Dog Stomach Gurgling: What Is It and What Does It Sound Like?
A dog’s stomach gurgling and growling noises (called borborygmi in medical terminology) sound much like the ones we humans occasionally generate. “There can be both high- and low-pitched sounds and if you feel the abdomen, you can sometimes feel intestinal contractions and movement associated with the sounds,” says Dr. Kristopher Sharpe, a board-certified veterinary internist with BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dog stomach gurgling is a normal, physiological process, says Dr. Julie Sanders, director of operations at Heart + Paw, based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. It’s essentially the sound of gas moving through the digestive tract. “As gas moves through the bowel through normal peristalsis (the term for normal front to back motion of the gut), that movement creates some gurgling noise, which is normal. It is always present to a small degree,” Sanders explains.
Most of the time, dog stomach rumbling is relatively quiet, so we’re less likely to notice it, Sanders says. “What should not happen is very loud, very frequent stomach noise. In excess, this may be a sign of a problem or illness.”
If you’re unable to tell the difference between a benign sound and one that can indicate an underlying health problem, speak with your veterinarian.
Borborygmi occurs for many of the same reasons it does in humans – and it’s largely tied to excessive gas. Underlying conditions can change the amount of gas produced or the speed in which food moves through the gastrointestinal system, which causes an increase in dog belly rumbling, says Sanders.
“Think of it this way. If you have a partially full water bottle and tip it over so the water starts to pour out, gas bubbles occasionally move through the liquid creating gurgling or bubbling sounds,” she says. “If you change the angle of the bottle, the size and frequency of the bubbles change, so does the sound. It’s very similar in the gut. More gas production creates a change in sound.”
Most often, these changes are associated with hunger and digestion. Increased gurgling shortly after a meal usually means the intestinal muscles are relaxing and constricting, as they propel food through the digestive system, veterinarians say.
An empty dog belly means there’s nothing left in the digestive tract except for gas, which can set off dog stomach gurgling. It’s why you might notice increased dog stomach gurgling at night, early in the morning, or between meals. Additionally, dogs who eat too quickly can swallow too much air, which produces a large amount of intestinal gas, and in turn prompts gurgling.
If the dog’s stomach is gurgling very loudly or it happens more than occasionally, it may be a sign that something is amiss. “Frequent loud noise can be a sign of anything that could upset the gut, both systemic disease and localized gastrointestinal issues,” Sanders says.
Some causes of serious dog stomach gurgling include
Intestinal parasites. These include parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms; as well as “bad bacteria” like campylobacter, clostridia, and salmonella that can cause bacterial infections. When parasites or bacteria overpopulate the gut, they block nutrients and can produce their own gas, veterinarians say.
Gastroenteritis. It’s a broad term encompassing diseases that affect the stomach and/or the small intestines in dogs. Diarrhea and vomiting are common symptoms, but may also include others like loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, and inactivity.
Intestinal blockage. Eating something inappropriate, like toys, food wrappers, and large bones can block the passage of food, causing an increase in gas.
Endocrine disorders. Disorders such as hypoadrenocorticism (AKA Addison’s Disease) and thyroid disease. The thyroid helps regulate many processes in the body, including digestion. A sluggish thyroid, for example, can cause food to move more slowly through the digestive tract, giving it more time to accumulate gas.
Food allergies and dietary intolerance. Though food allergies in pets are relatively uncommon, the most commonly-reported sources in dogs are beef, chicken, egg, and dairy products.
Inflammatory bowel disease. It occurs when the dog’s digestive tract becomes chronically inflamed. Veterinarians believe it may be caused by things like changes in diet, infections, stress, and genetics.
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Gurgle, gurgle. Rumble, rumble. Youve surely heard the sound coming from your pup before. Turns out, theres a word for that talking tummy: Borborygmus (pronounced bore-bore-IG-mus), or borborygmi, is a fancy word for stomach noises. This rumbling noise is created as gas moves through the intestines. While these can often be normal stomach sounds, its important to understand why your dogs stomach makes this loud noise and when it may indicate a problem. If youre wondering, “Why is my dogs stomach making noises?” and “What should I do if my dogs stomach is gurgling?” youve come to the right place.
First, is dog stomach gurgling normal?
Dog stomach gurgling is known officially as borborygmus (pronounced bor-bor-rig-mus). As Nicole LaForest, LVT, explains, “Borborygmus is a gurgling or rumbling noise that occurs when fluid or gas passes throughout the intestines.
Gas is supposed to travel through different parts of the intestines (that’s how it gets out, after all!). But when borborygmi is exceptionally loud or obvious, it might indicate discomfort.
“It is one of those symptoms that can mean anything from trapped wind — totally harmless — to a twisted stomach (GDV) — totally deadly,” says Dr. Dave Nicol, BVMS Cert MGMT of Roundwood Vets. “But usually it is a sign that something has upset the stomach and is leading to more gas being produced or the intestines moving food along more quickly to get it out as fast as possible.”
WHY is your DOG’S STOMACH making NOISES? Urgent
Have you ever thought your dog was growling only to realize the sound wasn’t coming from your dog’s mouth but from his stomach instead? If you have ever mistaken dog stomach gurgling for a regular pupper growl, you’re not alone.
While dog stomach growling isn’t uncommon, you shouldn’t ignore it. Like most symptoms (or weird noises for that matter), dog stomach gurgling can be completely normal — or it can indicate a real medical issue.