Puppy Hiccups: Are They Normal?
Your puppy is hiccupping frequently and you are getting worried. Of course as a puppy "mom" repeated hiccups can be alarming. This being said however, it is generally normal behavior in a puppy. Hiccups can begin right after eating a meal, but can occur anytime and can persist for a few minutes.
Hiccups are caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm which causes an intake of air which is stopped suddenly when the glottis closes. The diaphragm is a muscle which separates the abdomen from the chest, and enables the lungs to breathe in air. When the diaphragm contracts, air is drawn in quickly but the glottis, a part of the "voice box" cuts the air off.
Of course if a puppy or even an adult dog hiccups and regurgitates their food on a regular basis, this is a red flag signal to make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. For a puppy, hiccups without regurgitation are generally not a sign for alarm. However, regurgitation, which is the act of suddenly upchucking undigested food or water with hardly any effort by the dog.
Vomiting on the other hand requires heaving, wrenching and abdominal activity and it generally takes more time and effort on the part of the dog. Frequent Regurgitation after eating in puppies can be caused by abnormalities of the esophagus which may be the result of a birth defect that may require surgical intervention.
An interesting theory about hiccups postulates that they are "an evolutionary remnant of earlier amphibian respiration". If the theory is correct, hiccups may be associated to neurological pathways in immature animals, but it is assumed that as these pathways are replaced in adulthood and hiccups should decrease as the animals mature.
What amazes me is that there are some folks who think that hiccupping puppies are so cute that they have actually gone out of their way to capture these antics on video. Watch this video of an adorable gently hiccupping Rottweiler puppy uploaded to YouTube by Louiouise.
Did you ever see a puppy or dog hiccupping? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Comments (6)
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Vicki April 28, 2009 1:04 PM
I have seen hiccupping many times in dogs. It is more common in puppies, and can be quite funny. It usually does not last long and I am sure it is annoying for the pups, but usually does not cause them any harm.
Iniki April 28, 2009 1:42 PM
I have seen this hiccupping in puppies many times and I really saw it in the kittens we raised by hand 4 years ago. One is still hiccupping after all this time. She finishes her meal and gets a cool drink of water and then it is time to find me. She lays down in front of my computer and many times will hiccup for sevral minutes. Seems to be normal for her.
Amy April 28, 2009 2:43 PM
Going way way back to "old school" days, I thought puppy having hiccups was a sign of worms.Hum old wives tale I guess. Live and learn.
CT Cricket April 28, 2009 8:21 PM
Hi Iniki good to see you and miss you!!
Yes my two new puppies get the hiccups after eating but then again, I have now got them into self feeding. Once once or both bowls are empty they are immediately filled. They then know food is always available and don't need to eat it all in one sitting. Since they learned this, no more hiccups. (Caution: can't do this with all breeds, check the breed of the dogs feeding habits before trying this).
Suz n Jim July 25, 2009 11:16 AM
I wouldn't agree with self-feeding for puppies, especially large breeds. They can't eat too much or they will grow too fast and end up with hip and other joint and organ problems. Consult with your vet before taking this "self feed" advice.
Katie October 6, 2009 11:17 PM
My 8 week old puppy, she's a pocket beagle miniature pinshcer mix, aka a meagle, gets hiccups everyday after she eats. At first I was worried but after talking to the vet I was reassured that it was completely normal. Also, it's funny to watch her because she's scares herself and doesn't know what's going on and just looks at me like I'm the one controlling it. I love her :)