Why does my dog have hiccups all the time?

This is more common with puppies. Hiccups can be caused by excitement, stress, eating too fast, or something spicy, inhaling smoke or chemicals. Rarely, hiccups may be due to a respiratory defect, pneumonia, asthma, heart stroke or pericarditis. You may resolve hiccups by offering fresh water or massaging the dog’s chest, which causes the diaphragm muscles to relax and eliminate the hiccups, or distract with a toy. Usually, the hiccups will go away. If hiccups last more than a few hours, you should visit the vet.