Question:
My dog's stomach growls frequently, although he doesn't seem to be hungry. What might be the cause?
A: I would recommend having your veterinarian take a peek at your dog's stool and perform a comprehensive physical examination.
The growling that you are hearing is called borborygmus. This can be caused by a bacterial overgrowth in either the intestines or stomach. Like people, dogs can get stomach ulcers or diarrhea from the overgrowth, if it persists. A stool check will help determine if your dog is at risk for these conditions. Medication can be started to prevent the progression of any disease and halt the growth of the abnormal bacteria.
Other potential causes could be IBD (Inflammatory Bowel disease), a gall bladder problem, or cancer of the intestinal tract. Although, these are much less common.
I would recommend taking your dog to your veterinarian for a complete exam.
~Dr. Page Wages
Oberlin Animal Hospital
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