Here’s a breakdown of why your dog’s stomach might be making noises and when to be concerned:
Common Causes of Dog Stomach Noises
- Normal Digestion: The most common reason – the movement of food, gas, and fluids through the digestive system creates those familiar gurgles.
- Hunger: Empty stomachs naturally make more noise as they anticipate food.
- Gas: Certain foods or food sensitivities can cause gas buildup, leading to increased rumbling.
- Dietary Changes: Switching foods abruptly can cause temporary digestive upset.
- Eating Too Quickly: Gulping down food leads to swallowing more air, causing noisier digestion.
When is it a Concern?
While most stomach noises are harmless, they could sometimes signal something more serious:
- Intestinal Obstruction: A foreign object blocking the digestive tract can cause abnormal, loud noises. This is often accompanied by vomiting, lethargy, or stomach pain.
- Diarrhea: Loose and watery stools move quickly through the digestive system, creating increased gurgling.
- Parasites or Bacterial Infections: These disrupt digestion, causing gas and stomach upset.
- Gastrointestinal Diseases: Conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or pancreatitis can cause persistent stomach noises and other symptoms.
What to Do
- Monitor: If your dog seems otherwise healthy (normal appetite, energy, stool), the noises are likely normal.
- Slow Down Eating: Use a slow feeder bowl if your dog gulps food.
- Consider Dietary Changes: If the noises started after a new food, try switching back gradually to the old diet.
- Offer Smaller Meals: This spreads the digestive workload and can help.
When to Call the Vet
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog’s stomach noises are accompanied by:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy/Weakness
- Loss of Appetite
- Signs of Pain (hunched posture, whining)
Key Takeaways
- Most stomach gurgling in dogs is normal digestion.
- Pay attention to other symptoms: If your dog acts normal, it’s usually nothing to worry about.
- Sudden changes or worrisome symptoms warrant a vet check. This can help catch serious issues early.
- Preventative care is key: Regular vet checkups, deworming, and a healthy diet help minimize stomach problems.
Why Is My Dog’s Stomach Making Noises?
Dogs may make more unusual stomach noises for a variety of reasons, but in general, these sounds indicate that the stomach and intestines are moving food and liquids through the digestive system. While some of these issues are minor and might resolve themselves, others have the potential to be more problematic, including
Hunger:
One of the most common causes of your dog’s stomach noises is hunger. The intestines of hungry animals do not contain significant amounts of food. They therefore have a higher gas/solids ratio. Empty intestines may begin to show activity in response to anticipated eating. This will result in audible bowel sounds, or “belly rumblings.” Breakfast is the treatment for this type of intestinal gurgling.
Unfortunately, hunger isn’t the only cause of intestinal gurgling. Dietary indiscretions, such as those that occur when dogs rummage through trash or treat themselves to new foods, are a common cause of stomach noises in dogs.
Gas:
One possible explanation for increased stomach rumbling could be an increase in gas. Gas is a common occurrence in pets’ diets and is caused by less digestible meals or components being broken down by gut bacteria. Carbohydrates can produce gas in addition to being a significant source of energy. Gas is produced when the fiber in carbs is fermented during their breakdown.
A dog’s gastrointestinal tract may contain different amounts of gas every day. Certain components can cause increased gas production in dogs that are sensitive to them, even when the ingredients are treats.
Intestinal Obstruction:
Many noises in the stomach can be caused by a bowel obstruction. This is referred to as a foreign body in the veterinary community. Dogs occasionally consume things that are indigestible. When these objects become lodged in their intestines or stomachs, the body tries to widen the space in order to push the object forward, which can lead to an increase in gas. This is a very significant issue that needs to be fixed right away because it may lead to further audible problems.
Diarrhea:
Due to the faster passage of food and liquids through the digestive tract, diarrhea may result in an increase in stomach sounds. Dogs may make a lot of noises in their stomachs just before they have diarrhea.
Your Dog Has Swallowed A Foreign Object:
Some dogs swallow everything they get their hands on and leave lying around. It is therefore possible that he ingested something that is causing him stomach aches. Digestion obviously does not go as planned. Be careful that it is not chocolate or an object that could obstruct his digestive tract.
Gastrointestinal Disorders/Diseases:
As for you, after eating, your pet’s digestive tract starts working. These digestion-related noises that you hear and call “gurgling” are “borborygmi”. They are linked to the circulation of gases in the digestive tract.
Parasites And Bacterial Infections:
Dog stomach sounds can be caused by parasites and bacterial illnesses, among other things. They can colonize the digestive tract and limit the absorption of nutrients, as well as create gas on their own.
What To Do To Prevent Your Dog’s Stomach Noises?
Keep in mind that most stomach noises are normal and indicate that your dog’s intestines and stomach are functioning as they should. If your dog appears to be having normal bowel motions, energy levels, and hunger but his stomach noises seem excessive, you can attempt the following at home to calm him down:
Divide Meals Into Smaller Servings:
If your dog is already receiving the proper portions of food, resist the urge to simply add an afternoon or late evening snack since this might result in excessive weight gain and extra calories that he does not need.
Don’t Feed Your Dog Too Much:
When a dog is fed freely, he may become bored and overeat. Smaller, more frequent meals can minimize rumbling, but overfeeding can exacerbate stomach noise and hinder your dog’s ability to properly digest food. This explains why, following a large Christmas dinner, you might have noticed that your stomach rumbles more.
Give A Slow-Food Bowl:
A dog swallows more air when he eats too quickly. There is stomach rumbling and gas in the air. Plastic knobs or grooves on slow-feed bowls may catch kibble, requiring your dog to slow down and carefully remove each piece with his tongue.
Give Your Dog More Water:
Ensure that your dog has access to an ample supply of clean water. Water is necessary for regular bowel motions and helps the intestine’s transit system or peristalsis.
Take Your Dog For a Walk After Meal:
By accelerating the digestive process and shortening the amount of time food remains in the stomach, walking after a meal can actually aid digestion. Keep in mind that this is limited to walking. Running or other intense exercise should be avoided immediately after a meal since this can raise the risk of potentially harmful complications including bloating.
When Should You Call The Vet For Dog Stomach Noises?
Dog stomach noises are usually normal, but occasionally they may be a sign of a gastrointestinal issue. Call the vet if your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms in addition to gastrointestinal noises:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Lack of food or lack of appetite
- Diarrhea that is severe or persistent and lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours
If your pet exhibits unusual amounts of stomach sounds, keep a close eye out for any indications of discomfort or cowering. If the stomach sounds are accompanied by other symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian right away.
Conclusion:
Finally, some dogs regularly make loud intestinal noises. Dogs who feel fine but regularly make loud bowel sounds probably have nothing wrong with them. After all, some individuals are more gassy than others, and some intestines are naturally more active than others.
