This article was updated on June 12th, 2024
There are various reasons for stomach gurgling in dogs, and many of them are no cause for concern. However, if your dog is also NOT eating, it often means there’s something upsetting their digestion.
In this article, we will review the most likely causes of your dog’s digestion issues. While some of these issues might be temporary and resolve on their own, there’s also a chance that your dog’s problems are due to medical conditions like intestinal parasites or a stomach obstruction that require prompt intervention.
Our veterinarian Dr. Guise explains when to worry:
“If your dog suddenly goes off feed and their stomach is gurgling or rumbling, they may have an upset stomach. As long as the appetite loss only lasts for a meal or two, and your dog is not showing other signs of illness, it’s probably not a problem.”
Most stomach gurgling in dogs is a normal result of food and gas moving through the digestive tract. It can be more pronounced when the stomach is empty. That’s no big deal. It’s also not uncommon for dogs to skip a meal from time to time. Most dogs can live without eating for 3-5 days depending on their size, age, and health.
5 remedies to help your dog at home (in mild cases)
If your dog is not showing any other signs of illness or discomfort, you can try the following remedies to help your dog get better quickly:
1. Switch to a bland diet such as boiled chicken (or lean ground beef) and rice. It’s easier to digest and usually palatable to dogs. If you don’t have chicken or rice, view our other bland diet options.
2. Walk your dog before meals to stimulate their appetite and encourage healthy digestion. Exercise helps promote gastrointestinal motility.
3. Feed multiple, small meals. This will help minimize the time the stomach is empty. Smaller portions are easier to digest, so they’re less likely to upset the stomach.
4. Add food toppers. Use flavor enhancers like gravies, sodium-free bone broth, or food toppers to make your dog’s food more appealing. Sometimes all you need to do is prime to pump to get your dog eating again. You can also try adding lean, boiled and shredded chicken.
5. Switch to wet food. If your dog is eating dry food, try mixing canned food with your dog’s kibble, or feed all canned food. Your pooch may need a change in texture, and the canned food helps with hydration.
Please keep in mind that the home remedies listed above are only effective for mild and temporary cases. Your dog may also be experiencing a medical issue, so it’s important to consult with your vet. Let’s explore the most common medical reasons that can cause both stomach gurgling and loss of appetite.
More serious reasons causing belly gurgling and loss of appetite
If your dog’s belly is gurgling and they won’t eat, it could mean that they have an upset stomach due to one of the following reasons:
1. Intestinal parasites
Studies show that as many as 1 in 10 dogs has roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, or whipworms. How do you know if your dog has worms?
- Worms can cause nausea, loss of appetite, and stomach gurgling.
- You may also see worms in your dog’s stool.
- Dogs with worms may also experience diarrhea and/or vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, scooting and chewing at their hind end, or a pot bellied appearance.
If you see any of these other signs, call your vet or learn more about Worms in Dogs (Symptoms & Treatments).
2. Obstruction
If your dog ingests a foreign body, like a piece of rubber or a sock, it can get stuck in the intestines. When this happens, food won’t move through the system, but air can push past the object and cause gurgling belly noises.
Dogs with intestinal blockages may also have a sudden loss of appetite and appear uncomfortable.
“Obstructions are medical emergencies that require veterinary care. If you think your dog might have eaten something they should not have, call your vet right away. Just because a dog is passing stool DOES NOT mean they don’t have an obstruction.”
3. Twisted stomach (GDV)
In some dogs, gas fills the stomach, causing it to flip and trap the gas. This produces loud gurgling noises. If the stomach isn’t untwisted quickly, it blocks off blood flow to other organs. A twisted stomach is a life-threatening emergency. Symptoms sometimes include:
- An abdomen getting visibly larger
- Restlessness and pacing: the dog is in a lot of pain and cannot stay still
- Retching and attempted vomiting
- Excessive drooling
If your dog is showing any of these signs, view our Bloat Timeline and call your emergency veterinarian.
4. Pancreatitis
When a dog has an inflamed pancreas, digestive enzymes begin breaking down the pancreatic tissue. The digestive process releases lots of gas, which results in loud stomach or tummy sounds. Signs of pancreatitis include:
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Fever
Diagnosis of pancreatitis can be challenging due to the lack of clear specific symptoms; many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions (including loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea).
Learn more about Pancreatitis.
5. Stomach or intestine infection (gastritis/infection)
If the stomach or intestines have a bacterial infection, the microbes can produce extra gas that makes rumbling sounds in your dog’s belly.
If your dog suddenly starts vomiting and loses appetite after you observe them eating something they shouldn’t (such as a sock, garbage, or mulch), the stomach gurgling is likely caused by gastritis. Other symptoms may include fever, lethargy, pain, and vomit that contains blood, bile, or froth.
Learn more about Gastritis.
6. Inflammatory bowel disease
Dogs with an inflamed bowel will usually experience loss of appetite, a gurgling stomach, and abdominal discomfort. The inflammation interferes with normal digestion, so dogs may also have diarrhea and vomiting.
Learn more about IBD in Dogs.
7. Liver disease
A healthy liver filters toxins from the bloodstream. But when the liver is diseased, it’s a serious medical condition that requires veterinary attention.
If your dog has stomach gurgling that’s accompanied by loss of appetite and jaundice (yellow tint to the skin), vomiting, and increased thirst, there’s a good chance they have liver disease.
Learn more about Liver Disease.
8. New food
Some dogs don’t tolerate a sudden change in diet. A digestive system adjusting to new proteins and ingredients may produce extra gas that causes rumbling. Of course, if your pooch doesn’t like the new formula, they may not want to eat it.
When to call your vet
“Call your vet if your dog hasn’t bounced back after 24 hours or shows other signs of illness like diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, discomfort or depression. There could be a medical condition causing the stomach gurgling and loss of appetite, and some conditions might be emergencies.”
Call your vet within 24 hours if you see these other symptoms:
- Diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days
- Multiple episodes of vomiting
- Lethargy and weakness
- Swollen, painful abdomen
- Loss of appetite for more than a day
- Other signs of illness
An immediate vet visit is needed if your dog also:
- Appears uncomfortable or restless
- Might have eaten an object (like a sock)
- Has a distended abdomen
- Is drooling or retching to try to vomit
It’s really important to understand the potential reason behind your dog’s belly gurgling and loss of appetite. Let’s have a look at the most likely reasons.
What will the vet do if I take my dog in?
When you take your dog to the vet for stomach gurgling and not eating, be prepared to give a history of your dog’s symptoms, any feeding changes, and how long since your dog has eaten. You should also collect a fresh stool sample and a sample of your dog’s vomit if they’re throwing up.
Your veterinarian will conduct a physical exam and run diagnostic tests that may include:
- X-rays or ultrasound
- Bloodwork
- Fecal exam
Depending on the findings, your vet may administer fluids and other supportive care and treat your dog with:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Anti-nausea drugs
- Antiparasitic drugs
- Surgery to remove foreign bodies
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