Why is my dog's stomach making loud gurgling noises?

Loud stomach gurgling (borborygmi) in dogs is often normal but can signal gas, diet issues, or digestive illness. Learn causes, home care, and red flags.

Why your dog's stomach makes gurgling noises (borborygmi)

Stomach and intestinal gurgling — called borborygmi — are the sounds produced by normal movement of gas and fluids through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In many cases a few loud rumbles are harmless: they can mean your dog is hungry, has swallowed extra air, or has gas from a recent meal. But sometimes loud or persistent gurgling accompanies illness and needs veterinary evaluation.

This guide explains normal digestion sounds versus concerning signs, the most likely causes of loud gurgling, associated symptoms to watch, home-care steps you can safely try, and when gurgling paired with other signs requires urgent or emergency veterinary care.

(Primary references: Merck Veterinary Manual; American Veterinary Medical Association.)

When to See a Vet Immediately

Seek immediate veterinary attention (go to an emergency clinic) if your dog has any of the following with gurgling:

• Rapidly increasing, painful, or distended (bloated) abdomen
• Unproductive retching/attempts to vomit (especially in deep-chested breeds — concern for gastric dilatation-volvulus/GDV)
• Pale or very tacky gums, collapse, extreme weakness, or sudden collapse
• Continuous, severe vomiting or diarrhea with blood
• Known or suspected ingestion of a toxic substance or large foreign object

Normal digestion sounds vs concerning noises

• Normal: intermittent gurgles or rumbling, especially before meals, or after exercise. Your dog is bright, eating normally, passing stool, and has no pain.
• Concerning: very loud or continuous gurgling accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, fever, lethargy, pale gums, or changes in breathing/heart rate.

Differential diagnosis — causes of loud gurgling (ranked by likelihood)

This ranking emphasizes common causes first; rarer or life‑threatening diagnoses often present with additional red flags.

Associated symptoms to watch closely

Monitor your dog for these signs — their presence changes the level of concern and recommended action:

• Appetite changes: refuses food or drinks less
• Vomiting: frequency, content (bile, food, blood)
• Diarrhea: loose stool, presence of blood or mucus
• Abdominal pain: whining, tucking up the abdomen, reluctance to be touched
• Bloating/distended abdomen
• Lethargy or weakness
• Dehydration: dry gums, skin tenting
• Fever or shivering
• Pale gums, rapid heart or breathing rate
• Collapse or fainting

Home care steps you can safely try (when symptoms are mild)

Important: do not attempt to diagnose or treat serious conditions at home. If you are unsure, call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic.

If your dog is bright, eating, drinking and has only increased gurgling with no other signs, try these steps:

If symptoms worsen or do not improve within 24 hours, contact your veterinarian for a directed exam and diagnostics.

How veterinarians evaluate noisy stomachs

A vet will take a history and perform a physical exam (listen to gut sounds, palpate the abdomen). Diagnostics may include:

• Bloodwork (CBC, chemistry) to assess dehydration and organ function
• Abdominal radiographs (X‑rays) to look for obstructions, bloat, foreign bodies
• Abdominal ultrasound for more detail
• Fecal testing for parasites or bacterial overgrowth
• Pancreatitis tests (PLI) if suspected
• Parvovirus testing in unvaccinated puppies

Red Flags - Seek Emergency Care

Go to an emergency clinic or call your vet immediately if your dog has any of the following with gurgling:

• Distended or rapidly enlarging abdomen, especially if painful
• Repeated attempts to vomit with little or nothing produced (retching)
• Severe continuous vomiting or projectile vomiting
• Very pale gums, collapse, extreme weakness
• Blood in vomit or stool, or black tarry stool
• Signs of severe dehydration or shock (very weak, high heart rate, cool extremities)
• Suspected ingestion of a known toxin (call ASPCA Animal Poison Control if needed)

Prevention tips

• Feed consistent, high-quality diets and transition gradually over 7–10 days when changing food.
• Prevent access to garbage, raw food scraps, and toxic substances.
• Use puzzle feeders or slow‑feed bowls if your dog eats too fast (reduces gulping and air swallowing).
• Maintain parasite prevention and regular vaccinations.
• Avoid sudden high‑fat meals or table scraps that can trigger pancreatitis.

Key Takeaways

• Occasional loud stomach gurgling (borborygmi) is often normal — especially around meal times — if your dog is bright, eating, and otherwise well.
• Most common causes: hunger, swallowed air, dietary changes, or mild gastroenteritis. Keep an eye on appetite, stool, and behavior.
• Try cautious home care for mild cases (brief fasting in adults, small water sips, bland diet reintroduction) but never try to treat severe signs at home.
• Seek urgent veterinary care for persistent vomiting/diarrhea, dehydration, or moderate pain; go to emergency care immediately for distended abdomen, collapse, unproductive retching, suspected toxins, or severe bleeding.
• When in doubt, call your veterinarian — it’s better to have a professional triage the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions