Skip to Content
My Happy Husky is an Amazon associate and earns a small commission for qualifying purchases. Not professional advice, education only. More info here.

Why Does My Husky Get Hiccups: 4 Reasons & What To Do

Many owners ask me why their husky hiccups so much. Hiccups are normal for us humans, but what about your husky?

This article should calm some nerves and answer all of your questions on this topic. Let’s get into it.

The truth is that huskies can get hiccups just like humans can. Reasons for hiccups include “fetal hiccups”, eating or drinking too fast, getting excited, breathing heavily as well as stress and anxiety. Hiccups are usually harmless and will pass.

Is It Normal For Huskies To Hiccup

Okay, so first of all, hiccups are entirely normal for huskies (as well as all other breeds) and there are many reasons why hiccups can happen.

It must also be said, however, that excessive hiccups could be an indicator of an underlying issue. But before you worry, this is very rare and most hiccups are harmless and will pass.

Hiccups are particularly common for husky puppies to experience, and there are some additional reasons as to why this might be. Let’s run through the common causes below.

when start puppy shedding

4 Main Reasons Huskies Get Hiccups

Hiccups happen in huskies when the diaphragm involuntarily contracts/spasms causing the opening between the vocal cords to close sharply.

And when this happens, it causes an audible “hic” sound. This is also how hiccups happen in humans.

So why? Scientists still don’t fully understand why it happens, but they have some very good theories.

1. Fetal hiccups

One theory, which would explain why puppies hiccup a lot more than adults would be fetal hiccups.

Science has revealed that puppies along with other mammalian species actually hiccup inside the womb. Some experts believe this to be training the diaphragm muscle in preparation for breathing.

Yet, the hiccups accidentally continue to happen long after being born. Source

2. Eating or Drinking Too Fast

If your husky eats or drinks too fast, especially soon after exercising, hiccups are likely to happen. Hiccups can be a way to relieve gas, much like burping or passing wind.

The main issue with eating or drinking too fast is that your husky puppy or adult will accidentally ingest too much air.

Fast eating and drinking should also be avoided because it could cause a serious health issue/emergency called bloat (which is a whole different topic altogether).

3. When Getting Excited

Another cause of hiccups is simply when your husky becomes excited.

We don’t really know why this happens but it could be due to the muscles suddenly working too hard, or due to your husky panting quickly and erratically.

If this is the case, hiccups would likely stop soon after your husky calms down again.

Husky puppies, in particular, get very excitable in short bursts and also can’t control their breathing as well as an adult. This is another theory as to why puppies hiccup more than adults.

4. Stress or Anxiety

Additionally, Dr. Audrey J Wystrach, ZippiVet Veterinary Practice in Austin Texas has noted that stress and anxiety can also be a common cause of hiccups in huskies and other canines.

This could be a temporary moment of stress or long-term underlying stress. Source

Popular Article: Why Are Huskies So Needy?

when start puppy shedding

Can You Help Your Husky To Stop Hiccupping?

So after the hiccups have stopped being funny, most owners want to know if they can do anything to help stop them.

In most cases, there isn’t much you can do and the hiccups should go away with time.

There are of course many DIY remedies that we are familiar with like, holding your breath and getting someone to make you jump.

Although, these have never been proven to work, and it’s certainly not recommended to try anything like this with your husky. Who would likely be more offended by that, than from the hiccups themselves!

If you want to try and help your husky get over hiccups, here are some tips:

1. Gentle belly rub

As the hiccups could be caused by erratic breathing or from being overly excited. You can try to calm your husky down by giving him a slow and gentle belly rub. This should regulate a steady breathing pattern and help reduce hiccups.

2. Provide a distraction

Try giving your husky a teaspoon of honey smeared onto a plate. This will provide a safe distraction from the hiccups and could be enough to slowly reduce them. Avoid giving any solid food or treats as this could provoke or make his hiccups worse.

3. Remain calm

As stress and anxiety can also bring on hiccups is crucial for you to remain calm and relaxed. Remember that most of the time hiccups are harmless and will pass. If you become overly worried, your husky will pick up on this and it could potentially make the hiccup issue worse.

4. Offer water

Like with humans, sipping water can help resolve hiccups. Of course, it’s not as easy as saying to your husky “just a few sips”. But never the less, guide him to his water bowl and see if he would like to drink some (it helps to replace his water in front of him).

5. Use a slow feeder

This is more a preventative tip you can use in the future. I strongly recommend getting a slow feeder, as well as a raised food bowl. Both of these will reduce the amount of air ingested and might be the solution to your husky’s hiccupping habit.

What If The Hiccups Don’t Stop? When To Call Your Vet

It’s very common for veterinarians to receive calls about how their dog won’t stop hiccupping.

The guideline for dealing with this issue is to call your veterinarian if your husky maintains hiccupping for more than a few hours OR the hiccupping is accompanied by anything else such as wheezing or difficulty in breathing. In this case, either call or visit your veterinarian for further assistance.

If you believe your husky needs veterinary help right away, you can of course call them as soon as you feel necessary.

Exercising common sense is always advised, and if there is a logical reason as to why your husky is hiccupping (he has just exercised, got excited, eaten, or taken a drink) then most of the time the hiccups will go away without further action.

In very rare situations, hiccups can be a sign of an underlying health problem such as heat stroke, asthma, pneumonia, or pericarditis. Source PetMD

Thank you for reading!
Was this article helpful? Please let me know if you have further questions!

Most Recommended For Huskies

Best Brushes For Husky Shedding

These brushes when combined together will remove dead fur and maintain your husky’s coat better than doing anything else! These brushes are a simple Undercoat Rake and a Slicker Brush.

Best Online Training Program For Huskies

Brain Training For Dogs has become increasingly popular with Siberian Huskies in the last few years. It’s now recognized as perhaps the best way to train a husky in the most stress-free, positive way.

Best Husky Puppy Book

If you would like to support My Happy Husky directly and have an easy to read and entertaining guide for training your husky puppy, check out my book The Husky Puppy Handbook on Amazon. All purchases are greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer

The advice given in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice in any context. Before making any decisions that may affect the health and/or safety of your dog, you should always consult a trained veterinarian in your local area. For the FULL disclaimer Visit Here


Copyright Notice: The content produced and published on My Happy Husky is unique and original. My Happy Husky makes an active effort to search for plagiarized content using plagiarism detection software. If plagiarized content is found, action will be taken.

Protected by Copyscape

Highlight not available