Stomach Gurgling Noises in Dogs and Cats: Normal or Not?

Audible stomach or intestinal noises, sometimes called borborygmi, are a completely normal part of digestion in both dogs and cats — the gurgling and rumbling sounds come from gas and fluid moving through the digestive tract, and some amount of this is expected, especially after eating or during periods of hunger.

What shifts this from background normal to worth noting is volume, frequency, and accompanying symptoms. Occasional gurgling that happens around mealtimes or when your pet is hungry is unremarkable. Loud, frequent gurgling that's noticeably different from your pet's usual pattern, especially combined with gas, diarrhea, vomiting, or signs of discomfort, suggests something is happening in the digestive tract worth paying attention to — this could be anything from a mild diet-related upset to early signs of an infection or inflammatory process.

Gurgling alone, without any other symptoms, is rarely something that needs immediate action. It's the combination with other signs, or a significant and sustained change from your pet's normal pattern, that matters more than the sound itself.

What to do: If gurgling is occasional and your pet is otherwise eating, playing, and acting normal, this doesn't usually need intervention. If it becomes noticeably louder or more frequent than usual, or comes with gas, diarrhea, vomiting, or discomfort, it's worth mentioning to a vet — not necessarily urgently on its own, but as part of a broader picture if other symptoms are present too.

For more on what excessive gas specifically might indicate, here's a closer look.