My dog is gulping but sleeping. Is it bloat or upset stomach?

She may have had a bit of a gassed up stomach, which resolved by itself. She would likely not have slept through the night and would have been pacing. She would also not have felt happy enough to play ball today. I would watch her closely, and if you see her abdomen swell (sounds like a drum!) or if she starts panting and pacing, then she needs to be taken to a PetER right away as this would be an emergency.

Bloat usually cause discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal tension. An animal with pathologic bloat would not sleep and lay on the back quite comfortably. I don't think there is anything to be worried about at this stage. I would monitor him for the next couple of hours, but no further action is needed.

As long as she is acting ok you could monitor her for additional signs. If she starts retching, seems uncomfortable, starts drooling, is painful, or the distension persists then she should be examined by a vet. Your vet can take an X-ray to evaluate her abdomen and determine the exact cause of her problem.

If Faithlynn had bloat, you would not only see an enlarged belly, but you would also see pacing, restlessness, anxiety, excessive drooling, and trying to vomit but cannot. A bigger belly only simply could be due to a big meal.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The symptoms you are describing sound like an emergency. The description of heavy breathing, retching, and contracting abdomen sound like the symptoms of a gastric dilatation/volvulus, or bloat. This happens when the stomach is filled with air and can even twist on itself and is more common in large breed dogs. The condition is extremely uncomfortable, and requires immediate stabilization and possibly surgery. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary care, especially if there is torsion. I recommend getting your dog to the vet as soon as possible. There are 24-hour emergency clinics in most cities that are open overnight and will be able to stabilize your dog.

If there is any abdominal enlargement or pain he needs to be assessed by a vet as an emergency - non-productive/white foamy vomit is very concerning in a dog which is eating as it can indicate an obstruction. A pancreatitis blood test may also be required depending on the results of the physical exam

Hi, if he seems restless and in pain I would take him sooner rather than later. If he is able to sleep/curl up and the gurgling noise seems to be the only problem, I think you can wait until the morning.