What is hiccups?
In dogs as in humans, hiccups, also called phrenoglottic myoclonus, is a reflex phenomenon which consists of a succession of involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, this muscle located under the lungs and which separates the thorax from the abdomen.
" The sudden contractions of the diaphragm thus cause expulsions of air which, associated with a closure of the glottis, lead to the production of a sound: the famous hic, particular to hiccups."
Why does my dog have hiccups?
Stimulation of the phrenic nerve, the nerve that innervates the diaphragm, is thought to be the cause of hiccups. However, we still do not really know the mechanisms behind the triggering of this reflex.
To date, we only know that hiccups can start when the dog:
- ate too much or swallowed the contents of his bowl too quickly,
- coughed after inhaling substances that irritated his respiratory system,
- ingested irritating foods such as spicy foods,
- experienced intense excitement, caused by a happy or stressful event for him.
The hiccups usually stop on their own after a few minutes without you having to do anything. Hiccups are more common in puppies than in adult dogs.
More rarely, hiccups may be one of the clinical signs of a more serious dog illness such as lung disease or digestive disease. It is then chronic and/or does not stop spontaneously after a few minutes.This type of hiccup then becomes very disabling in the daily life of the dog because it can prevent him from sleeping or eating properly.
My dog has hiccups: what can I do to help him?
In most cases dog hiccups dissipate within minutes without the need for intervention.
If, on the other hand, your dog's hiccups tend to come back regularly, then you should try to identify the factors causing this hiccup.
So, if it appears after your dog's meals, you can try to:
- split meals into 2 to 3 meals a day to reduce the amount of food ingested at one time,
- slow down the speed of your dog's ingestion by using an anti-glutton bowl, by scattering his kibbles in the garden or by placing them in an occupation game, by swapping his kibbles for larger kibbles or against a household diet that the dog will be forced to chew
- avoid giving your dog spicy foods and table scraps.
If hiccups tend to appear after an episode of excitement, it will be necessary to work on managing your dog's emotions. For example, if he gets too excited when he is playing or partying to someone, you will have to stop the game in the first case and completely ignore your dog in the second until the dog regains a stable emotional state.
If the excitement is related to stress, it will be necessary to find what puts your dog in all these states to remedy it. Beyond his problem of hiccups, a permanent state of stress can be the cause of other disorders in your dog.
If, despite all this, your dog's hiccups become too frequent, last more than 24 hours and/or are accompanied by other symptoms (vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, among others), it will be necessary to consult a veterinarian without delay.