Hiccups are an involuntary movement that all animals that have a diaphragm have, such as humans and, of course, dogs. From time to time our furry friends may feel this annoyance, because it is very important to know how to act so that it goes away as soon as possible.
For this reason, We are going to explain everything about hiccups in dogs.
What is hiccups?
The hiccups it is a convulsive and involuntary movement of the diaphragm, which is repeated at more or less regular intervals. This forces the lungs to expel air abruptly and staccato, and in doing so we emit a very characteristic sound. It is quite annoying, since it prevents us from continuing with our normal life. Fortunately, the duration time is short, barely a minute or less.
Now, if we notice that our dogs have more minutes, we should worry since it could be the beginning of a major complication. Therefore, a visit to the vet will never hurt to prevent the situation from worsening.
What are the causes?
Hiccups can be caused by different reasons, which are:
- Eat very fast. If dogs eat their food nervously, as if their life were running out of it, their diaphragm could become irritated or even undergo more stress than it should. As a consequence, the furry ones will have hiccups. So that this does not happen, it is recommended to put a special feeder for anxious dogs that they sell in any pet store.
- Bad nutrition. If we give them a diet that is rich in cereals and by-products, they can also have hiccups (in addition to other problems, such as diarrhea, vomiting, poor digestion, kidney disease, ...). Therefore, the best we can do for them is to give them feed or Barf diet that does not contain any cereal or by-product. Thus, we will ensure that they have good health.
- Low temperatures. When it's cold, the diaphragm can spasm. One way to avoid this is by not taking the dogs out in cold weather, or at the very least, putting a coat on them to protect them.
- Disease. When they are sick they can also have hiccups. In fact, when hiccups last a long time, more than an hour, and apart from having it continuously, it should be seen as one more symptom and go to the vet as quickly as possible to find out what happens to them and what we can do to improve .
- Unsuitable environment. It is very important that animals live with families who really take care of them, who take care of them as they deserve. Those who live in tension, where they are not respected, or where they are simply given food and water ... it would be normal for them to have a diseased defense system and, therefore, to have hiccups.
How to remove hiccups in dogs?
We have seen what are the possible factors that promote hiccups, and what we can do to prevent them. But, once they have it, how can we help them?
For that, we advise distracting them with whatever, toys for example, while passing them. It is also a good option to try to get them to drink water, pouring wet food bathed in the precious liquid on a plate, but you should never force them to do so as they could choke.
Thus, with all the advice that we have given you, the furry ones will be able to feel good, since even if they have hiccups it will soon pass by being by our side. Anyway, I insist, if it lasts more than an hour and / or they have it continuously, we will take them to the vet to tell us what is happening to them, since it is not healthy for that to happen.
I hope this topic has been of interest to you. 🙂