Annie, as soon as the vet arrives, he listens both sides of the tummy. If there is rumblings noises, thats a good sign, and means food is passing throgh the gut - if its silent, particularly in horses, that can mean a blockage. Once though, one of my ponies had a stomach that sounded like a washing machine, it was really loud .....and vet agreed, that was just too much noise, and had to give her an injection.