Why does my dog click when swallowing while laying down? Is it hiccups?

This doesn't sound like anything to be particularly concerned about, as long as the hiccups are not occuring all day long. Hiccups are usually caused by some kind of irritation to the phrenic nerve that leads to the diaphragm, so perhaps when she lays down, she is causing irritation to the nerve. It is quite odd though and isn't something we see very often in veterinary medicine. It isn't something that we can necessarily test for either or treat for in general. If you still want to look further into other possible causes however, then a referral to an internal medicine vet will likely be the next best step for Zelda. Even with that said, it is a good chance that this is a symptom that the vet will recommend benign neglect (just monitor). Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope that Zelda is ok moving forward. Take care!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Puppies do hiccup more than adult dogs, and a clicking sound can be normal. Just watch Luffy and as long as he is eating/drinking/pooping and playing normally don't worry. Best of luck with Luffy!

Hello. Hiccups are the result of a spasm in the diaphragm. It can occur from various maladies including heartworm disease, stimulation of the phrenic nerve & cancer ( very unlikely in such a young dog ). This may also be a case of Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter, also known as Thumps. I would talk with your veterinarian to see if an EKG & blood work is needed. Otherwise, some of these dogs will respond to a tapering dose of Prednisone, &/or an oral calcium tablet. Sometimes, it just eventually goes away by itself. Just to make sure, have your vet take a look at things. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It seems unlikely that is related to the choking incident two years ago unless there was severe damage causing scar tissue to accumulate. I recommend to get some sedated radiographs and to have his laryngeal area examined while he is sedated. While it may be nothing serious, having this examined is never a bed idea. Less common but still possible causing could include laryngeal parlysis or a tumor. Many times these diagnostics can be paired with something like a dental cleaning so that you are getting the full benefit of the sedation and checking multiple things off the list. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Usually eating/drinking too fast or swallowing some air when eating/drinking. It is not anything I would be concerned about unless the hiccups persist for a long period or time or he starts vomiting. If he is a fast eater/drinker you can do things to make him eat/drink slower like put large, smooth rock into his bowl so he has to eat/drink around it. This will slow him down.

The most common reason that dogs will have exaggerated swallowing without any obvious reason is if they have irritation in their esophagus. This can occur from a number of reasons. Sometimes these dogs have had an episode of vomiting that has irritated the esophagus or sometimes they have some acid reflux from their stomach into the esophagus which is irritating the esophagus. Since it has been going on for 3 months, it is worth having your vet evaluate it. I would recommend taking a video of an episode for your vet to see during the appointment time. Your vet may recommend an acid reducer like Pepcid or Prilosec or may recommend a prescription medication to coat the esophagus like Sucralfate. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like Nene may be feeling a bit nauseated or anxious. This can cause symptoms such as burping/hiccuping, licking lips, drooling, etc. Causes can be anything from GI upset, to illness, bloat, or even something stuck in the mouth or throat. If he won't let you examine his mouth at all and is refusing to eat or drink, seems painful, or in distress, having him examined by a vet ASAP is best to rule out more serious issues.