You Surely Will Not See Anything Sweeter Today than This Hiccupping Dachshund Puppy (video)

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This tiny, fragile little Dachshund looks with such startled eyes while hiccupping, as if they do not know what to do with the phenomenon.

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But why does a puppy hiccup? There is no cause for concern: hiccupping is a completely normal physiological phenomenon in dogs, especially in puppyhood.

Immediately after eating, overly vigorous play can also cause hiccups / Photo: welovedogz.hu

This is why it is not a problem if a puppy hiccups

Behind hiccupping in dogs stands the same thing as in us humans: the involuntary, sudden contraction of the diaphragm. This muscle plays a key role in breathing, and under certain stimuli it can easily be thrown out of rhythm.

From veterinarian Barry J. Morrison’s article written for petMD it turns out that in puppies this occurs more frequently, since their nervous system and respiratory muscles are still developing. In most cases it passes on its own within a few minutes and requires no intervention. Certain breeds – especially short-nosed dogs, such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston Terriers – may be more prone to hiccupping due to the different anatomy of their airways.

Photo: welovedogz.hu

What can cause hiccups in a dog?

Let us look at the possible causes:

• Eating or drinking too quickly: when the dog gobbles or drinks hastily, they swallow air, which can make the diaphragm irritable.
• Too much food in the stomach: it may irritate the muscles.
• Sudden change in temperature, or cold: the body’s sudden reaction may lead to mild muscle spasms.
• Excitement, tiredness or stress: emotional and respiratory changes may cause hiccups.
• Vigorous play or excessive movement immediately after eating: this can also trigger the reaction.
• Stomach irritation from certain foods or from a sudden change of diet: this too may cause diaphragm spasm.

Dachshund puppies / Photo: welovedogz.hu

When should hiccupping be taken seriously?

Basically, most hiccups are a harmless reaction, but there are some warning signs in which case it is worth consulting a veterinarian:

• If the hiccupping persists for a long time, or returns frequently.
• If it is accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, difficulty breathing or decreased appetite.

If you wish, you can give your pet a few sips of water. If they hiccup more often after meals, you may use slow-feeder plates or puzzle bowls so that later they do not swallow as much air while eating.

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