Is it ok for horses to have hiccups?

Question

My piny kept making little hiccuping noises today, and I'm not sure why. she has never done it before, and it lasted for about 10-15 minutes. Is it OK for horses to have hiccups?

Answer 1

It is normal.  Sounds as though her diaphragm, the sheet of muscle between her throat and the stomach have been irritated for some reason.  It usually happens after eating.  Unless there is other signs of distress, ie colic etc, I think you can safely say she is okay.

Answer 2

Well if it stopped theres probably nothing wrong, but i dont know if its a problem or not. dont worry if it happens again i would ask a vet. maybe look it up on the web? x

Answer 3

I don't know much about horse's, but my auntie had a horse, it was one of them show jumping horses, so it was big enough to carry out the action I'm about to describe.

I once asked my auntie, why her horse was biting the wooden stable door; she said, "horses suck out the air, in the wood which they like to do, but the trapped air, can cause the horse to have hiccups, which is bad for the horse. So every time the horse, bites the door... she taps the horse's nose to stop the horse "max" from biting the stable gate.

Becaus your pony is small, it would be impossible for your pony to bite the top of a stable door. Is there a fence were your pony could be bitting a fence?  

Answer 4

I think scott m is talking about a horse that was a cribber which is really bad for a horse

Answer 5

Horses don't actually hiccup but get something called asynchronous diaphragmatic flutter which is commonly known as thumps and looks like hiccups.  

As a horse sweats, it loses water and electrolytes (body salts).

A horse's sweat is hypertonic, which means it contains a higher concentration of salts than blood does. Electrolyte loss can result in thumps, which are like hiccups in that the horse's flank twitches and it makes an audible thump, hence the name. It is not really harmful in itself, but is alarming for the rider and is an indication of severe lack of electrolytes.  If both water and electrolytes are lost and not replaced, the animal will become dehydrated, its performance will be affected and it could get serious muscle disorders such as azoturia.  

Water and electrolytes are normally replenished by a horse's normal diet, but should your pony have been working hard in hot orhumid conditions it may be lacking. Water alone will not provide rapid rehydration as electrolytes, particularly sodium, are needed. Only offering water may dilute the body fluids and disturb the electrolyte balance further.  To prevent this imbalance or help restore your pony, there are a variety of electrolyte pastes you can buy from your local tack shop.  Unless your pony continues to get thumps a lot or even after giving electrolytes you shouldn't need to call the vet.  

Answer 6

Horses don'thiccup. He is actually sucking in air probably. I would call you vet just to make sure.  

Answer 7

1 of my horses used to hiccup when he was a foal and its sign that he was growing but yes any horse can hiccup  

Answer 8

sorry, but i have never heard of horses hiccupping.  sounds more to me that they were clearing their throat after perhaps eating dry feed.  they could possibly be making that sort of sound though.  also a horse cannot be physically sick, but risk of choke could be dangerous.

i always give damp feed,

Answer 9

I've heard horses hiccup before. I don't think it's anything to worry about unless it persists for a long time.  

Answer 10

It is not normal for a horse to hiccup.  Call a vet if the horse doesn't stop