Did you just imagine it, or did Fido just burp? Can dogs burp? Why do they? We’re answering all of these questions and more in this article, so keep on reading!
We’re also looking at when it’s time to get worried or what changes you can make on your dog’s diet so that burping is a less frequent occurrence.
Do Dogs Burp?
The short answer to this question is yes. Like people and other species, dogs can burp, too, but the truth is that eructation is more common in certain breeds.
Flat-faced dog breeds already have a hard enough time breathing normally as is, and their anatomical features make it more likely for them to burp. So, if you have a Bulldog, Pug, or Boxer, you can expect your dog to burp every now and then.
Should You Worry If Your Dog Burps?
Burping is a pretty natural process, and it only means that there is some air inside your dog’s gastrointestinal tract that has to be eliminated somehow. If it hasn’t reached the intestine or hasn’t developed there as a result of fermentation to be released in the form of farts, it has to be eliminated in the form of belching.
Dogs that eat fast are much more likely to also swallow some air along with their food.
The same goes for dogs that have to eat an alkaline diet. Kibble can contain a variety of ingredients that can cause gas and eructation, such as grains, for example — which aren’t the best ingredients that dogs should have.
Dogs that go through your trash and eat what they’re not supposed to are also more likely to experience a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including belching.
If your dog is otherwise healthy and shows no other symptoms whatsoever, his or her burping is probably nothing to worry about. Just put Fido on a bland diet for 24 hours and see what happens.
However, if your dog has a history of digestive distress or your pet has gotten into potentially dangerous foods in your trash can, it’s time to go to the vet.
Burping Can Be a Sign of Serious Health Conditions
Perhaps the most concerning health issue that dogs can experience and that’s also accompanied by burping is bloat, also known as gastric dilatation volvulus.
Bloat can not only be caused by food itself and air, but also by massive amounts of water, which some dogs might want to drink, particularly on hot days and after they’ve engaged in strenuous exercise.
If your dog is burping and trying to vomit, but he/she doesn’t seem to be doing much in this sense, and you know that they’ve had a large amount of food or water, go to the animal hospital right away. Time is of the essence when it comes to treating GDV — it is one of the most lethal accidents that affect our canine friends.
Burping can also be a sign of various other digestive complications, whether excessive bacteria fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract or acid reflux. Some dogs that have pancreatitis or cholecystitis can experience a variety of digestive symptoms, and while burping might not be the most specific one, it can still happen every now and then.
What Can You Do about It?
If your dog’s burping is nothing to be worried about and your veterinarian has confirmed this, changing his or her diet or the way you feed your pet can have significant benefits on the whole situation.
First of all, dogs that are fed smaller portions become less hungry throughout the day, which means that they are going to be less likely to wolf down their portion in a matter of seconds when you do finally feed them.
Feeding your dog once a day is a bad idea also because of the risk you’re putting him or her at — bloat. If you can, feed your dog smaller portions twice or even three times every day.
Look closely at what you are feeding your dog. Unfortunately, many of the commercial pet food diets currently available contain a variety of ingredients that make them difficult to digest.
Although dogs can be considered omnivores compared to cats, for example, the fact is that you’re never going to see one going into a field of corn and start eating the cobs, even when they are extremely hungry. Balanced diets with healthy fiber sources such as pumpkin can make a huge difference when it comes to your dog’s digestion — including his/her burping or farting.
If you have two dogs, avoid feeding them at the same time. It’s quite likely that one of them is the dominant one, which can have two outcomes. Either the dominant one eats fast because he/she can do so and doesn’t want the other one to have the chance to do it, or the second eats his share of food fast to make sure that the dominant one doesn’t steal it from him/her.
If your dog is extremely motivated by food, an automatic slow feeder or a toy that you can fill up with kibble can be the solution to your problem. Also, did you know that circle-shaped dry dog food tends to retain more air and cause more eructation, especially in dogs that never chew their kibble?
And finally, make sure you never give your dog too much food or too much water right after you’ve exercised them as this can cause bloat.
