Flatulence In Dogs – How To Stop Dog Farting

Flatulence in dogs is something no one wants to deal with, and boy can those dog farts be smelly!  Thankfully with my dogs it is just something that happens on occasion, and just like with humans, that is normal and can’t be avoided.

Why Is My Dog Farting

If it is not just the occasional gas and your dog has excessive gas all the time, you need to try a few things to get to the bottom of this annoying and smelly problem.  Not only is it annoying to you, but your dog may be experiencing some pain or at least discomfort from the excess gas.

Flatulence in dogs could even be an indication of a gastrointestinal issue such as intestinal parasites, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, or pancreatitis.  In those cases the dog typically has other symptoms as well such as diarrhea.

Common Causes For Flatulence

In most cases, flatulence in dogs has more common causes:

Dietary Indiscretion

Your dog may have eaten something spoiled, perhaps got into the trash.  Or, your dog may have eaten some table scraps that are hard to digest, especially foods high in fats or sugars, spicy foods, or milk products.

My dogs have a healthy digestive system because Olewo Carrots have been part of their diet since they were puppies, but they get into some really nasty things outside on the property – I would rather not discuss.

We live on acreage in the country where wildlife is present, and my dogs are always supervised when outside.  At times however, I can’t even keep up with them when all of a sudden their noses go up in the air as they rush towards their disgusting find.

By the time I catch up with them, they have already indulged on part of it.  That’s how I know what kinds of things they eat besides rabbit turds.  On those occasions, I have to wear a gas mask for the next couple of days!

Sudden Changes in Diet

If you have changed your dog’s diet, and the change may have been too sudden.  Some dogs have pretty sensitive tummies, and it is best to slowly transition to a new food, or anything  new you add to your dog’s regular meals.

This even applies to Olewo Carrots.  While most dogs need the extra fiber and it is a health addition to the dog’s regular food, it is always best to start with a small amount and gradually work up to the recommended daily dose.  Especially dogs that haven’t had much fiber in their diet, might need a little time to adjust to this healthy dose of fiber.

Hard To Digest Dog Foods

According to Ernest Ward, DVM at VCA Hospitals, most cases of chronic flatulence in dogs are caused by a diet that is poorly digested by the dog.

Many ingredients in kibble, which is the most highly processed dog food, are not properly digested by dogs.  I read an article in Dogs Naturally Magazine on the topic of flatulence in dogs, and they say Garbage In = Garbage Out, and I agree with that.

When we had our pet store in Sarasota, Florida, many customers would complain about their dogs’ smelly farts.  What are you feeding was always our first question.  More than likely it had something to do with the food.  While a diet of fresh raw or homemade foods would be ideal because it creates the healthiest dogs, most of our customers were not willing to prepare their dogs’ meals.  Many times, when we were able to convince those customers to feeding a premium kibble, at least it stopped their dogs from farting all the time.

Maldigestion

Dogs that are being fed a premium diet, but are still experiencing flatulence, may have a maldigestion problem with either poor digestion or poor absorption of nutrients from the diet.  Your veterinarian can do some testing to determine if such a problem exists.

Speedy Eaters

Dogs that woof down their food like the are in a race end up swallowing a lot of air, which can lead to farting afterwards. Short-nosed dog breeds including Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos tend to swallow a lot of air when they eat and drink.  This swallowed air is later expelled by farting.

You can divide your dog’s meals into smaller portions and feed several smaller portions throughout the day.  Or, you can use a slow-feed dog bowl with a raised center to make swallowing large amounts of food impossible.  That’s the kind of bowl I have always used with my Dachshunds because they are speedy eaters.

Inactive Dogs

In addition to everything mentioned above, it is important to keep your dog active with regular exercise.  Always make time for playtime!  Exercise definitely helps improve digestion and will also help reduce farting.

What Can I Give My Dog For Smelly Gas

• Olewo Carrots for Dogs – help properly digest food, soothe and calm the intestinal lining
• Digestive Enzymes – help break down undigested food
• Probiotics – help maintain intestinal microbial balance