Why Do Dogs Burp

Your dog has just finished their dinner, and all of a sudden, they let loose a few burps. It seems quite odd, because your dog is an animal, and animals don't necessarily burp like you thought. Yet, although we are humans and our pets are dogs, we still have many things that are similar. Animals and humans both need to eat, sleep, and exercise for our wellbeing to thrive. In alignment with those actions of health, there are also similar attributes that are deemed as normal such as going to the bathroom, yawning, and burping. In fact, burping is an action that dogs do frequently and once we understand its cause, we can better react to their actions. 

Although burping is not an activity that is extremely harmful to your dog, it is not something they enjoy doing either, so burping is not an activity that should willingly be encouraged. Yet, burping can be necessary sometimes to release the gas that is overflowing in your animal’s digestive system. Due to this, you want to allow and encourage your animal to burp if they need to soothe any discomfort in their stomach, but it is suggested to make sure burping helps and they are not throwing up or burping up anything that looks harmful for your dog. It is also important to watch over them and take note of when and why they are burping, so you can better help them with their health. If you feel your dog is having issues due to more serious digestive issues, it may be wise to change their diet or add nutrients to their food so they feel better. You also may want to encourage your dog to take their time when they are eating their food or drinking their water so extra air does not end up in their stomach. If issues are still occurring after changes, it may be wise to take them to the veterinarian for a check-up.

The biggest help that you can give your dog is helping them with their digestion of food. The most common issue from excessive burping has to do with extra air in the system from quick eating and drinking. Encouraging your animal to eat at a slower pace is extremely important and if that does not work, it may be better to serve your dog’s meals and water in smaller amounts so their body has more time to digest the food and they adjust how quickly they eat due to the amount being smaller. If you decide to change your dog’s diet, slowly transitioning their food is important so their body does not go in shock. If you feel like your dog needs medical attention from excessive burping, taking them to a veterinarian for a check-up can help ease their pain as well as yours.