Hiccups: What's Considered Excessive?

[Jenk]

I've noticed our new guy have the hiccups several times in just as many days.

Do excessive hiccups indicate any sort of medical condition? (I believe that someone on RO stated as much a while back.)

Thanks,

Jenk

 

[Maureen Las]

http://www.welshrabbitry.com/health.html#hiccups

 

[juliew19673]

When I first got Baxter! he hiccuped about 3 - 5 days in to having him and I "think" it was that he was adjusting to a "stable" diet (posted for the same thing) and nothing came of it.. Keep in mind my bun was VERY malnorished and dehyrated and was adjusting to being inside (was very cold - well for Los Angeles the night time temp he was out in was about 47 and he had no food or water on a regular basis for some weeks).. So thinking it might be a transitional thing.. But look to his known health history that you might be able to piece toghether to give you an idea..

That being said after seeing that article, if it doesn't pass have it checked out.

Good luck and update when you figure out what it is or if it passes..

 

[Jenk]

Thanks, angieluv. He's not had hiccups for hours (much less days) straight; so I'll just remain observant.

juliew19673 wrote:

When I first got Baxter! he hiccuped about 3 - 5 days in to having him and I "think" it was that he was adjusting to a "stable" diet (posted for the same thing) and nothing came of it.. Keep in mind my bun was VERY malnorished and dehyrated and was adjusting to being inside (was very cold - well for Los Angeles the night time temp he was out in was about 47 and he had no food or water on a regular basis for some weeks).. So thinking it might be a transitional thing.. But look to his known health history that you might be able to piece toghether to give you an idea...

Did he hiccup essentially non-stop for those 3-5 days? :shock: Poor guy!

There's little known about my guy's health history; he was a stray.

 

[Maureen Las]

Once this bun has a stable home, regular diet and exercise and a lot of love I bet he will not be as medically challenged as hemay appear now.

 

[Jenk]

angieluv wrote:

Once this bun has a stable home, regular diet and exercise and a lot of love I bet he will not be as medically challenged as hemay appear now.

Diet is my biggest concern at the moment (especially with his sludge issue).

He got major poopy-butt after I fed him the same types of greens that he had at the shelter; so I've stopped feeding him greens for his first week home. Just today, I'm slowly starting to re-introduce greens (beginning with Romaine).

He's on a less-than-ideal pellet, but I've not changed it (or the quantity fed) because I don't want to upset his digestive system. But if it's promoting sludge... :?

 

[juliew19673]

Jenk wrote:

angieluv wrote:

Once this bun has a stable home, regular diet and exercise and a lot of love I bet he will not be as medically challenged as hemay appear now.

Diet is my biggest concern at the moment (especially with his sludge issue).

He got major poopy-butt after I fed him the same types of greens that he had at the shelter; so I've stopped feeding him greens for his first week home. Just today, I'm slowly starting to re-introduce greens (beginning with Romaine).

He's on a less-than-ideal pellet, but I've not changed it (or the quantity fed) because I don't want to upset his digestive system. But if it's promoting sludge... :?

Could the "greens" be giving him the problem? I'd take him off all greens that he's eating especially the Romaine as that is full of SO much moisture and go with a Hay (Oat, timothy or blue) and REALLY try to keep his diet simple. NO treats (carrots, oats, sugars) for a good month and see what happens..

Curious what other more knowledgable bun slaves here think of your current plight - as this is one of those "get to know your bun" stories that I find fascinating.. Every bun is different and their digestive tracks seem to be just as different "No Bun Is The Same" mentality I'm seeing..

Good luck!

 

[juliew19673]

Jenk wrote:

angieluv wrote:

Once this bun has a stable home, regular diet and exercise and a lot of love I bet he will not be as medically challenged as hemay appear now.

Diet is my biggest concern at the moment (especially with his sludge issue).

He got major poopy-butt after I fed him the same types of greens that he had at the shelter; so I've stopped feeding him greens for his first week home. Just today, I'm slowly starting to re-introduce greens (beginning with Romaine).

He's on a less-than-ideal pellet, but I've not changed it (or the quantity fed) because I don't want to upset his digestive system. But if it's promoting sludge... :?

Could the "greens" be giving him the problem? I'd take him off all greens that he's eating especially the Romaine as that is full of SO much moisture and go with a Hay (Oat, timothy or blue) and REALLY try to keep his diet simple. NO treats (carrots, oats, sugars) for a good month and see what happens..

Curious what other more knowledgable bun slaves here think of your current plight - as this is one of those "get to know your bun" stories that I find fascinating.. Every bun is different and their digestive tracks seem to be just as different "No Bun Is The Same" mentality I'm seeing..

Good luck!

 

[Jenk]

Jenk wrote:

Thanks, angieluv. He's not had hiccups for hours (much less days) straight; so I'll just remain observant.

Another thing that I wonder about: Does a rabbit's positioning and having hiccups indicate an issue? For example, if a rabbit tends to get hiccups now and then while sitting upright, is that more normal than, say, a rabbit getting hiccups while lying in a prone position?

I've seen my new guy have the hiccups once while sitting up; but the other few times he's been lying down on his stomach. Just makes me wonder if it's a gas issue, could putting pressure on that area when lying down then bring on hiccups? But, again, he's not had them for hours, much less days, straight.

 

[Maureen Las]

I think if an animal gets the hiccups he/she would shift postions. If I have the hiccupsI would sit up..so maybe he sits up when he gets them. It would be hard to lie down and be hiccuping

glad that it hasn't occurred recently

 

[Jenk]

angieluv wrote:

It would be hard to lie down and be hiccuping

glad that it hasn't occurred recently

He did this two days ago (i.e.,remained in his prone position while hiccuping). In fact, he just did it a moment ago. Each time,the hiccups last for maybe 10-20 seconds. Still, I gotta wonder if frequent bouts of hiccups (even if short ones) indicate something unusual.

 

[juliew19673]

Jenk what have you tried to figure out the hiccups? I know a girlfriend that cannot ingest Habernore peppers (sp) so she realizes when we go to El Toritorro resturant that she will have the hiccups - could this be similar? Curious?

 

[Jenk]

juliew19673 wrote:

Jenk what have you tried to figure out the hiccups? I know a girlfriend that cannot ingest Habernore peppers (sp) so she realizes when we go to El Toritorro resturant that she will have the hiccups - could this be similar? Curious?

That's a good question.My best guess is that maybe they occur shortly after he's drank water;I've not truly noticed the timing of what he's done just prior to getting the hiccups.

I've not witnessed him having any hiccups in a number of days now. Perhaps they (or whatever was causing them) has stopped? :?

 

[NZminilops]

Hmm, this is very interesting! I've never had a rabbit hiccup for a long length of time before - perhaps 4 hiccups in a row then it stops.

I know in humans there can be many causes for hiccuping, including eating and drinking too fast, too much excitment or stress, neurological reasons, irritation to the nerve that leads to the diaphram, and even renal failure or other metabolic issues.

Just thinking about hiccuping is making me feel like I'm about to have some myself .

 

[Jenk]

NZminilops wrote:

I know in humans there can be many causes for hiccuping, including eating and drinking too fast, too much excitment or stress, neurological reasons, irritation to the nerve that leads to the diaphram, and even renal failure or other metabolic issues.

:shock: I had no idea that there are so many possible causes of hiccups.

 

[NZminilops]

I hope I didn't scare you, sorry :shock:! I only know because I had a really bad case of hiccups once as a kid and had lots of doctor visits because of it (it was nerve irritation).

Drinking beer always gives me bad hiccups, are you sure he hasn't been into the lager?

 

[Jenk]

NZminilops wrote:

Drinking beer always gives me bad hiccups, are you sure he hasn't been into the lager?

Not entirely sure, no. He is passed out right now.... Hmm...

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Haha, you guys are funny! I enjoyed that.

How are the hiccup sessions going? Have they stopped at all? I'm not sure, really, seems a bit odd. Any chance it could be coughing? LIke little coughs?

 

[Jenk]

AngelnSnuffy wrote:

Haha, you guys are funny! I enjoyed that.

We aim to amuse. :biggrin2:

How are the hiccup sessions going? Have they stopped at all? I'm not sure, really, seems a bit odd. Any chance it could be coughing? LIke little coughs?

I've not heard/seen him have them in over a week now (more like 1.5 weeks, I think). They seem to have stopped. He's super active and seems healthy/happy.

 

[Jenk]

Self correction: He wound up having hiccups twice today. Both timesoccurred right after he'd eaten some pellets and then lied down.

I'm slowly switching him over to timothy-based pellets due to his sometimes chalky/sludge-like urine. I wonder if a dietary change can bring on hiccups?