It is rare enough when I get the hiccups, so imagine my surprise when one of our rabbits was making similar ‘hic-cup’ sounds after eating her meal!
But do rabbits actually get hiccups or are these little noises something else?
Yes, bunnies can have the hiccups.
While hiccups themselves aren’t harmful to rabbits, they do usually result from less-than ideal habits and may be a sign of more serious health issues.
Harmless Hiccups May Be A Symptom Of A More Serious Illness In Your Rabbit!
Why Can Bunnies Get Hiccups
First, let’s go over what exactly hiccups are.
As the Mayo Clinic explains, hiccups are uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm.
Each spasm rapidly and suddenly closes the vocal cords. This action results in the well-known and silly hiccup sound.
Now rabbits don’t have the same well-developed vocal cords that we do, but they do have vocal folds in their larynx, which are enough to produce the same hic sound in response to uncontrollable diagram contractions!
And rabbits aren’t the only animals that experience hiccups, researchers have even observed the hiccup phenomenon with many hobby farm and pet mammals such as horses, dogs, cats (and even rats).
Okay, so now it makes sense that rabbits can experience the hiccups, but what in the world causes them in your bunny?
Why Do Rabbits Get Hiccups – A Few Reasons
What does it mean when bunnies hiccup?
Rabbits usually experience hiccups due to extra, or excessive, intake of air; the most common causes are:
- Ingesting air while eating
- Sudden changes in air temperature
- Ingesting air due to overactivity
- Feeling stressed or nervous
In fact, hiccups in rabbits are more often a result of less than ideal experiences or circumstances (more on that below!).
Furthermore, immature rabbits are more likely to experience hiccups than mature rabbits.
This is because immature rabbits that have just weaned and are learning to eat hay and pellets usually eat very fast.
Don’t be concerned with your young rabbits if they eat very fast, this is a natural developmental stage as their digestive system changes from a milk diet to a non-milk diet.
As they mature and grow more accustomed to eating solid foods they will slow their eating mannerism and their cases of hiccups will all but disappear!

How to Naturally Avoid Rabbit Hiccups
Avoiding hiccups in your rabbit requires following some best rabbit-raising practices, such as the following:
- Feed Your Rabbit A High-Hay Diet
Rabbits require high fiber foods to fuel their unique metabolism. Hay is an ideal food for mature bunnies and we recommend providing your rabbits unlimited, high quality oat hay, meadow hay, or orchard hay.
Unlike pellets or some treat foods, rabbits must chew each piece of hay before swallowing it.
This is why constantly eating hay not only keeps your rabbit’s digestive system running smoothly and wears down their ever growing teeth, but it also ensures that they take their time while eating!
This reduces the chance of experiencing hiccups because eating slowly is a key way to avoid hiccups.
- Keep Your Bunny In A Familiar Environment
The best way to help your rabbit regulate its body is by keeping it in a familiar and safe environment.
This can be inside your house or outside in a well-built hutch or rabbit tractor. Wherever it is, this place will become a secure and personal space for your bunny, so do your best to keep them in this spot as much as possible.
This will not only save your rabbit from experiencing any drastic changes in temperatures (remember that outdoor temperatures usually change gradually throughout the day) but will also limit the overall stress and anxiety of your rabbit.
That’s right, avoiding drastic air temperature changes and reducing stress are two ways to discourage hiccups in rabbits!
- Give Your Rabbits Generous Outdoor Time
Rabbits, especially younger ones, enjoy exercise and socializing with other bunnies.
If your rabbits only have a short time each day (or once every two days) to hop around freely in a safe outdoor enclosure, they may try to make the most of it by being a bit overactive.
Overactivity itself isn’t harmful although it may lead to extra intake of air while frolicking wildly which can result in hiccups.
As such, we recommend giving your rabbits ample outdoor time every day to encourage the formation of healthy exercise and movement habits.
How Long Do Rabbit Hiccups Usually Last
Just like the hiccups we experience, rabbit hiccups don’t usually last longer than a few minutes.
However, persistent or recurring hiccups in bunnies can be a sign of nervous system or respiratory issues.
Symptoms of a nervous system issue in your rabbit
- Constant or recurring hiccups
- Twitches or tremors
- Body or limb paralysis
- Torticollis (head twitch or turning)
Symptoms of a respiratory issue in your rabbit
- Constant or recurring hiccups
- Irregular breathing (shallow and/or heavy)
- Loss of appetite
- General lethargy
- Excessive ear twitching or tilting back of head
If your bunny is experiencing constant or recurring hiccups we highly recommend chatting with your local vet for an accurate diagnosis and necessary treatment.

How To Best Stop Rabbit Hiccups
If your rabbit has hiccups NEVER:
- Cover their nose or mouth to prevent breathing
- Try to scare them
- Force them to drink water or eat
When our rabbits are experiencing hiccups we actually do not try to stop them!
However, we know of some pet owners who try to assist their bunnies with hiccups by pressing gently on their diaphragm with their fingers.
We do not recommend doing this, as we believe it is easier to harm your rabbit in doing this than it is to significantly assist them.
Remember, rabbits are not hardy creatures and have brittle bones!
Instead, we allow the hiccups to run their course and keep a constant eye on our bunny until they do.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Do Bunnies Get Hiccups
Are Hiccups Dangerous To Rabbits?
Hiccups are not dangerous to rabbits. They are harmless, uncontrollable spasms of the rabbit’s diaphragm.
However, recurring or long-lasting hiccups may be a symptom of more serious illnesses in your rabbit!
Do Hiccups Hurt Rabbits?
A regular bout of hiccups in rabbits does not hurt rabbits. But yes, long lasting or closely recurring hiccups may be painful for your bunny.
What Do I Do If My Bunny Has Hiccups?
If your rabbit has hiccups the best thing to do is to observe them. If they exhibit natural and normal behavior, all is well!
But if your rabbit exhibits extensive head or ear twitching, signs of pain, or seems unable to breathe well during their hiccups something more serious is affecting your bunny. In this case we recommend that you call your local vet immediately.
Final Thoughts on Do Rabbits Get Hiccups
As we discussed, it is completely normal and natural for rabbits to have hiccups.
These diaphragm spasms aren’t harmful in and of themselves and they are actually more common in immature rabbits than adult bunnies.
In all cases, we do recommend that you keep an eye on your rabbits with hiccups, as frequent hiccups may be a sign of grave nervous or respiratory system issues.
Let’s wrap this post up with a great video of an otherwise relaxed rabbit with hiccups!