Why Is My Dog’s Stomach Making Noises? When to Worry (and When Not To)

You’re sitting with your dog when you suddenly hear their stomach gurgle loudly. Is it gas? Hunger? Something serious? The sounds that your dog’s guts make are called borborygmi (bor-bo-rig-mee), and they’re due to gas and fluid moving around during digestion. All dogs experience borborygmi, so it’s often normal and nothing to worry about, but a dog's stomach gurgling more than normal, or a change in the pattern of the sounds, could be a sign of a stomach upset or another health condition. In this article, we’ll share what’s normal and what’s not, how you can help, and when to see a vet.

Dog’s Stomach Making Noises? Fast Facts

• Normal digestion can be noisy, as fluid and gas move around the stomach and intestine, but a change in the pattern of borborygmi could indicate a problem.
• Common causes of dog stomach rumbling or gurgling include hunger, diet changes, gas, or eating too fast.
• If you notice vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, or your dog seems unwell, there could be something more going on.

What’s That Sound? Understanding Borborygmi

What Is Borborygmi?

Borborygmi is the noise made by the digestive process, when fluid and gas move around, causing rumbling or gurgling. All dogs experience these stomach noises, just like humans get gurgly guts sometimes during or after eating, or when they’re hungry.

Normal vs. Abnormal Sounds

Normal: Occasional gurgles or rumbles before, during, or after eating.

Abnormal: louder, more frequent, or continuous rumbling paired with other symptoms like restlessness, gas, bloating, drooling, reduced appetite, diarrhea, or vomiting.

If your dog is acting well and eating, drinking, and passing feces normally, it’s unlikely that their borborygmi is anything to be concerned about – it’s probably just normal digestion.

Common (and Harmless) Causes of Stomach Noises

1. Hunger

It’s not just humans whose stomachs rumble when they’re hungry – dogs’ stomachs can too! This is because when their stomach is empty, the digestive enzymes and secretions in their gut move around more. It’s common to notice sounds like this just before mealtimes, as the stomach produces more digestive fluids in anticipation. Splitting your dog’s food into smaller, more frequent meals might help.

2. Normal Digestion

When your dog eats, the food enters their stomach and digestion begins. Over the next few hours, the food is broken down and moves through the intestines. This can be a noisy process, particularly if your dog has had a larger meal than normal or has a diet high in protein or grains, which take more time to digest.

3. Gas or Dietary Changes

Gas is another common cause of stomach noises. Extra intestinal gas can form as a result of a change in diet, particularly if it’s high in fat or your dog has a sensitivity. To avoid this, always transition your dog to a new food very gradually, over 7 to 10 days.

4. Eating Too Fast (Aerophagia)

Sometimes the gas isn’t formed in the gut, but swallowed during eating. This is common in dogs who eat too quickly, either because they’re fed with another dog/pet who might eat their food, or because they’re very hungry. Using a slow feeder or puzzle feeder can help to slow down their eating, avoiding them swallowing air.

5. Mild Indigestion

Your dog might develop mild indigestion or an upset stomach as a response to a new food, scavenging, or eating grass. If they have no other symptoms and seem well, the gurgling should improve over 12-24 hours.

When to Worry: Signs It’s More Than Just a Noisy Stomach

If your dog’s stomach noises come with any of these, call your vet:

• Vomiting or unproductive retching
• Diarrhea or black/tarry stools
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy or restlessness
• Bloated or painful abdomen
• Drooling
• Vocalizing
• No stools passed within 24-36 hours

If your dog has a bloated, firm belly, and they’re restless or trying to vomit with nothing produced, they could have a condition called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), a bloated and twisted stomach. This is a veterinary emergency, and they should be examined urgently.

Possible Medical Causes of Loud Stomach Noises

1. Gastroenteritis

This can be caused by infections, parasites, changes in diet, scavenging, or certain medications. It commonly causes vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite, but may also cause a fever or blood in the stools. Mild cases resolve with supportive care and a bland diet, but more severe cases may require hospitalization.

2. Food Intolerance or Sensitivity

If your dog has a food sensitivity, you might notice their stomach gurgling or they’re gassy after eating certain ingredients. Avoiding these ingredients should help to control the symptoms.

3. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a chronic condition affecting the gut. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and reduced appetite, and symptoms tend to wax and wane. If your vet suspects IBD, they will need to perform some tests, which may include taking gut biopsies. Thankfully, long-term treatment and dietary management can help to get the symptoms under control.

4. Parasites

Intestinal parasites, like worms, can cause gas, bloating, and increased stomach noises. Your vet can check a fecal sample for evidence of worm eggs, and regular deworming will prevent further problems.

5. Serious GI Conditions

Stomach noises combined with a bloated abdomen, vomiting, or unproductive retching could indicate conditions like gastric dilatation and volvulus, or another type of gut obstruction. These are medical emergencies, so it’s essential to visit the vet for an urgent appointment.

How Vets Diagnose the Cause of Loud Stomach Noises

History

The vet will ask about your dog’s food and feeding regimen, and when the symptoms started.

Physical Exam

The vet will feel for abdominal pain, bloating, or palpable abnormalities.

Auscultation

A stethoscope isn’t only for listening to the heart; it can also be helpful to hear the gut sounds.

Fecal Exam

The stools can be checked for parasites, blood, and bacteria.

Blood Tests and X-rays

These assess organ function and show blockages or gas buildup in the stomach or intestines.

How to Help at Home (Mild Cases Only)

If your dog is otherwise well and has no vomiting or distress, try:

• Feeding smaller, more frequent meals.
• Avoiding tidbits, table scraps, or sudden diet changes.
• Stick to a regular feeding routine.
• Speak to your vet about probiotics and dietary supplements.
• Encourage slow eating with a puzzle feeder or slow-feeder.

Not all human medications are safe to give to your dog. Never give them human antacids or other human supplements without checking with your vet first.

Preventing Stomach Noises (and Upset)

• Always change your dog’s food gradually over 7-10 days.
• Feed your dog consistently and keep their diet stable.
• Keep garbage and table scraps out of reach.
• Use a slow or puzzle-feeder for fast eaters.
• Keep up with regular parasite prevention.

FAQs

Summary

Just like a human’s, a dog’s stomach rumbles sometimes. This is known as borborygmi, and is very normal if a dog is hungry or has just eaten. However, if the pattern or volume of your dog’s stomach noise changes, or if they’re acting painful or unwell, they should see a vet.

Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS

Hannah graduated in 2011 and works as a small animal vet in Cardiff, UK. She loves meeting people and their special pets and has a particular interest in diagnostic imaging, soft tissue surgery, and dentistry.

Feature image: istockphoto