Often, Dog owners ask if they should be worried if their Dog encounters gulpies. Before we go further, let’s answer the question about gulpies in dogs.
Table of Contents
What are Gulpies in dogs?
Gulpies are digestive conditions that can occur in any dog breed. The term is also referred to as ‘Lick Fits‘.
The truth is, you should be worried if your Dog has gulpies. Usually, these sounds indicate that your Dog is either in pain, uncomfortable, or wants attention from you.
When your Dog makes a gulping sound, it has tried to swallow something, and it could have difficulty consuming its food if it repeatedly makes the same sound.
At this point, you should be worried that it is experiencing trouble swallowing food. It may be your dog is showing symptoms of another underlying issue. Your dog may suffer adverse health conditions if this is not checked
Sometimes, It is a digestive tract condition that can occur in any dog breed. Due to gastrointestinal acid reflux, Lick fits might result from a build-up of gas or acid in a dog’s intestines. However, several things can cause your Dog to have this condition.
What to look out for when my Dog has Gulpies?
How do you know your pet has lick fits; when you notice the following symptoms, it means that your Dog has gulpies.
If your Dog regurgitates the food it just ate, it is a sign that it has gulpies. Regurgitation occurs when your pet throws up the food it just ate, and the acid reflux in your pet causes it to spit or throw up its food.
Severe gulpies can lead to frequent retching, belching, and vomiting. When your Dog vomits frequently, and the colour is yellowish, it indicates vomiting bile due to acid reflux.
Your pet may exhibit anxiety, gagging, and excessive air gulping when it has the Lick fits. Additionally, some things you may notice might include excessive swallowing and increased salivation.
More often than not, you will notice your Dog licking incessantly. It will also start to eat grass, paper, furniture, your carpet, or anything that it finds appealing to it at that moment.
What can cause Lick Fits in my Dog?
A couple of things can cause gulpies in your Dog. Here are a few examples of the common causes of Lick fits.
1. Ingesting foreign objects
Suppose your Dog is roaming around and has eaten something affecting its system. The objects may become stuck in their throat, and your Dog finds it hard to swallow.
2. Inflammation or growth in your pet’s throat
Inflammation of the throat affects your Dog’s ability to swallow, causing gulpies. Your Dog may likely be suffering from pharyngitis or esophagitis.
When your Dog suffers from nasal inflammation, such as sinusitis and rhinitis, it sneezes often and discharges thick mucus. As a result, it will repeatedly gulp as it tries to swallow the mucus flowing into its mouth.
An abscess, burn, or tumour in your Dog’s mouth may cause him to swallow repeatedly. It can also be that something is stuck in its teeth, causing it to constantly lick and swallow its mouth to get rid of the object stuck in its teeth.
3. Pneumonia often causes Gulpies in dogs
If your dog coughs or wheezes, or sneezes often, it can be that it has pneumonia. It is often accompanied by mucus discharge; it is not uncommon to hear your pet gulp frequently as it tries to swallow.
4. Vomiting And Retching
Frequent vomiting and retching can cause damage to the inner lining of your Dog’s throat. The vomiting may result from eating food its system cannot handle, and the damage to its throat makes it difficult to swallow.
5. Acid Reflux Can Cause Gulpies In Dogs
Acid reflux can lead to several things affecting your Dog, and gulping is one of those things it causes. Your pet will likely drool and throw up frequently, making gulping and gurgling sounds in its stomach.
6. Allergies
Food allergies can also cause gulpies in your Dog. The irritation of its throat caused by the allergies will make it swallow continuously, mostly gulping air into its stomach.
7. Large food portions
Suppose the food portions you give your pet are dry and large. It will have difficulties swallowing its food. Watching your Dog, you will see it struggling and hear it making those gulping sounds.
How do I prevent Gulpies in dogs?
You can take certain precautions to help prevent dog gulpies. These precautions are easy to remember and do.
Always remember to know what foods your pet is allergic to. Alternatively, you can feed them hypoallergenic food, which will help prevent gulpies in dogs. See WebMD’s list of foods your Dog should never eat.
Ensure your pet’s food is not too dry, which will help it swallow and digest its food easily. See the best way to mix your Dog’s food. At the same time, make sure you feed your Dog frequently. You can have a predefined routine, and this will prevent it from eating foreign objects harmful to it.
Inspect its teeth regularly to ensure that nothing is stuck in between that will cause it to lick its mouth constantly. You can also chop its food to bits, making it easy to swallow and digest its food.
You can still perform the abovementioned actions when you notice that your pet has gulpies, which will help it swallow its food. Additionally, you can give your Dog an antacid to stop or prevent gulpies in dogs.
But it is always advisable to take your Dog to see a veterinary doctor, assess your Dog’s condition, and prescribe a solution for it.
Conclusion
Some symptoms, such as vomiting and retching, are not always indicators that your Dog has gulpies. Vomiting, for instance, frequently occurs in dogs and is not always a health issue, and it might just be that your Dog is throwing up something alien to its system.
Gulpies in dogs are not an uncommon experience, and it usually happens after your pet has finished eating its food. It is not always a severe condition, but if left unchecked, it can complicate your pet’s health.
[…] it will be uncomfortable, and you can hear gulping sounds from your pet. It is likely to regurgitate the food it just ate. As your pet cannot digest […]