Burping

 

Burping

Elsie from River, wondered whether other animals can burp.

Most mammals are able to burp. Dogs burp more often than cats because they tend to gulp their food, swallowing air in the process, whereas cats eat more slowly and carefully. Animals whose stomachs have more than one chamber, like sheep, camels, and other ruminants, belch frequently to rid their bodies of the methane gas produced from the fermentation of food in their digestive systems.

Cows are renowned for the methane they emit. This is due to the corn and soy they are fed, which they cannot process efficiently. Some farmers alleviate that by feeding alfalfa and flaxseed which are similar to the grasses cows would have eaten before they were domesticated.

Our fellow primates, the chimpanzees, orangutans, and so forth, also belch, just like us. Gorillas produce great rumbling burps, which indicate gratification when they are eating delectable food.

Some marine mammals, like orcas and sea lions, also belch.

Among reptiles, crocodiles and alligators take in a lot of air with their prey, releasing it later in foul-smelling emissions. Similarly, large carnivorous lizards, like Komodo Dragons, will often burp after swallowing a whole egg or something similar.

There are some mammals which are physiologically incapable of belching or vomiting. Rodents, including mice, rats, squirrels and beavers are unable to burp. Sloths, rabbits, and horses also cannot burp or vomit. The gas that these animals produce is released as flatulence.

Burping and belching are two names for the same thing. The technical term is eructation.

 One of the two main causes of burping is swallowing air while eating or drinking. Some of that cannot be easily avoided, but it can be reduced by eating (or drinking) more slowly. Talking while eating and drinking through a straw will increase air intake. Chewing gum, smoking and loose dentures also add to the problem.

The second major culprit is the type of food or drink ingested. Carbonated drinks contain dissolved carbon dioxide that bubble in the stomach. These drinks include beer, and sparkling water, and what my nieces and nephew used to call ‘pop.’

High-fibre foods like pulses, onions, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts release gas as they are digested.

Some unfortunate people are unable to belch. This disorder is called abelchia – lovely name! – and was first identified in 1987. It causes great distress, with symptoms like bloating, flatulence, and chest discomfort. It is treated with Botulinum toxin (Botox) which relaxes the muscle inhibiting belching. One injection usually solves the problem permanently.

Burping in company may or may not be acceptable, depending on the circumstances and the culture. In Japan burping while eating is poor etiquette, while China and some middle eastern countries see it as complimentary to the chef. In the majority of Western societies, it is considered crude to belch in public. Sometimes it is unavoidable, and then most people quietly apologise.  

Of course, babies are encouraged to burp, and that is always acceptable and usually greeted with relief by parents and carers.