Have you ever heard your dog’s stomach gurgle? This bodily sound is often not cause for alarm as your pet may get the occasional upset stomach. But sometimes this rumbling can be a sign of a larger health issue. Here’s an overview of the potential causes of dog stomach gurgling and when you should be concerned by this funny noise.
The causes
A dog’s stomach gurgling is usually completely normal. These are often sounds associated with digestion, the process of breaking food down. For instance, your dog’s stomach may make a gurgling noise, commonly referred to as borborygmi when gas moves around in its intestines.
Just as your stomach gurgles when you are hungry, the same can be true for your pet. It’s also possible that your pet’s body emits this sound as a result of specific eating habits. For instance, your dog may ingest excess air if it eats too quickly, and this air may cause its stomach to gurgle. If you think this might be the case for your dog, encourage your dog to eat slowly and try smaller, more frequent meal and/ or raised feeding bowls.
If you are at work all day, consider hiring a dog sitter to come in and feed your pet a little bit of food once or twice in the afternoon. While many types of stomach gurgling are perfectly normal, loud intestinal sounds may be a cause for concern because they can be a sign of a more serious gastrointestinal issue. Your dog’s stomach makes these types of loud noises because it has eaten something inappropriate or perhaps simply because you have changed its diet in some way. If the loud stomach noises are accompanied by listlessness, constipation, diarrhea or vomiting, withhold food and water and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Once there, your vet will examine your dog and likely take x-rays. If the x-ray show that your pet has ingested a foreign object, surgery may be needed to prevent intestinal blockage and remove the item.
Signs of serious issues
Keep an eye out for any additional signs that may indicate that your pet has a gastro-intestinal disorder. For instance, it may be time to make an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog’s loud stomach gurgling is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, a change in appetite, excessive salivation, excessive gas or dehydration.
Change in diet
Because many gastrointestinal disorders can irritate your dog’s stomach and intestines, it’s important that you provide your pet with an easily digestible diet that is packed with the nutrients it needs to recover. High quality, commercially prepared dog food should contain a balanced amount of nutrients to proper digestion.
However, if your dog suffers from recurrent stomach issues, discuss your specific food choice with your veterinarian to see if another – perhaps blander – diet may be better suited for your pet.
Home remedies
If your dog has a mild upset stomach, perhaps from eating one too many treats, there are a few things you can do at home. Provide your pet with plenty of water. This is an especially important step if your furry friend is vomiting or suffering from diarrhea because these symptoms may cause dehydration. You may also want to encourage your dog to eat a small amount of grass, because this is a natural way to cleanse its stomach.
However, this particular solution is not all ways effective, and ingesting too much grass can lead to further health problems. As mentioned above, you can also help to soothe your dog’s upset stomach by introducing a vet –recommended diet. For instance, you may want to feed your pet rice, boiled chicken or banana baby food. Just be sure to remove the bones from the chicken.
