
Fear or excitement. Depending on the nature of the pet, its age, physical and emotional state, the reaction of its body to external situations may be different, including the appearance of hiccups (e.g. in a crowded place, during a thunderstorm, fireworks show, after the guardian's return).
In addition to the short period, the dog may suffer from long-term paroxysmal hiccups. The duration of tiring hiccups can last from three hours to several days. The reasons for this reaction of the body can be different, but most often they indicate:
First of all, it is worth considering why the dog has hiccups? Stroking the belly and massaging the chest area helps in getting rid of excess air from the abdominal cavity. In order to calm down the pet's emotions, you can distract him with his favorite toy, stroking, caressing, inviting him for a walk in a quiet place. You can give your dog a small amount of lukewarm water. Prefer feeding in small portions: even if your four-legged friend seems very hungry, it is advisable to feed small portions of food several times a day - instead of very large amounts of food in one meal. If the ward is cold, it needs to be warmed up by covering it with a warm blanket, putting on clothes or engaging in various forms of physical activity.
If the hiccups don't go away despite your caregiver's best efforts, it's time to see your vet. Perhaps hiccups in a dog are related to health problems and the pet requires diagnostics that will help determine the disease responsible for this type of symptoms. Of course, further treatment depends on the dog's health condition and the diagnosis of the disease based on the test results.
You should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible if:
To prevent hiccups in your four-legged friend, it is necessary to take appropriate preventive measures. These include in particular:
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