What Are the Causes of Gas Problems in Dogs?

Is your pooch letting one out often? There are several causes behind chronic dog farting, such as abrupt dietary changes and an underlying illness.

Through this article, you will discover the most common factors that trigger dog farting and learn how to effectively manage your dog’s gas problems.

10 Reasons Why Dogs Have Gas Problems

Is it normal for dogs to fart a lot? Passing wind is normal for dogs as it is to us humans. However, when it becomes a recurring condition, it can be a bad sign. Here are the common causes of dogs’ excessive flatulence and gas problems.

1. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #1: It Is In the Breed

If you wonder, “Why does my dog fart so much and stink?” take time to look into his breed. Brachycephalic dog breeds such as Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, and Bulldogs are more prone to chronic dog farting because of the way they are built. Since these pooches are flat-faced, they tend to swallow air while eating. This can cause excess gas to accumulate in their stomachs, leading to chronic dog farting.

2. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #2: Food Change

Why is my dog farting so much all of a sudden? Introducing your dog to a new diet can cause excessive gas. It can take about a week for your pooch to become well-adjusted to his new food. Introduce the new diet gradually. If this problem does not go away after a week, it is best to choose an alternative diet or switch to the original diet. You may also like: Dog Essential Nutrients: Your Guide to a Balanced Nutritious Diet

3. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #3: Speed Eating

If a dog eats too fast, it may result in passing gas. Rapidly munching on food will bring a lot of air into his stomach, which turns to gas that needs to be discharged.

4. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #4: Inedible Feast

A pooch prone to dietary indiscretions, which is the tendency to eat unusual items such as garbage or spoiled food, may suffer recurring dog farting. The non-edible food that they ingest may also contain fermentable substrates, which can cause gas problems.

5. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #5: Not So Well

Does a dog farting mean they have to poop? Passing gas can be a hint that your pooch needs to go potty, but it can also be a sign that he has an illness, especially if flatulence becomes a frequent occurrence. Health issues such as intestinal parasites, long-term constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and obstruction or torsion can cause poor absorption of nutrients. This blocks the gas from coming out or causes excess gas production. If the issue does not get better over time, ask for veterinary advice.

6. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #6: Human Food

Why does my dog fart so much and stink? One of the most prevalent dietary causes of gas problems and flatulence in dogs is table scraps. They usually have a high-fat content, which causes our furry buddies to have very smelly farts. Other human foods like soybeans, peas, and spicy foods are poorly digested in dogs’ stomachs. They can cause excessive fermentation in the colon, which then leads to recurring dog farting.

7. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #7: Lactose Intolerance

Most dogs develop intolerance to dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt as they grow out of puppyhood. Ingesting them can result in gastrointestinal issues and flatulence in dogs. If you own a lactose-intolerant pooch, refrain from sharing any dairy product with him. Or else you will end up managing stinky bouts of dog farting.

8. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #8: Couch Potato

Just like us, our dog’s body, including his digestive tract, functions way better if he has normal weight and adequate amounts of exercise. If your canine companion is overweight, obese, or sedentary, he is at higher risk of having chronic flatulence, regardless of diet.

9. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #9: Consuming Low-Quality Grub

Providing your dog with low-quality commercial dog foods is not good for his digestive health as they contain large amounts of preservatives and artificial ingredients. These can cause too much fermentation in your dog’s colon and result in excessive gas production.

10. Chronic Dog Farting Cause #10: Postsurgery Side Effect

Chronic dog farting after surgery is a common postoperative ileus in canines. Other accompanying symptoms include nausea, tender abdomen, vomiting, and delayed bowel movements.

Why Do Dog Farts Smell So Bad?

The repulsive odor of dog farts is commonly caused by the process of breaking down food inside the digestive tract and turning it into nutrients. One of its by-products is hydrogen sulfide gas, which makes dog farting extremely stinky.

The Most Prevalent Gas in Dogs Symptoms

In many cases, chronic dog farting is a silent offender, leading pet owners to take time to find the main culprit of the funky odor. Figure out if your pooch is the one behind the stink bomb by knowing the common signs of flatulence in dogs:

• Rumbling sounds in the abdomen
• Abdominal discomfort
• Mild stomach bloating
• Loose stools
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

How to Stop Dog Farting

Accidentally taking a whiff of smelly dog farts time and time again is not a fun situation to be in. Many pet owners facing this problem are asking: “How do I get rid of my dog’s bad gas?” Fortunately, there are ways to help your pooch’s smelly issue. Here are 5 tips for you to try.

Tip #1

Is your dog eating too much dog food in a day? Reduce your dog’s food intake. Avoid serving a bowl full of dog food for his daily meal. Instead, divide his portions in half and let him eat 2 small meals per day.You may also like: Dog Feeding: How Often Should I Do It?

Tip #2

Know if your dog has allergies or certain food sensitivities. Make sure to keep those food away as they can irritate his stomach and cause chronic dog farting.

Tip #3

Every dog needs sufficient amounts of exercise. Thus, make sure you take your pooch out for his daily walk and play with him regularly. Generally, our dogs require 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise daily to keep them happy and healthy.

Tip #4

Dogs can pass gas if they are subjected to sudden dietary changes. Thus, when introducing your dog to a new diet, do so gradually. It is best if you mix his old food with the new food first. Then slowly increase the proportions of the new food each day.

Doing this will help his digestive system gradually adapt to the diet change and reduce flatulence and recurring dog farting.

Tip #5

Make sure that your dog’s diet is highly digestible. Choose a food that is suitable for his age, breed, and lifestyle.

Moreover, check the ingredients list and ensure that it contains little to no ash, chemical preservatives, corn, and wheat fillers. These ingredients make your furry friend feel full but offer low nutritional value.

Tip #6

Consider administering zinc acetate, yucca schidigera, or activated charcoal to your dog. These compounds are believed to reduce the concentration of hydrogen sulfide found in his poop.

Should you go through with this dog flatulence remedy, consult the vet first and ensure that it is a safe and suitable method for your furry friend.

Tip #7

Is your dog farting a lot? There are homemade remedies that you can try to reduce its occurrence.Sprinkling chopped fennel or parsley, either dried or fresh, in his meals helps get rid of the pungent odor broiling within his digestive tract. You can also place some of these herbs in his water.

Tip #8

Give your pooch plain, organic, and nonfat yogurt for dog gas. Always check the label and make sure that it is formulated with live and active cultures, which increase good gut bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract.

If your pooch is lactose-intolerant, look for soy-based yogurt instead.

Mid-size to large breed dogs can have up to a teaspoon of yogurt mixed into their meals. Small pooches should have less than that amount—a teaspoon is will do.