Have you ever had a morning where your dog gets up, you fill his food bowl with breakfast, and he immediately gobbles it up? A little later, your dog gets hiccups. Does that sound familiar? Does your dog often have hiccups? Hiccups are quite common in dogs and most of the time they are a functional response of the body and are harmless. But sometimes you need to pay attention to this habit. Take a look at our content below to learn why dogs burp.

Dogs burp for the same reason that humans do: they have too much air in their stomachs. Also, your dog may be swallowing excess air because they are drinking too fast, and most of the time eating too fast or drinking too fast will cause your dog to burp. Some organizations offer a scientific explanation for dog burping, "Gas is formed by alkaline foods or foods with high pH, digestive enzymes and stomach acid and interactions. The gas formed in the gastric tract is expelled in the form of hiccups."

I. Causes of hiccups in dogs

A dog hiccups because when it inhales the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, leaving more room in the chest cavity to allow the lungs to expand. When he exhales, the diaphragm relaxes and moves up into the chest cavity. Normally, the movement of the diaphragm is smooth and regular, but when the muscle suddenly spasms, hiccups can occur.

1. Eating too quickly and taking in excess air
Hiccups can also occur when a dog eats too quickly or eats an unsuitable diet, such as one that is too hard. If you eat too quickly, it is easy to get excess air into your dog's stomach, which will be expelled through burping. In this regard, the pooper scooper can control the speed of the dog's meal through a slow food bowl. Or try a different kind of dog food.

2. Eat food that is easy to produce gas
Some places may eat glutinous rice products such as rice cakes or mochi during the Chinese New Year, and the owner also gives some to the dog to eat by hand. This can also easily make your dog burp because glutinous rice can easily produce gas in the body. In addition, high starch groundnuts or corn, which are more difficult to digest, also tend to produce gas. When a dog eats this kind of food, it is easy to burp or fart to expel gas.

3. Food is stimulating
Excessively stimulating food can also cause this condition, such as too cold, or spicy food. Therefore, the pooper scooper should avoid letting the dog eat irritating food daily to avoid causing gastrointestinal discomfort to the dog.

4. Disease
Excessive hiccups in dogs may be a sign of disease. If your dog has frequent burping not only after meals but also during the day, and if he often farts, this could be a sign of intestinal diseases such as acid reflux, gastrointestinal disease, flatulence, gas, allergies, or even tumors.
If your dog burps frequently and appears tired, along with diarrhea and vomiting, be on the lookout for the presence of parasites in your dog's body; worms such as heartworms or roundworms can cause damage to your dog's respiratory tract. In addition, hiccups can also be a breathing problem. If the dog often hiccups, sneezing or panting, it may be suffering from pneumonia, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, these conditions can seriously endanger the life of the dog, be sure to take the dog to the doctor promptly.

5. Too much stress
Too much stress can also cause your dog to hiccup. When they go to an unfamiliar environment, or there is a new dog at home, it is also possible for the dog to feel stressed, which can lead to hiccups. In this case, the pooper scooper should be more to calm the dog's nervousness.

6. The weather has turned cold
Nowadays, if the weather is cold, your dog can get cold and burp frequently. Therefore. The owner can prepare more warm supplies for the dog to ensure that the dog does not get cold due to the cold, which can also reduce the chance of hiccups.

7. Are hiccups a sign of a tumor?
It must be admitted that sometimes excessive hiccups can be a sign of a tumor. However, in most cases, we do not have to worry too much about hiccups in dogs. Hiccups are most likely normal. Some dogs will burp excessively because of food allergies. However, if the dog is only burping after drinking water, it should not be an allergy.
Tumors can indeed be a serious and fatal disease, and excessive and abnormal hiccups may be a sign of something serious. If your dog doesn't burp a lot after a meal or a drink of water, then you need to take your dog to the vet. If your dog is not burping but farting frequently or is very smelly, then your dog may be suffering from gastroenteritis.

II. What to do if your dog has hiccups

1. Massage to promote gas emission
The dog's stomach will keep twitching when he burps. If you find that your dog is burping, you can try to help them by massaging their belly clockwise or patting their back so that the excess gas can be expelled more smoothly.

2. Use a slow food bowl
Sometimes dogs get hiccups because they eat too fast. This type of bowl can improve digestion and reduce the chances of vomiting and burping after eating. In addition, it is best to give your dog smaller and more frequent meals to reduce the chances of them gobbling.
In addition, the owner can also try to raise the dog bowl or add some water to the food, which can force the dog to lick the food, thus slowing down the dog's eating speed.

3. Feed easily to digest low fiber food
Owners can feed their dogs easily digestible foods that are low in fat and fiber, and make sure the dog food contains the amount of fiber needed for proper digestion. For better digestion, owners avoid feeding their dogs soy, dairy products, peas, and legumes.
Dogs hiccup their stomachs and look strange and uncomfortable, so pooper scoopers should usually correct their dogs' bad habits of swallowing and avoid giving them food that easily produces gas. In addition to avoiding hiccups, this can also prevent your dog from suffering from the dreaded gastric torsion.

There are ways to reduce the amount of air your dog swallows, so try giving your dog less water to drink. Of course, if your dog is thirsty, don't deny him water.
Another way is to put the dog's food into a slow food bowl, this type of bowl allows the dog to eat more slowly, thus reducing the amount of air swallowed. If you don't have a slow food bowl, you can put smaller portions in at a time.
Better food can also improve hiccups. Look for a food that is easy to digest and low in fat and fiber. Always make sure your dog's food has the right amount of fiber to promote proper digestion. Do not consume soy, dairy products, peas, or other legumes.
Attention to detail
No matter what, you should be familiar with your dog's daily behavior. When a change occurs, such as an increase in burping, you can ask your veterinarian online just in case. Don't jump to conclusions right away, but be cautious about them so you know exactly what your dog is burping for.