Hiccups, which are by their nature a convulsive reflex inspiration, most often happens in young dogs or puppies. Although, adult dogs can also hiccup for one reason or another. Why dogs hiccup, let's try to answer this question.
Dog hiccups - what to do?
Pay attention, first of all, to the duration of the hiccough. So, the reason for the short-term hiccough may be the drying of the nasopharynx with active dog games, especially young. In this case, just offer the animal a drink. It is not uncommon for a dog to hiccup after a meal. This happens either because the dog eats its food greedily, or with a full stomach. Such a hiccup will quickly pass by itself. Sometimes, to help your pet in this situation, experienced dog breeders raise the dog in such a way that it mounts on its hind legs and holds the animal in this position for about three minutes.
Another reason why a dog often hiccups is an insufficient amount of liquid food in the diet. Enter in the diet of your pet cereals , diluted with meat or vegetable broth, and the problem will be exhausted.
Of course, one can not exclude from a number of causes of hiccups and banal hypothermia. Especially it concerns dogs with bare skin, first of all, and dogs of short-haired breeds. The simplest recommendations in this case - a warm drink, dry heating (for example, wrap in a blanket), you can give a small piece of sugar. And henceforth should be noted that such dogs are dressed even indoors, if there is cool or there is a draft.
The dog constantly hiccups
The cause for serious concern is a prolonged hiccup, which may be a harbinger of a heart attack, a symptom of a disease of the digestive system organs or ingestion of a foreign object, indicating the infection with worms (especially in puppies).
In the event that the hiccup arises regularly and it is prolonged - contact the veterinarian immediately.