Does your dog struggle with flatulence?
If your four-legged friend is prone to letting off some gas, you may be wondering what’s causing the problem.
Your first thought will likely be, “did my dog eat something they shouldn’t have?”.
Some breeds are also more prone to gas, such as snub-nose breeds like the French Bulldog and the Pug.
In this article, we spoke to five experts to find out why exactly dogs can struggle with flatulence.
Vet checks Labrador’s tummy (Photo: Adobe Stock)
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Related To Digestive Issues
Dr Dwight Alleyne, DVM And Vetinarian Advisor At BetterPet
Gas in dogs can be commonly related to digestive issues. Most common is something that they have at. Foods that are high in fat, have excessive seasoning, low quality ingredients, or a moderate amount of artificial ingredients can contribute to flatulence.
Health issues such as intestinal parasites, infection or inflammation of the intestinal system, and cancer can also cause excessive gas.
Ways to address gas in your dog is to avoid feeding table food. Make sure your dog is fed a high quality balanced diet. Maintain an active lifestyle with your dog to maintain a healthy weight. Avoid any dairy products as many dogs don’t digest them well.
Keep your dog on a monthly heartworm preventative which also can help control intestinal parasites.
Swallowing Too Much Air
Jeff Netzley, Dog Trainer And Creator Of Dog Training Near You
Swallowed air is the most common cause of flatulence in dogs. Dogs may swallow air when they eat too quickly, drink from a bowl that is too high off the ground, or pant excessively.
There are a few things that dog owners can do to help prevent their dog from swallowing too much air. If your dog is a fast eater or drinker, invest in a Slow Feeder Bowl to help them eat or drink at a slower pace.
These bowls come with a raised center portion that forces the dog to eat or drink around it, which slows them down and prevents them from gulping their food or water. Another way to help prevent your dog from swallowing too much air is to make sure they have plenty of opportunities to relieve themselves before mealtime.
A dog who is bloated or gassy from drinking too much water or eating too much food from a previous meal will be more likely to have worse symptoms after their next meal.
So, take your dog for a potty break before meals, and look for signs from your dog that they need to use the restroom.
Owner feeding fresh dog food at home (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Avoid Giving Them Scraps
Richard West, Founder at PuppyHero
As dogs are a man’s best friend, they would encounter similar problems as a person would when it comes to diet. Chronic flatulence is caused if a diet is digested poorly by dogs.
Poor diet causes fermentation in the colon. This leads to the formation of gas. Some common gas-inducing foods in dogs are soybeans, beans and spicy foods.
Owners can avoid this problem by not giving their dogs scraps from the table. Foods we can digest are not the same as those of your furry friends.
Especially those that are high in fats or sugary content. When your pup is begging for some food, don’t pass them a burrito.
Prebiotics And Probiotics Aid In Your Dog’s Digestion
Deepanshu Bedi, Marketing Director At Holistapet
You might find your pets passing out excessive gas or extremely smelly gas, and this is not only embarrassing but can also be a bad sign that your dog may be experiencing health issues.
Overweight dogs and short-nosed breeds are the ones commonly affected by flatulence because they swallow a lot of air when eating.
This digestive issue among these canine friends can easily be alleviated by providing them with a healthy diet made of high-quality ingredients.
Avoid foods that can induce more flatulence including broccoli, cauliflower, milk, and cheese as these promote gas build-up in the intestines.
Adding certain ingredients to your dog’s diet like prebiotics and probiotics also aid in your dog’s digestion and lessens gas passage.
Make sure they get plenty of exercise because this also helps with digestion and reduces flatulence.
