Gurgling sounds or stomach noises are pretty common in dogs and humans as well.
But does this phenomena be a cause of concern for dog owners?
Are these sounds just normal?
Could they indicate something wrong?
These stomach sounds are called Borborygmi. Borborygmi is produced as a result of the motility or movement of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract.
When the gastrointestinal tract moves food or water from one part to another, say from the small intestines to the large intestines, gas moves with it and causes these sounds.
Normal borborygmi are not that loud, sometimes you can only hear them if you place your ears in your dog’s abdomen.
However, some dogs produce abnormally loud stomach noises at times, sometimes can be heard even from across the room. These episodes are not actually normal but they don’t always mean serious complications developing.
Causes
Hunger.
The most common cause of this stomach noises is hunger. Hungry dogs have no food to digest in their stomach making the quantities of gas inside higher than normal.
The movement of this large amount of gas is the one responsible for these abnormally loud noises.
Ingesting something strange.
Gastrointestinal upset can also cause these loud stomach noises to occur. GI upset happens when your dog goes astray in the bins and eat something they shouldn’t.
This can also indicate that episodes of diarrhea or vomiting are looming.
Other causes.
Intestinal parasites, adverse reaction to food or medications, and inflammatory bowel disease can also be the cause for abnormally loud borborygmi.
More severe causes include toxicities, glandular disease, liver and kidney problems or even intestinal cancer.
Painful or not?
Stomach noises due to hunger are not actually painful. However, the cramps that are associated with cases of abnormal stomach noises are the ones that are painful. These painful borborygmi often come with poor appetite and lethargy.
Should I be worried?
As mentioned, stomach noises whether normal or abnormally loud can be caused by something. It usually depends on the situation.
If your dog makes the sound in the morning or near lunchtime, it may indicate that they are already hungry. If the loud borborygmi go away after that, then there is no cause for any concern.
However, if the stomach noises come with other symptoms like poor appetite, exhaustion, or swelling. Then you should be vigilant and bring them to the vet.
Seeing a veterinarian is always the safest thing to do if unsure about the situation, especially when it concerns your dog’s health.
In conclusion, stomach noises or borborygmi are normal phenomena. Some dogs, however, tend to have louder ones, sometimes even on a regular basis. Some dogs have more gas inside than others after all.
These sounds can be caused by numerous causes, usually just hunger, but sometimes can indicate an underlying problem.
Owners should look for other signs and symptoms and consult your veterinarian if deemed important. This way, you could anticipate and prevent a more serious complication from starting or from further worsening.
