Natural Remedies to Cure Dog Hiccups

DOG HICCUPS ... WHAT IS GOING ON?

Most dog owners have seen their dogs get hiccups.  Its most notable when a dog is asleep and then suddenly starts convulsing with cute hiccups that wake them up.  When this first happens to a new dog owner they start to panic and question whether dogs get hiccups the same as people? why are they hiccuping, and how can they help their dog to cure the hiccups.

If you want to check out the best items to relieve hiccups in your dog right now without reading the article then try these recommended items:

High Quality Low Grain Dog Food
Slow Down Dog Bowl for Eating and Drinking

ARE HICCUPS A PROBLEM FOR YOUR DOG ? 

The good news is that your dog is more than likely fine.  Dog hiccups are totally normally especially in puppies.  Just like you can get hiccups so can your dog.  The great thing is that there are natural remedies which can cure your dogs hiccups easily.  But if your dog has been hiccuping for a long time and none of the advice provided helps you should see a vet just to make sure everything is ok.  At the very least the hiccups will be annoying your puppy so you want to get it cured as soon as possible.

WHAT ARE DOG HICCUPS?

Just like you can get hiccups so does your dog.  Hiccups in dogs are caused by the uncontrollable spasms which can occur in the diaphragm.  While this may seem a bit concerning when its put in medical terms it really isn't anything to worry about. The dog's hiccups will generally disappear on their own. If they do not then you should try applying one of the natural techniques given in this post.

The dogs diaphragm is a muscle in the dogs chest which pulls air into the dogs lungs.  Sometimes he diaphragm can become out of synchronization with you glottis and this can cause it to spasm and give your dog the hiccups.

REVERSE SNEEZING AND HICCUPS ARE NOT THE SAME

Another cause which sounds very similar to a dog with hiccups is a condition caused reverse sneezing.  Reversed sneezing is defined as a very large intake of air.  Reverse sneezing is often accompanied by the onset of the dog snorting while the dogs mouth is closed.  This can give the impression you dog is hiccuping or struggling to breath. Learn more about reverse sneezing at wikipedia.

This is a  great video showing what reverse sneezing is in a dog :

Knowing the difference between reverse sneezing and hiccups is a good thing to know.  Here is a video of a few different cute puppies which are hiccuping.  The first is of a dog named buck who is a heeler.  

This next video shows a very cute bernese mountain dog with the hiccups.  

Something you should notice is that both dogs are puppies.  Puppies are more prone to getting the hiccups then older dogs which brings us to the next question which is why do dogs get the hiccups.

WHAT CAUSES HICCUPS IN MY PET DOG AND PUPPIES?

Scientists has investigated the causes of dog hiccups and have come up with a few ideas on what are the common factors and lead up activities which can contribute to dogs getting hiccups. 

• AGE - Young dogs (also commonly called puppies) are much more prone to getting hiccups.  Puppies younger than a year old can get hiccups a lot more often then dogs which are older than 12 months.  Puppies have been known to get hiccups in the womb of their mothers.  Some scientists have suggested that hiccups may actually be beneficial to a puppy as it may help their lungs to expand making them stronger.  So if you have a puppy with hiccups it shouldn't be any concern as they will likely grow out of them soon.
• STRESS AND EXCITEMENT - Dogs which are stressed or excited are much more likely to end up getting the hiccups.  Excitement can cause your dog to breath differently and take in large gulps of air which can bring on the onset of hiccups.  Puppies are much more excitable then older clamer dogs and this is why puppies are more prone to getting hiccups.  Stress from an unfamiliar situation can also cause your dog to become anxious and breath differently. Helping keep your dog calm can help to avoid puppy and dog hiccups.
• FATIGUE - Dogs get hiccups in their sleep and when they are fatigued.  Dog hiccups during sleep are a natural thing to expect.  The dogs body relaxes and this can cause their breathing to change which brings on the hiccups.
• GULPING FOOD OR WATER TOO QUICKLY - Dogs which try to eat or drink too quickly can ingest air with their food giving themselves he hiccups. This is by far the most common cause of hiccups in both dogs and their owners. Again puppies are more prone then older dogs to eating and drinking their food too fast. There are certain dog bowls which will help to slow down the consumption of food by your dog and prevent hiccups.  

Here is a video of a dog which is getting hiccups in its sleep.

WHAT ARE SOME NATURAL REMEDIES TO DOG HICCUPS?

Normally dog owners do not need to help or worry about the dogs hiccups.  This is because they are totally normal and will generally relieve themselves within a short time.  Sometimes though dogs can get irritated by the hiccups especially if they are occurring frequently. When your dog gets hiccups alot it is a good idea to try a few of the natural remedies which are available.  I have listed below the most common ways to help your dogs fix the hiccups and help them go away.

1. WAIT.  The first option is to wait and see what happens.  In most cases the hiccups will fix themselves.  If your dog does not get hiccups often then this is a great time to grab your phone or camera and take a quick video to share with the world.  Youtube has a large collection of dogs with hiccups because they are all cute and funny to see. Its always great to brighten up someones day with a video of your dog.
2. GIVE YOUR PUPPY SOMETHING TO EAT OR DRINK.  Just like a glass of water can help fix your hiccups and quick drink or snack for your dog will help fix their hiccups.  When you do provide the treat or water try and moderate your dogs consumption so that they do not gulp down the food.  As we know eating too fast or drinking too fast is a common cause of getting the hiccups.
3. CALM DOWN YOUR PUPPY.  If your puppy got the hiccups from too much excitement or stress then a quick cuddle from its owner may be all that is needed to help it calm down and regulate its breathing.  A quick pat while your dog sits still can really help.
4. SLOW DOWN YOUR DOGS EATING AND DRINKING.  If the hiccups were caused by eating or drinking too fast then you may want to consider getting a specialized dog bowl which has been designed specifically to slow down the consumption of food.  These bowls have raised sections inside them which means your dog can not consume too much food too quickly. To prevent drinking too quickly there are special water bowls that can slow down your dogs drinking.  They have special ridges and are great for sloppy drinkers who spill water everywhere.Another option is a food dispensing puzzle feeder,  These puzzles for your dog give out a small amount of food when they are solved.  Its great for both slowing down the consumption of treats as well as giving your dog something fun to do so they do not get bored.
5. EXERCISE.  If calming your dog has not helped then maybe they need to be exercised to regulate their breathing.  A dogs breathing will change when they are running and playing with their owner.  The dogs heart beat will increase and this can relieve hiccups.  Forcing your dogs system to concentrate on another activity such as fetch can help get rid of any spasms in the diaphragm.  Sometimes exercise is easier then trying to get your dog to take a drink of water and a walk or game of fetch with your puppy is great exercise for them and you. 
6. DOGGY DIET.  A low grain diet can help with some dogs which have hiccups caused by what they eat.  For some dogs a high grain feed can bring on the hiccups or can contribute to them getting hiccups.  If your dog regularly get hiccups then it might be wise to try a high quality low grain diet. There are a lot of options out there for low grain diets. 

There are special bowls to help slow down dogs eating and drinking.

No one enjoys getting the hiccups.  That includes your dogs.  So why not try sme of the natural remedies especially if your dog is prone to getting the hiccups. If you monitor your dogs attitude when it has the hiccups you will be able to see if they are stressed about them or they are calm and relaxed.  In any instance if its cute we would love to see a video of your dogs hiccups and if you have any of your own advice let us know so we can share the doggy advice.

Want to share your video of your puppy hiccuping or have any more advice then make sure you comment below. 

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