Why Do Dogs Get Hiccups? The Real Reason (And When To Worry)
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I'm not exaggerating. I put the bowl down. I turned around to grab my water. I turned back.
Gone.
He looked up at me with that Beagle expression — the one that says both "thank you" and "is there more" simultaneously — and then it started.
Hic.
Hic.
Hic.
He looked confused. I looked it up. Turns out there's a very simple explanation — and Murphy is basically the textbook case for it.
Dog hiccups are one of those things that look alarming the first time and then become completely unremarkable once you understand what's happening. They're also one of the most Googled dog questions out there — which tells me a lot of people are sitting on their couch watching their dog hic and wondering if they should be worried. If your dog does a few other weird body things too, this pairs really well with why dogs get the zoomies.
Short answer: almost never. Here's the longer one.
Key Takeaways
- Dog hiccups are completely normal. They're caused by involuntary diaphragm spasms — the same mechanism as human hiccups.
- Eating too fast is the most common cause. Murphy has confirmed this approximately 400 times.
- Puppies get them more than adult dogs. Their diaphragms are still developing and their self-control around food is approximately zero.
- They almost always resolve on their own. Within a few minutes. No intervention needed.
- There are a few cases worth a vet call. Persistent hiccups, hiccups with other symptoms, or hiccups in older dogs that seem to cause distress.
What Actually Causes Dog Hiccups?
Same thing that causes yours.
The diaphragm — the large muscle under the lungs that controls breathing — has an involuntary spasm. That spasm causes a sudden intake of breath which gets cut off by the vocal cords closing. The result is that distinctive hic sound.
In dogs it looks slightly different than in humans — more of a full-body jerk, especially in small dogs — but the mechanism is identical. Nothing mysterious. Just a muscle doing something it didn't intend to do.
The question is what triggers the spasm in the first place. Turns out there are several answers — and most of them are very Murphy.
Why Dogs Get Hiccups — All The Reasons
Eating Or Drinking Too Fast
This is the Murphy special. When a dog inhales their food at high speed — which Beagles treat as a personal challenge — they swallow a significant amount of air along with it. That air needs somewhere to go, the diaphragm gets irritated, and hiccups follow almost immediately after the bowl is empty.
The fix here is mechanical. A slow feeder bowl — one with ridges and obstacles that force the dog to work around them — physically slows down eating speed. Murphy's slow feeder extended his dinner time from four seconds to about ninety. Progress. I also ended up liking a sturdier bowl setup in general, especially something like this dog bowl that holds up well.
Same principle applies to water. Dogs who lap water frantically can swallow enough air to trigger hiccups. If yours does this, smaller more frequent water portions can help.
Excitement Or Vigorous Play
Intense excitement causes rapid, irregular breathing. Rapid irregular breathing irritates the diaphragm. Hiccups.
Puppies get this version most because their enthusiasm has no governor. Everything is the most exciting thing that has ever happened. The breathing gets frantic, the diaphragm gets involved, and within a few minutes of a play session you've got a hiccupping puppy looking confused at their own chest.
This is completely normal and resolves on its own once they calm down. No intervention needed — in fact trying to get an excited puppy to calm down mid-zoomies is its own challenge.
Stress Or Anxiety
Stress changes breathing patterns. Changed breathing patterns irritate the diaphragm. This is the less obvious version of hiccups that often gets missed because the trigger isn't as visible as a food bowl being demolished.
Vet visit hiccups. Thunderstorm hiccups. New environment hiccups. Murphy gets these occasionally in situations that make him nervous. They're short-lived and stop once the stressor passes — but they're worth knowing about because stress hiccups look exactly like eating-too-fast hiccups. If your dog tends to stay wound up in general, I’ve looked into options from Nutramax’s supplement line for that kind of support.
Cold Air Or Cold Food
Temperature changes can trigger diaphragm spasms. Cold air on a winter morning walk. Ice cold water on a hot day. Food straight from the fridge.
The diaphragm doesn't love sudden temperature changes — it reacts with a spasm, which becomes a hiccup. This version tends to be brief and resolves quickly once the temperature equalizes. Not something to worry about — just something to know.
Gastrointestinal Irritation
Sometimes hiccups are the diaphragm's response to irritation lower in the digestive system — gas, bloating, or something that disagreed with them. If Murphy got into something he shouldn't have and hiccups follow, this is usually why.
This version often comes with other signals — a slightly gassy dog, some restlessness, maybe reluctance to eat. It's still usually harmless and short-lived. But if it's happening regularly and the dog seems uncomfortable, that's worth mentioning to a vet. And if stomach issues turn into a mess around the house, I’ve had good luck with Pooph for cleanup.
Normal Development In Puppies
Puppies get hiccups significantly more than adult dogs. Part of this is behavioral — they eat fast, play hard, get overstimulated easily. But part of it is also physiological. The diaphragm is still developing and maturing. It's more reactive and less regulated than an adult dog's diaphragm.
Puppy hiccups are so normal they're almost a milestone. If your puppy hiccups regularly — especially after eating or playing — that's not a concern. It's just puppyhood doing its thing. Murphy grew out of the most frequent episodes by around 18 months. The post-dinner ones stuck around because, well, he never learned to slow down.
How To Help Your Dog With Hiccups
The honest answer is: most of the time you don't need to do anything. They pass on their own.
But if you want to help move things along — here's what actually works.
Calm Them Down
Excitement and stress both trigger hiccups. Getting the dog to a calm, settled state helps the diaphragm regulate. Gentle petting, a quiet space, a calm voice. Don't make a big deal of it — your energy affects theirs.
Offer Water Slowly
Small sips of water at a slow pace can help reset the diaphragm. Not a huge bowl all at once — that can just introduce more air. A few calm sips. Murphy's hiccups often stop within a minute of this. Having a solid bowl setup like this one helps keep that easy too.
Slow Feeder Bowl
If post-meal hiccups are a regular occurrence — a slow feeder is the actual fix. It removes the root cause rather than treating the symptom. Murphy's slow feeder was the single most impactful thing we did for his hiccup frequency. Pairing that with better food choices from places like Vital Essentials helped the whole routine feel better too.
Gentle Belly Rub
Light massage on the belly and chest area can help settle the diaphragm. Keep it gentle and slow — the goal is relaxation not stimulation. Murphy is extremely pro belly rub regardless of whether he has hiccups, so this one gets used often.
Light Gentle Movement
A slow calm walk — not a vigorous one — can help regulate breathing and settle the diaphragm. Not exercise. Just movement. A few minutes of easy walking often moves things along faster than waiting it out on the couch. A comfortable harness and simple leash make that part easier.
A Spoonful Of Honey
This one sounds odd but it's used by some owners and vets as a hiccup remedy — the sweetness triggers swallowing which can interrupt the hiccup cycle. Not a first resort but worth knowing about. Skip this for diabetic dogs or very young puppies.
When To Actually Call The Vet
Most hiccups — even frequent ones — are completely harmless. But there are signals worth paying attention to.
Talk To Your Vet If:
- Hiccups last more than a few hours with no sign of stopping
- Hiccups are accompanied by coughing, sneezing, or labored breathing
- Your dog seems distressed or in pain during the hiccups
- Hiccups are accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea
- It's a new behavior in an older dog happening with unusual frequency
- Your dog stops eating, drinking, or seems lethargic alongside the hiccups
Persistent hiccups that won't stop can occasionally signal something worth investigating — respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, or in rare cases something neurological. These are not common causes. But they're worth ruling out if the pattern doesn't fit the normal "Murphy ate too fast" explanation.
Why Puppies Get Hiccups More Than Adult Dogs
If you have a puppy who hiccups constantly — after meals, after play, seemingly at random — you're not imagining it. Puppies genuinely do get hiccups more frequently.
The diaphragm is still developing. Their eating habits are enthusiastic and unregulated. Their excitement has no ceiling. And their nervous systems are processing a world that is entirely new and often overwhelming.
Puppy hiccups are almost never a concern. They're a sign of a puppy eating with enthusiasm and living at full volume. Which, if you have a Beagle puppy, describes approximately every waking moment.
The Bottom Line
Murphy still gets post-dinner hiccups. Less often now that the slow feeder lives permanently on the floor — but when he manages to work around it at full Beagle speed, the hiccups follow reliably about thirty seconds later.
I stopped worrying about it somewhere around the hundredth time. Dog hiccups are almost always harmless, almost always brief, and almost always caused by something as simple as eating too fast. If your dog has other random body moments too, this also pairs really well with why dogs get the zoomies.
Get a slow feeder. Offer some water. Let them settle. That's usually the whole playbook.
And if your dog looks up at you mid-hiccup with that confused "what is happening to my body" expression — just know Murphy makes that face too. Every single time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I be worried if my dog is hiccuping?
Almost never. Dog hiccups are normal and almost always harmless — caused by eating too fast, excitement, or minor diaphragm irritation. They typically pass within a few minutes. The only time to call your vet is if hiccups last for hours, come with other symptoms like coughing or labored breathing, or seem to cause your dog obvious distress.
How do you get rid of dog hiccups?
Most of the time you just wait — they resolve on their own within minutes. If you want to help, try calming your dog down, offering small slow sips of water, or a gentle belly rub. A slow feeder bowl is the best long-term fix if post-meal hiccups are a regular occurrence.
Why do dogs get hiccups after eating?
Usually because they ate too fast and swallowed a lot of air with their food. That air irritates the diaphragm which responds with spasms — hiccups. A slow feeder bowl is the most effective fix because it addresses the root cause rather than just managing the symptom.
Why do dogs get hiccups at night?
Usually related to their last meal — if they ate quickly at dinner the hiccups can follow an hour or so later. Lying down can also position the stomach in a way that puts mild pressure on the diaphragm. Most nighttime hiccups are brief and harmless. If they're waking your dog up repeatedly or seem distressing, worth mentioning to a vet.
What breed of dog is prone to hiccups?
Food-motivated, fast-eating breeds tend to get hiccups most frequently — Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and other breeds known for eating enthusiastically. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs like Bulldogs and Pugs) can also be more prone due to their breathing anatomy. But any dog can get hiccups regardless of breed.
Do dogs hiccup when sad?
Stress and anxiety can trigger hiccups — so in that sense, yes. Emotional states that affect breathing patterns can lead to diaphragm spasms. But hiccups alone aren't a reliable sign of sadness. Look at the full picture — body language, behavior, context — rather than hiccups in isolation.
What do dog hiccups look like?
A full-body jerk or twitch — more visible than human hiccups, especially in smaller dogs. The chest and abdomen contract involuntarily, sometimes with a small sound. The dog often looks confused or mildly surprised by it, which is somehow the most relatable thing about the whole experience.
Can puppy hiccups be worms?
Hiccups alone are not a sign of worms. However, a heavy worm burden can cause gastrointestinal irritation that may contribute to hiccups alongside other symptoms like a distended belly, weight loss, or changes in stool. If your puppy hiccups frequently and shows any of those other signs, a vet check and deworming is a good idea. Hiccups on their own in a puppy are almost always just normal puppy behavior.
Murphy just finished his dinner.
Slow feeder and everything.
Still hiccupped.
Some things are just Murphy.
Give your dog some love today. 🐾
Welcome to The Pack. 🐾
