Dealing with Dog Farting

Flatulence is quite embarrassing but a common health problem in dogs. Dog farts not only create abdominal discomfort and bloating but also make the air unbreathable. Moreover, it can be disgusting when dogs fart and guests are in the house. But can you leave the gas problem in dogs unattended?  No, you should never do that. Then what will you do to deal with dog farting? Before moving forward, one thing should be clear farting in dogs is perfectly normal. But sometimes, too much farting can force you to find a solution.

So, in this article, we’ll find out some common causes of farting in dogs and the best solutions to treat or prevent this smelly condition.

What Are the Possible Causes of Dog Farting?

Before we move forward and discuss the solutions for dealing with dog farting, it’s essential to understand the reasons for dog farting.

• Diet Is the Major Cause of Dog Farting

Dried food diets, milky or dairy products, low-quality dog food, or soy products result in gas production in dogs. These foods are difficult to digest and result in excessive dog farting.

• Genetic Trait

It can also be the reason for excessive dog farting. It has been observed that some dog breeds have a genetic predisposition to gassy digestion. Moreover, dogs that swallow too much air while eating fart more. Examples of such dogs are bulldogs, pugs, and boxers.

• Food Intolerance

When you feed something to your dog that isn't easy to digest, it will automatically increase the gas production. Moreover, pets are lactose and gluten intolerant, so that this food intolerance can result in dog farting. 

• Sign of a Clinical Condition or Disease

Gastrointestinal diseases can trigger excessive gas passing in dogs. Other health issues that can result in dog farting are small intestinal bacterial growth, intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. So, whenever you notice any of these conditions, take your dog for a checkup. Otherwise, be prepared for excessive dog farting.

• Gulping on Food Results in Excessive Gas Buildup

This act can be life-threatening for dogs. No doubt, dogs love their food, but overeating food is never a good idea. When dogs attack the food bowl and eat it like they’ve been hungry for years, they swallow lots of air and un-chewed food. So, divide the food into small portions or place a toy in the food bowl. It will slow down the eating process. As a result, it can help prevent excessive dog farting.

• Obesity Can Lead to Dog Farting

Lack of activity, excessive weight gain, and food intake can lead to obesity. Obesity can increase the frequency of farts in dogs.

• Lack of Ability to Absorb All Food Nutrients

When dogs fail to absorb all crucial nutrients from their food, they become gassy. This intestinal Malabsorption can result in diarrhea, weight loss, low energy levels, chronic flatulence and vomiting. It's time to visit your vet whenever you notice any of these symptoms.

How to Prevent Dog Farting?

Now you understand the reasons for dog farting. The next step is what should you do to deal with dog farting? The best approach is to offer your dog healthy and high-quality food to reduce dog farts. But you can also try the following tips:

• Avoid Giving Table Scraps to Dogs

Sometimes we show our love by giving table scraps to dogs. But it’s never a good practice because these scraps can be high in fats and sugars, and they can cause abdominal discomfort and bloating. More importantly, table scraps are difficult to digest. So, when you don’t give table scraps to dogs, you can reduce dog farts.

• Avoid Feeding Dairy Products

As mentioned earlier, soy and dairy products can lead to excessive farting in dogs. Moreover, like humans, dogs are also lactose intolerant. So, food containing milk, cream, or cheese can result in an upset stomach and make your dog gassy.

• Don’t Allow Your Dog to Visit Trash

The best approach is to teach your dog the “Leave it” command. It will help when your dog is on a walk with you or going to explore the trash box.

• Avoid Feeding Fart Inducing Foods

Some vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli are healthy for dogs, but meanwhile, they can produce more gas. So, avoid giving such foods to your dog.

• Slow Down the Eating Process

As mentioned earlier, when dogs eat too much and swallow lots of air, they become gassy, so you can slow down the eating process by dividing the food into portions in a dog bowl.

• Keep Your Dog Active

When dogs consume too much food and don’t get enough playtime or walk, they suffer from obesity, which leads to farting. So, play with your dog and keep them active to reduce farts.

• Change Dog’s Food

Sometimes the dog’s food is the primary reason for farting. There is a possibility that you might have changed the food brand or the current food is of low quality, so to overcome this issue, change the dog’s food and reduce dog farting. Some changes that you can make in food are:

1. Switch from solid to liquid food to ensure that dog doesn’t swallow unchewed food. This change can prevent bloating and improve digestion.
2. Add vegetable stock or little chicken to your dog’s diet to prevent digestion and gas problems.
3. Switch to high-quality food.

So, these changes in dogs’ food can go a long way.

• Add Supplements to Dog’s Diet

It’s the last but the most valuable tip for dealing with dog farting. Sometimes you can help your furry friends to absorb all nutrients and digest food by adding supplements to the dog’s diet. Supplements contain Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and fiber to help support digestion. More importantly, they can make your pet healthy and reduce stinky breath and stool odor.

So, these tips can help you reduce dog farting significantly. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can ask in a comment section.