Dog Stomach Gurgling: Causes, When Normal & When to Worry

By Sarah Bennett, Certified Animal Nutritionist

What Is That Gurgling Sound? Borborygmi Explained

The rumbling, gurgling, or bubbling sounds coming from your dog's belly have a medical name: borborygmi (singular: borborygmus). The word comes from Greek and onomatopoeically captures the sound itself. These noises are produced by gas and fluid moving through the gastrointestinal tract as muscular contractions — called peristalsis — push contents from the stomach through the small intestine and into the large intestine.

Borborygmi are a normal feature of healthy digestion. A functioning GI tract is constantly moving, and that movement makes noise. The sounds are usually low-pitched, intermittent, and barely audible unless you're listening closely or the room is very quiet. Most dog owners only notice them when the dog is lying quietly nearby.

The question is not whether your dog's stomach makes noise — it always does. The question is whether the volume, frequency, or character of the sounds has changed, and whether they are accompanied by other symptoms that change the picture.

Normal Causes of Stomach Gurgling

Hunger

The most common cause of loud borborygmi is a simple empty stomach. When the stomach has been empty for several hours, the migrating motor complex (MMC) — sometimes called the "housekeeping wave" — runs a series of strong muscular contractions designed to sweep residual contents through the GI tract and prepare for the next meal. These contractions produce the characteristic loud gurgling or rumbling sound familiar to most dog owners in the hour before feeding time. It's the canine equivalent of a stomach growl. This is completely normal and resolves with feeding.

Normal Digestion

A meal rich in fermentable fiber — vegetables, legumes, certain grains — produces more intestinal gas during bacterial fermentation in the large intestine. This is normal microbial activity and the resulting sounds, while sometimes loud and prolonged, are not a cause for concern unless accompanied by other symptoms. Similarly, eating too quickly can introduce air (aerophagia) that passes through the GI tract with accompanying sounds.

Dietary Change

When a dog's diet is changed abruptly, the gut microbiome takes 1–2 weeks to adjust to the new substrate. During this transition, fermentation patterns shift, gas production increases, and borborygmi become louder and more frequent. This is expected and typically self-resolving. To minimize GI upset, transition between foods gradually over 7–10 days — mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old.

Swallowed Air

Dogs that eat very fast, drink water rapidly, or engage in vigorous exercise after eating may swallow significant amounts of air. This ingested air travels through the GI tract producing noise. Using a slow-feeder bowl reduces this significantly.

Concerning Causes of Stomach Gurgling

When gurgling is unusually loud, persistent, or accompanied by behavioral changes or other symptoms, the underlying cause may require veterinary attention.

Gastrointestinal Infection

Bacterial (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium), viral (parvovirus, coronavirus), or protozoal (Giardia, Tritrichomonas) infections cause inflammation of the intestinal lining, altered motility, excess fluid secretion, and gas production. Borborygmi become louder, more frequent, and are typically accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and sometimes fever. Most healthy adult dogs recover from mild infectious gastroenteritis within 24–48 hours with supportive care, but puppies, seniors, or immunocompromised dogs deteriorate faster and need prompt veterinary attention.

Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and Giardia can all cause GI inflammation and altered motility producing increased borborygmi alongside diarrhea, weight loss, and poor coat condition. Regular fecal testing and appropriate parasite prevention are essential — do not assume a dog is parasite-free just because deworming medication was given; resistance and reinfection are common.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Chronic IBD causes persistent inflammation of the GI tract lining, disrupting normal motility and absorption. Dogs with IBD frequently have chronic gurgling, intermittent vomiting, soft or poorly formed stools, weight loss, and increased or decreased appetite. IBD requires veterinary diagnosis (often including intestinal biopsy) and medical management — it is not something that resolves on its own.

Foreign Body Ingestion

Dogs that swallow toys, bones, clothing, socks, or other objects may develop partial or complete intestinal obstruction. A partial obstruction can cause increased borborygmi, as gas and fluid accumulate behind the blockage. A complete obstruction is rapidly life-threatening. Signs include vomiting (especially repetitive), reduced appetite, abdominal pain, and progressive lethargy. If you know or suspect your dog has swallowed a foreign object and is showing GI symptoms, see a veterinarian promptly.

Dietary Indiscretion

Dogs that raid garbage bins, eat decomposing food, or ingest unusual items develop a reactive gastroenteritis commonly called "garbage gut." This typically causes loud borborygmi, profuse diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy beginning 4–12 hours after ingestion. Most healthy adult dogs recover within 24–48 hours, but severe cases can cause dehydration requiring fluid therapy, and ingested toxins (xylitol, grapes, macadamia nuts, chocolate, onions) require immediate treatment regardless of GI symptoms.

Early GDV (Bloat) Warning

This is the most critical concern with stomach gurgling in large and giant breeds. In the early stages of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), gas accumulation in the stomach may produce unusual sounds before the abdomen becomes visibly distended. If your large or deep-chested dog is producing loud, abnormal stomach sounds combined with restlessness, repeated lip-licking, or any attempt to retch — treat this as a potential GDV emergency and seek veterinary evaluation immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms develop further.

When to Go to the Vet

Use this guide to determine the urgency of your response:

• Go to an emergency vet IMMEDIATELY (do not wait): Gurgling or distension + unproductive retching in any large or deep-chested dog. Distended, hard, or drum-like abdomen. Weakness, pale gums, or collapse. Signs of severe pain (hunching, crying, inability to lie still).
• Call your vet the same day: Gurgling + vomiting that has occurred more than twice. Gurgling + diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours. Gurgling + lethargy or reduced appetite lasting more than 12 hours. Gurgling + known or suspected foreign body ingestion. Gurgling + blood in vomit or stool.
• Monitor at home (probably normal): Isolated gurgling with no other symptoms, especially near mealtimes. Gurgling after a dietary change, with normal stools and normal behavior. One episode of soft stool with otherwise normal energy and appetite.

Supporting a Healthy GI Tract

For dogs with recurrent or loud borborygmi from benign causes, several dietary measures support GI health: feeding two or more measured meals daily rather than one large meal; using a slow-feeder bowl to reduce air swallowing; transitioning foods gradually over 7–10 days; ensuring consistent hydration (wet food, water bowls, fountains); and considering a high-quality probiotic formulated for dogs to support microbiome stability. Always discuss any supplement with your veterinarian before starting.

References

Washabau RJ & Day MJ. (2012). Canine and Feline Gastroenterology: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. PubMed

Jergens AE. (2012). Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease: what we know and what remains to be unraveled. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. PubMed