Harmless hiccups in dogs can have consequences

Beginning dog breeders are often frightened by the phenomenon of hiccups in dogs. Although such a breathing disorder in an animal can occur for a variety of reasons and manifest itself in both puppies and adult dogs. Moreover, veterinarians advise owners not to worry too much about their pet if the hiccups last a short amount of time. And vice versa, urgently take him for examination if the dog hiccups continuously for 2-3 hours in a row, since in this case the phenomenon can act as a symptom of a serious pathology. The article will discuss the causes of hiccups, as well as methods of its treatment and prevention.

Reasons for appearance

Hiccups can be both short-term and long-term, and the duration of the phenomenon itself depends entirely on the reasons that led to it. If the owner has wondered why the dog hiccups, then the following information will help him answer it:

1. The animal often hiccups due to oversaturation. Rapid filling of the stomach is one of the most common factors in this phenomenon. After a long and intense walk, active physical exercise, the dog absorbs food greedily and immoderately, which leads to hiccups. When feeding your dog dry food, make sure that there is always a sufficient amount of water near it.
2. Owners interested in why a puppy hiccups should consider the two most possible options: he does this either because his body is hypothermic, or after stormy and fun games with the owner or his fellow breeders.
3. In general, experts are convinced that hiccups most often occur in young animals. If the puppy does this quite regularly, then do not be alarmed, this is how the growing body tries to strengthen the muscles of the lungs and stomach.
4. Research by animal psychologists has shown that four-legged pets hiccup due to severe fright or stress. Stress-generating situations include a thunderstorm, a long absence of the owner, going to places with large crowds of people, and sometimes the appearance of a new pet in the house. In this case, you need to sit down with your pet, talk to him tenderly and caress him. He will quickly calm down and the hiccups will go away.

Long-term hiccups deserve special consideration, as they can be caused by very serious problems that are best not ignored. Doctors have identified the following reasons for such a reflex, which is significantly extended over time:

1. Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, while the hiccups themselves can end in severe belching or vomiting.
2. A foreign object entered the dog's stomach.
3. If the dog has worms. If parasites have been living in the pet’s body for a long time, then an attentive owner will be able to notice the worms when he burps.
4. As a consequence of damage to the central nervous system or the onset of a heart attack.
5. After severe mechanical trauma, the phenomenon itself is aggravated by other unpleasant symptoms.
6. Your puppy may get a pinched vagus nerve while sleeping. Eliminating such hiccups is quite easy; you just need to move the puppy yourself to a more comfortable position for dreaming.
7. If your pet has a choleric temperament, then this phenomenon is provoked by the fact that after waking up he jumps up too actively, thereby disrupting the breathing rhythm.

When to take your pet to the vet

Prolonged and frequent hiccups in dogs, which cannot be corrected and are accompanied by accompanying symptoms, require mandatory diagnosis. Due to the variability of possible causes, you will have to undergo a clinical examination and blood biochemistry, as well as undergo an ultrasound of the lungs and gastrointestinal tract.

Due to the high likelihood of complications such as heart attack and stroke, it is necessary to make an appointment with a cardiologist and neurologist. If nervous system instability is detected, your pet may be prescribed medications to reduce stress levels.

Is it possible to ignore hiccups?

Experts are convinced that short-term forms of this phenomenon, often occurring after eating, will not harm the pet in any way. Another thing is long-term hiccups, which last for hours and even days, and which, at first glance, do not have any good reason. It is important to understand that if a dog hiccups for a long time and continuously, then this is abnormal and can lead to such unpleasant consequences as:

• dysfunction in the pet’s respiratory system, which is aggravated by snoring, coughing, frequent and shallow breathing;
• pathologies of the central nervous system, manifested in trembling of the limbs, complete or partial loss of coordination, and impaired attention in the dog. Those individuals that have recently suffered from serious illnesses such as enteritis or meningitis are especially vulnerable to this;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract, including constant flatulence and indigestion.

Owners must take note that if hiccups last more than 2-3 hours, then this is a direct sign of an impending stroke or heart attack in the dog. The next section will discuss in detail information about what to do if your dog hiccups.

Is it dangerous

Hiccups themselves, as a physiological reaction, do not pose a danger to the life of the animal . The degree of danger of an attack for a dog is determined by how serious its causes are.

If the disorder is episodic in nature, the attacks last a short time and go away on their own, then there is no reason to worry. This is a natural reaction of the body to one or another external irritation.

If hiccups continue for a long time, attacks are repeated daily, accompanied by other alarming symptoms, then you need to look for internal pathology, which is the cause of sudden spasms of the diaphragm. It is necessary to take the animal to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible for professional diagnostics.

Elimination methods

For short-term dog hiccups, it is permissible to use the following recommendations from veterinarians:

1. If the factor that caused the hiccups was food, then the owner, to eliminate it, can try to do the following: give the pet warm water or give him a piece of refined sugar, and then pat his tummy.
2. Take your pet by the two front paws and “dance” with him a little. This will not only distract your shaggy friend, but will also allow air to escape in the form of a burp.
3. Puppies benefit greatly from a light and gentle abdominal massage. It relaxes the dog's muscles, which means the chance that the hiccups will go away will increase significantly.
4. Dogs who have become hypothermic outdoors or at home in a draft will benefit from intensive warming. It will not only eliminate hiccups, but also protect your pet from colds.
5. Intense physical activity is no less effective during such breathing problems. Engage your pet with active play or a short run.
6. Classic methods include scaring the pet. However, animal psychologists advise doing it extremely moderately, so as not to provoke the dog into aggression or even more hiccups.

Growing pains

Some experts believe that hiccups are normal for a puppy. They call this phenomenon Episodes of (short and infrequent) hiccups as the puppy goes through all stages of psychological and physical development are considered normal. The older the animal gets, the less often this happens.

There is an opinion that hiccups are a kind of rudimentary reflex of puppies that remains with them from the time they were in the womb. In this way they can strengthen the muscles of the esophagus and lungs while they are supposedly “under water”. If the hiccups last no more than an hour, then there is no particular cause for concern.

Prevention measures

If hiccups persist for a long time, take your dog to a specialist for examination. Such measures are justified, since if something happens, the owner will be prepared for aggravation of symptoms and will be able to provide prompt assistance to the pet. After a complete diagnosis of the dog, the veterinarian may prescribe medications such as Cerucal (blocks receptors that cause uncontrollable muscle spasms) or Seduxen (eliminates excessive sensitivity of the animal’s nerve endings).

In addition, the owner is obliged to monitor the feeding standards of his pet. Under no circumstances should you give him too hot food; this not only spoils his sense of smell, but can also cause hiccups. Form the portion based on the size and weight of the animal. Overfeeding has an extremely negative impact on the health of dogs. If a dog eats dry food, there should always be a sufficient amount of clean water nearby so that he can quench his thirst. Puppies up to 5-6 months old are given industrial food only after they have been soaked in liquid.

You should not ignore hiccups, as this phenomenon is not as common as it might seem at first glance. The owner should try to eliminate it himself, and if this does not work, then take the animal to be examined by a doctor.

Height

Typically, puppies and young dogs are susceptible to hiccups. In very young babies this may be due to the preservation of the reflex in the first months after birth. Thus, hiccups strengthen the muscles of the esophagus and lungs. Seizures, if they last no more than an hour, are considered normal for animals while they are growing. The older the dog gets, the less often this happens.

Therefore, experts believe that during the period of physical and psychological development there is no need to worry about why the puppy hiccups. But if something is suspicious or the dog is lethargic, does not eat well, and hiccups appear frequently and last a long time, this is a reason to visit a doctor.

Games and food

If hiccups appear in an animal after eating, this is due to the stomach filling too quickly when the dog greedily absorbs food. In some situations, this phenomenon also appears in puppies that consume dry foods and insufficient amounts of water. Together with dry food, the pet involuntarily swallows air with its mouth, which causes the diaphragm to contract, entering the stomach and lungs. This also happens when the dog begins to lick his lips.

In this case, it is advisable to increase the volume of liquid in the dog’s “menu”. Experts also advise pre-soaking dry types of food in clean water.

Also, hiccups can begin if the puppy has recently finished frolicking with its relatives. The reason is a dry nasopharynx. To solve the problem, the dog just needs to pour water. You can also put the puppy on its hind legs and hold it in this position for several minutes.

Another fairly common cause of contractions of the diaphragm in animals is considered to be severe stress or some kind of significant excitement.

conclusions

Hiccups in dogs appear in the same way as in humans. Scientifically speaking, a convulsive contraction of the diaphragmatic muscles occurs. The diaphragm itself is a muscular septum that separates the sternum from the abdominal organs.

In most cases, in young dogs, the contraction of the diaphragm occurs very sharply. In this case, attacks of suffocation are possible, which do not last long. During hiccups, a characteristic sound occurs, the cause of which is the involuntary and very rapid closure of the glottis. Thanks to numerous studies, it has become known that puppies first begin to hiccup in the womb.

How to help your pet with hiccups?

1. For short-term hiccups after eating, the dog should be given warm water to drink. You can also give your dog a piece of sugar to eat.
2. If the cause of hiccups in a dog is the rapid swallowing of food, and with it air, then after eating you can massage its stomach with light movements.
3. If your dog hiccups frequently or for a very long time, the first thing to do in this case is to worm it, if you have not done this for a long time. Because often the cause of long-term and frequent hiccups in a dog is a helminthic infestation. If you have dewormed, but the dog still hiccups, we consider other possible causes.
4. If the hiccups do not go away, some dog breeders advise taking the animal by the front paws and lifting them so that he stands on his hind legs for a while. This exercise costs about three minutes.
5. If hiccups occur periodically, it is better to consult a veterinarian. As a rule, you can stop the attack by administering metoclopramide (Cerucal) - this is a specific dopamine receptor blocker that calms hiccups, especially if it is associated with gastrointestinal problems. Either by introducing tranquilizers (Seduxen, Tazepam) or antipsychotics (Etaperazine, Aminazine). BUT! These medications must be taken as prescribed by your doctor and in the dosage strictly prescribed by him.

Hiccups are quite common in pets. And the owner should not worry if he hears characteristic sounds after the dog eats food or for no reason. But veterinarians emphasize that hiccups are more common in young dogs. So, let's learn about the reasons for this common phenomenon and the actions of the owner in such cases.

The dog hiccups for a reason! We determine the cause and begin treatment

Uncontrolled irritation of the nerve endings in the diaphragm, which causes its spasm and, as a result, hiccups - a sudden and uncontrollable phenomenon. Most often, the attack ends without the intervention of the owner, as suddenly as it began. However, if your dog hiccups, he will become uncomfortable, irritated, and distracted. You need to understand that there are a number of reasons that cause an attack and preventive measures to prevent inconvenience.