Dog stomach gurgling gets a clinical reality check
Bottom line
Whole Dog Journal has published a new pet-parent-facing explainer on dog stomach gurgling, or borborygmi, framing it as a common sign that is often benign but can also point to gastrointestinal disease depending on the broader clinical picture. In the September 9, 2026 article, Dr. Debra M. Eldredge, DVM, notes that normal gut sounds arise from fluid, semisolid ingesta, and gas moving through the stomach and intestines, and that louder episodes may be linked to hunger, rapid eating, dietary indiscretion, swallowed air, or transient GI upset. The piece also emphasizes that stomach noise becomes more concerning when it appears alongside vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, appetite loss, or lethargy. (whole-dog-journal.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the article is a reminder that a familiar pet-parent complaint can sit anywhere on the spectrum from normal physiology to early evidence of enteritis, food intolerance, foreign body obstruction, or even an acute emergency. Authoritative clinical references note that excessive borborygmi can accompany gas accumulation or rapid intestinal transit, while GI obstruction in dogs can escalate quickly and warrants emergency attention when paired with vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, or shock. That makes client education especially important: stomach gurgling alone may not justify urgent workup, but gurgling plus systemic or abdominal signs should lower the threshold for prompt evaluation. (vcahospitals.com)
What to watch: Expect more client questions about when stomach noises are normal, and when they should trigger same-day or emergency assessment, especially in dogs with vomiting, distention, retching, pain, or suspected foreign-body exposure. (merckvetmanual.com)
Key facts
- Publication
- Whole Dog Journal
- Article topic
- Dog stomach gurgling, or borborygmi
- Publication date
- September 9, 2026
- Author
- Dr. Debra M. Eldredge, DVM
- Normal cause
- Movement of fluid, food material, and gas through the digestive tract
- Common triggers
- Hunger, fast eating, excess gas, swallowed air, and transient GI upset
- More concerning when paired with
- Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, appetite loss, or lethargy
- Clinical concern
- Can indicate GI disease, including enteritis, food intolerance, foreign body obstruction, or an acute emergency
Whole Dog Journal’s new article on dog stomach gurgling takes a routine pet-parent observation and gives it useful clinical framing: borborygmi are often normal, but they can also be an early warning when paired with other GI or systemic signs. Published September 9, 2026, the piece by Dr. Debra M. Eldredge, DVM, explains that these noises come from movement of fluid, food material, and gas through the digestive tract, and that the context around the sound matters more than the sound itself. (whole-dog-journal.com)
That framing aligns with mainstream veterinary guidance. VCA notes that belching, borborygmus, and flatus can occur normally in dogs, but become more clinically meaningful when they are excessive or occur with weight loss or diarrhea. PetMD similarly describes borborygmi as a byproduct of peristalsis and a normal part of digestion in many dogs, while also flagging diarrhea, swallowed air, and ingredient sensitivities as common reasons the sounds may become more noticeable. (vcahospitals.com)
In the Whole Dog Journal piece, Eldredge walks readers through the mechanics behind the noise and the practical situations that can amplify it, including hunger, fast eating, and excess gas. The article appears aimed squarely at pet parents, but it also reflects a useful exam-room message for clinicians: not every noisy abdomen is pathologic, and the history matters. That includes diet changes, scavenging, speed of eating, stool quality, appetite, and whether the dog is otherwise bright and comfortable. Merck’s veterinary references likewise emphasize that GI assessment depends on the full clinical picture, including history, abdominal exam, auscultation, and, when indicated, imaging or endoscopy. (whole-dog-journal.com)
The sharper clinical edge comes when borborygmi are not an isolated finding. PetMD advises veterinary attention when stomach gurgling is accompanied by vomiting or retching, severe or persistent diarrhea, lethargy, appetite loss, or signs of abdominal pain. AAHA’s emergency guidance separately warns that persistent vomiting or diarrhea, abdominal swelling, weakness, and retching can signal urgent conditions, including gastric dilatation-volvulus or other serious abdominal disease. (petmd.com)
Merck Veterinary Manual adds important background for differential thinking. In dogs, GI obstruction commonly follows foreign-body ingestion and can present with anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or shock, with the potential for perforation, endotoxemia, and hypovolemic shock if not addressed. In practice, that means a report of “loud stomach noises” may be trivial in one patient and an early clue in another, particularly in younger dogs, indiscriminate eaters, or cases with known access to toys, bones, fabric, or other ingestible objects. (merckvetmanual.com)
There does not appear to be a formal study or regulatory development behind this story; it is a consumer education article rather than a research or policy announcement. Still, the broader industry message is consistent across veterinary and pet-health sources: borborygmi are common, but persistence, escalation, or association with other signs should shift the conversation from reassurance to workup. That makes this less of a “new finding” story and more of a timely communication piece that can help clinics sharpen triage advice and after-hours guidance. (whole-dog-journal.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the value here is in expectation-setting with pet parents. Audible gut sounds are one of those signs that often prompt concern before clearer symptoms appear. A simple framework can help: normal appetite, normal stools, normal energy, and no pain may support watchful waiting, while vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal distention, repeated retching, lethargy, or foreign-body risk should trigger faster evaluation. Clear messaging can reduce unnecessary panic without missing the subset of dogs whose “gurgling stomach” is the start of a more serious GI case. (vcahospitals.com)
What to watch: The next step is not likely to be a research follow-up, but increased clinic-side use of practical triage guidance around borborygmi, especially as pet-parent media continues to spotlight common GI signs that can blur the line between normal digestion and emergency presentation. (whole-dog-journal.com)