Everyday Digestion

Why Does My Dog's Stomach Gurgle?

Gurgling and rumbling sounds can be a normal part of digestion, but changes in frequency or intensity can sometimes reflect movement of gas and fluid through the gut, feeding patterns or recent changes in diet and routine.

Introduction

Most dog owners have heard their dog's stomach or intestines make noises from time to time.

These sounds are often described as gurgling, rumbling or bubbling.

In many cases, they are simply the sound of gas and fluid moving through the gastrointestinal tract as part of normal digestion.

Some dogs are naturally noisier than others.

What matters most is whether the sounds are new, unusually frequent, much louder than normal or accompanied by other changes in appetite, comfort, stools or behaviour.

Understanding the issue

What is happening?

The digestive tract is constantly moving.

Muscular contractions help mix food with digestive secretions and move material through the stomach and intestines.

At the same time, gas and liquid are present within the gastrointestinal tract.

As these move together, they can create audible sounds.

These noises are sometimes more noticeable when the stomach is relatively empty, after a meal or when there is more gas or fluid moving through the intestines.

Microbial fermentation further along the gut can also contribute gas.

This means the sounds you hear can reflect several normal digestive processes happening at the same time.

Common factors

What can influence it?

Several everyday factors can make digestive sounds more noticeable.

An empty stomach

Some dogs seem noisier when there has been a longer gap between meals.

Eating quickly

Rapid eating can increase the amount of air swallowed.

A recent meal

Normal digestive activity may become more noticeable after eating.

Dietary changes

A new food, treat or chew can alter both digestion and the material reaching the lower gut.

Scavenging

Eating something unexpected can sometimes coincide with more noticeable digestive activity.

Gas production

Microbial fermentation naturally produces gases, and changes in available substrate can influence how much gas is present.

Changes in routine

Travel, excitement or altered feeding times may also coincide with changes in digestion.

A noisy gut on its own does not necessarily mean something is wrong.

What you may notice

What can you observe?

If your dog's gut seems particularly noisy, look at the wider picture.

When does it happen?

Is it mainly before breakfast, after meals or at a particular time of day?

Is your dog eating normally?

A normal appetite is useful context.

What are the stools like?

Notice whether stool consistency or frequency has changed.

Is there more gas than usual?

Gurgling and flatulence may sometimes occur together.

Has anything in the diet changed?

Think about meals, treats, chews and anything your dog may have scavenged.

Does your dog seem comfortable?

Normal energy and behaviour are reassuring. Restlessness, repeated stretching or obvious discomfort deserve more attention.

Is it a one-off or a pattern?

Occasional digestive noise is different from a new pattern that keeps returning.

Everyday considerations

If your dog is otherwise bright, comfortable and eating normally, occasional digestive noises can simply be observed.

It can help to keep feeding times reasonably consistent.

If long gaps between meals seem to coincide with particularly noisy periods, some owners find that dividing the same daily food allowance into smaller meals creates a more even feeding pattern.

If your dog eats very quickly, slowing meals down may also reduce swallowed air.

Keep an eye on treats, chews and scavenged food as well as the main diet.

As with other digestive changes, try not to alter several things at once. A consistent routine makes patterns easier to recognise.

For more on wind and digestion, read why some dogs are especially gassy.

If the noises began after a diet change, our guide to changing your dog's food explains what can happen in the gut.

When to speak to your vet

Digestive sounds on their own are often not a cause for concern.

Speak to your vet if unusually loud or persistent gut noises are accompanied by:

repeated vomiting
persistent loose stools
refusal to eat
marked lethargy
obvious abdominal discomfort
a swollen or distended abdomen
repeated attempts to vomit without producing anything
unexplained weight loss
a significant change in your dog's normal behaviour
recurring episodes that concern you

Sudden abdominal swelling, distress or repeated unsuccessful attempts to vomit can require urgent veterinary attention.

If you are unsure, contact your veterinary practice for advice.

Where CaniNectar fits

CaniNectar is a complementary feed designed for use as part of the normal diet of healthy dogs.

It contains enzyme-rich malt extract — ERME — produced using a patented process designed to preserve naturally occurring digestive enzyme activity.

The nutritional rationale behind CaniNectar begins with digestion.

What happens earlier in the digestive process helps determine what is absorbed and what continues further along the gastrointestinal tract, where it contributes to the nutritional environment encountered by the microbiome.

CaniNectar should not be viewed as a treatment for abdominal noises, discomfort or gastrointestinal disease.

Persistent or concerning digestive changes should be discussed with your vet.

References

Further reading:

Hall EJ, Simpson JW, Williams DA. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Case LP, Daristotle L, Hayek MG, Raasch MF. Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals. Mosby Elsevier.

Pilla R, Suchodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2020;6:498.

Wernimont SM, Radosevich J, Jackson MI, et al. The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2020;11:1266.

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