Oh, no! Why is my dog’s stomach making weird noises? Is he hungry again? I just fed him!
Hey there, pawtner! I see you’re having trouble with your dog. He’s being too loud, huh?
Well, he’s definitely not loud because he wants to be. Stomach rumbling and noises are quite normal… at least in most situations.
What are the situations in which the rumbling is a sign something going on with your dog? Is there a volume or a turn-off button for this canine complexity?
These are all the questions that will be answered down below.
Hurry up and read them before you hear the “ouches” and “oohs” from your dog’s tummy!
So, Why Is My Dog’s Stomach Making Weird Noises?
Before we go into details about reasons why a dog’s tummy is making so much noise, I want to ease your thoughts. All the noise and rumbling isn’t as dangerous as you might think. In most cases, it’s a common, normal occurrence that shouldn’t worry you.
Usually, tummy noises happen when a dog is hungry. However, you can hear them even when a dog is full. Why is that so?
To understand this, you must know what happens inside a dog’s digestive tract. Dogs have digestive tracts consisting of a small and large intestine, and the stomach. This is where the food is being digested and pushed through to reach the end of the digestion process.
What you hear coming from your dog’s stomach are smooth intestine muscles making peristalsis or movements. They push food and water through the tracts. When there’s no food, only water inside a dog’s digestive system, those movements will cause noise.
Think of this noise as what water makes when going through pipes.
He Ate Something Bad
In a lot of situations, you will hear your dog’s stomach rumbling when he eats something that doesn’t suit him. Usually, those are table scraps or human food like spicy food. Those are a big ‘no’.
But, don’t think that certain human food is the only thing causing these issues. The same rumbling and noise can happen if a dog eats trash, roadkill, or even his own feces. Clearly he should not be doing that.
Now, after lots of tummy aches, your dog will realize that half of your kid’s sandwich found under the bed, and the mouse he stole from the cat, weren’t a proper meal.
Gas
In the first few weeks of their life, human babies experience gassiness and bloated tummies. So, do dog babies experience the same? Umm, that’s not the gas we’re talking about here.
Colics are normal for young puppies, but it’s the gassiness in their adult stage that causes the problem. Before you ask your vet, why is my dog’s stomach making weird noises, check whether your dog is experiencing symptoms that might indicate he’s suffering from gas.
Normally, gas is a product of bacteria which try to actively digest food that doesn’t quite seem appropriate for your dog. Sometimes, it’s just too many carbohydrates in the diet that causes gassiness.
However, dogs that are too greedy about food, and eat like there’s no tomorrow, swallow too much air. That swallowed air also causes gassiness. However, it can cause another, bigger problem, which is BLOAT – a condition in which a dog’s tummy fills up with air and twists.
Food sensitivities are one of the biggest reasons for the tummy rumbling because of gas. I recommend you watch what you serve your pup, and make sure you limit his daily dairy intake because those products cause strong gasses, too.
Diarrhea Issues
Stomach noises caused by diarrhea are quite common. This could also be the answer as to why your dog is having diarrhea, but he’s also acting fine. Diarrhea shouldn’t worry you unless it continues for more than 24 hours, and your dog shows other symptoms like lack of energy.
What you hear coming from your dog’s stomach when he has diarrhea is water moving super fast – faster than usual through his intestines.
When you hear that noise, better rush your dog outside. That’s the sign your pup will have a massive blowout. So, unless you like cleaning diarrhea from the carpet, ignore it.
Parasites
Parasites and bacteria go hand in hand together. They’re all pesky creatures you can’t shake off easily. Unfortunately, once a dog catches a parasite like ringworms, his gastrointestinal tract won’t be the only thing to suffer.
Parasites and bacterias like salmonella or e.coli can affect other aspects of your dog’s body and spread infection that could be fatal if not treated.
So, if your dog seems fine, he’s not hungry, gassy, or has diarrhea, you can suspect something’s going on inside of him because parasites and bacteria produce lots and lots of gas as they spread and mess with food absorption.
And, they won’t stop until they take over everything!
Next time your dog does #2, make sure you give it a look just to see if there are any changes or maybe white specks that are moving!
He Swallowed Something
Dogs are curious creatures. It’s not unusual for them to swallow lots of things that aren’t meant to be swallowed. I’ve seen so many swallowed coins, ball pieces, toys, hair ties, etc. that it’s unbelievable!
But, bowel obstruction isn’t normal. Your dog shouldn’t be swallowing items around the house. Not only will it cause the stomach to produce more noise, but it can be fatal for your dog.
Your beloved pup might choke on a pair of socks or on a small ball your kid left around.
As the dog’s digestive system tries to digest the swallowed item, the intestines will produce lots of gas. That’s the noise you hear, and yes… it is a loud one.
I recommend you don’t try inducing vomiting at home. You can only make things become worse. What you should do is take your dog to the vet for an X-ray and a solution.
If it’s something small, the object will pass through, and the stomach noise will stop in a day or two. But, if it’s something bigger, then an operation might be needed.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Certain dog breeds are more prone to gastrointestinal problems. For example, Golden Retrievers are one of them. Also, you shouldn’t be surprised with your German Shepherd having diarrhea because they’re also quite susceptible to GI issues!
Gastrointestinal problems aren’t harmless at all. They are severe health diagnoses like IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (or EPI) is common, too.
None of the mentioned conditions should be treated at home. These conditions bring along other symptoms like diarrhea, noise coming from your dog’s tummy, gassiness, lack of ability to digest normal dog food, etc.
The only treatment for GI problems include special medications from your vet.
When Should I Call The Vet?
Now that I know why my dog’s stomach is making weird noises, when should I go to the vet?
Your vet should be informed about your dog’s condition if it keeps on repeating for more than a couple of days in a row. Well, continuous rumbling that goes on for hours isn’t good either.
Trust me… you’ll know exactly when the time is to call the vet. Your dog will lose interest in food and water. This isn’t simply a matter of him preferring treats over dog food. Soon enough, lethargy will kick in, and you’ll have a dog laying in the corner doing… nothing all day!
If the noise continues, followed by diarrhea for more than two days, as well as vomiting or just dry heaving, you should immediately call the vet’s office and ask for a checkup.
How Can I Help My Dog?
You can do a few things to help your dog tone down the noise, but it depends on what causes the noise in the first place.
In most cases, the noise will be a result of an unsuitable diet or fast eating. In such cases, you should introduce your dog to a slow feeder, and divide his meals into small, more frequent portions.
This way, your dog won’t be able to fill up with air or food in a short period of time. Thus, he won’t experience gassiness or any GI problems.
I recommend you take your dog for light strolls after meals. It’s proven that mild physical activity helps with proper digestion.
Final Words
Okay, PupVine… I won’t ask why is my dog’s stomach making weird noises. Now, I know everything!
Well, you certainly don’t know everything, but after this article, you definitely know a lot about a dog’s digestion, and all those weird noises coming from its tummy.
Sometimes, it’s hunger… sometimes, it’s gas. GI issues are rarely there. Be it as it is, better be prepared for all kinds of scenarios.