There’s no denying it, every dog owner is likely accustomed to the embarrassing ‘toot’ coming from their pet at one time or another. Whether it is a silent air puff or a rather explosive, noxious odor that fills the entire room, one thing is for sure: Most dog owners have faced the mortification of their canine’s toots.
A dog can fart on countless occasions, and there is no cause for alarm at all; however, when a pet dog burps or farts continuously, this is not only bothersome but sometimes unpleasant to one’s dog in term of its digestive system.
In this article, we will focus on the reasons why dogs fart, what you can do to help reduce this social problem, and what conditions a dog with gas may signal that something else is going on. So if you’ve ever asked yourself why dogs fart so much and are there any ways to stop it, you are in the right place!
Why Do Dogs Fart?
Like all other animals, dogs fart when they digest food. This happens because food turns into gas in your dog’s stomach and seeks an outlet. The expulsion of gas or the flatulence of gas is a normal occurrence and is often not a cause of concern. However, there are various factors that can trigger some dog breeds to fart often some of them, include:
Diet and Food Ingredients
Food is one of the main contributing factors to the production of gas in dogs. Animals feeding on a poor diet or having food allergies likely produce a lot of gas. For example, soybeans, peas, beans, cow’s milk, and fliers high in fiber have been known to promote the development of gas in your dog.
Furthermore, some dogs themselves do not tolerate some types of sugars or fats, and thus, produce excessive amounts of gas. This problem, like all other similar health issues, may be made worse from feeding certain animals excessive highly processed foods and synthetic products.
Eating Too Quickly
Have you ever witnessed certain dogs devouring their food as if it were their final day to taste it? Excess swiftness in feeding dogs causes them to gulp down some of the food and then some air leading to excess windy stomach later on. This phenomenon is called aerophagia and although it is primarily seen in dogs eating too quickly, it usually results in a heightened level of farting later on.
Changes in Diet
Sudden change of your dog’s food will mess up with the dog’s digesting system and gas will be produced. Whenever you change your dog’s food, it’s usually the case that you shouldn’t do it all at once; lentil and scallions should gradually, say in a week to ten days, be entwined with the previous food. This kind of step by step change helps the stomach of the dog to get used to the new components and thus, lessens the effects of gas and other stomach disturbances.
Food Intolerances or Allergies
Excessive amounts of parrots that some of the dogs have caused this. Any food intolerances or allergies that certain dogs have come across can also make them fart out excessively. Most dogs suffer from grain, dairy, soy, or even some meats like chicken and beef type food protein components. Older dogs that have been included with these things are susceptible to food and other allergies, so it might be reasonable to try a test or an exclusion diet out of concern for excessive farting in a dog.
Vicious Gut Issues
Just like us, your dog’s digestive tract also needs healthy bacteria to help it breakdown food. When the ratio of good and bad bacteria gets disturbed due to poor feeding practices, antibiotic use, or infections, it may lead to digestive problems such as wind.
Eating From Trash/Stolen Food
Your puppy is likely to get into the rubbish bin or eat the scraps from the table or any spoiled items or even non-food items. This is not good for your dog’s gut. Nevertheless, this does not mean that all the food hunted by the dogs is nutritious. Consuming these items can lead to stomach disturbances, gas, vomiting, and even diarrhea.
Genetic Factors
Some dog breeds are more flatulent than others. Brachycephalic breeds, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, etc. are well recognized to be excessively gas producing because, due to their short noses, they have a tendency to ingest more air than normal during meals. Such breeds tend to also have more digestive troubles leading to more gas.
How to Prevent Dog Farts
You would definitely agree with me that there are no dog farts remedies that are going to completely work; the best you can do is try the following remedies to decrease the frequency and intensity of your dog’s flatulence. Below are some of the ways through which you can reduce the body odor due to flatulence:
Feed High-Quality Dog Food
Even though it seems less obvious than other stomach upsets, dietary issues also lead to gas problems in dogs. Even dog food choice should be dollars worth it, because it’s acoustically expedient and very affordable due to low dust and fill content. Foods with whole ingredients, such as real meat and vegetables, are easier for dogs to digest and are less likely to cause gas.
For allergens that cannot be completely avoided, consider using preventative instruments such as dog vitamins for a dog who farts. Such vitamins are probiotics which help to balance healthy gastrointestinal bacteria. These help in lowering gas production and improving health of the digestive system overall.
Slow Down Fast Eaters
If your dog tends to inhale their food, consider a more slow approach towards their one mealtime. There are a number of these which include:
- Instead of providing one or two huge meals per day, people are recommended to give smaller portions on more occasions.
- By making your pet dog eat at a slower pace, it also reduces the volume of the air ingested, hence leading to lesser bouts of gas.
Do Not Feed Dogs Human Dinner or Any Human Leftover Food
Fido looks cute when you are enjoying a meal and some parts of it are in your mouth, but human food can create unnecessary digestive gas. You should not give your dog any people food or table scraps, especially stuff that has high fat or fiber content, or spicy food. Dairy foods, junk foods or eaten up packaged foods that have synthetic ingredients can add up to bloating.
Monitor for Food Allergies or Intolerances
In case you have a problem in your dog with food allergy or its intolerance, you need help of the specific professional for its cause. The most common allergens include grains, dairy, and particular proteins. Understanding it is possible by an elimination diet whereby particular foods are removed with time and then further taken in.
Probiotics
Probiotics play an important role in sustaining your dog’s health because they are good bacteria and they help in the digestion process. Probiotics can come in handy whenever you wish to balance the gut and elide the flatulence of your dog by adding them in their diet, supplements or dog food. You can also give your dog yogurt (unsweetened plain and without artificial additives) as an alternative source of probiotics but it is advisable to ask the vet first.
Discourage in Exercise Loading
Every dog owner should consider regularly exercising their dog as this helps the animals to assimilate food properly. Well exercised dogs tend to eat and digest food faster with less gas production. Exercise also prevents accumulation of gas for instance relieving the bloated stomach and increasing the motility of the intestines so that gas passage occurs easily.
When To Be Concerned About Dog Farts
Most of most dog farts as safe although a bit repulsive most of the time. Nonetheless, too many farts or too foul a stink breeds worry and if it does breed worry, one should seek help from the doctors for there could be a disease that could be at the center of all that. Some of the cautionary signs include:
Bloat Induced Flatulence
If gassiness is a common problem for your dog or the frequency and volume of gassiness gets worse over time, this may indicate there is a problem with digestion, for example inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), internal parasites or other kinds of malabsorption disorders. In cases where chronic flatulence persists despite diet changes, it is prudent to see the vet.
Other Digestive Symptoms
Increased flatulence along with stomach ache, vomiting or not feeling hungry is most likely a sign of some disease in the digestive system. It is advisable to visit a veterinarian if any of those symptoms occur with flatulence in dogs.
Weight Loss or Lethargy.
Weight loss and unusual tiredness in pet dogs with increased gas could be indicative of their inability to absorb nutrients well. Pancreatitis and blockage of intestines are some of the ailments that disturb the digestive processes and need to be handled by a veterinary doctor.
Changes in Stool.
If you detect any unusual stool changes in your dog, including softness in stool, oiliness, or presence of blood, the dog may be suffering from some form of digestive complication or malabsorption. When these conditions are also accompanied by excessive gas, it can suggest difficulties with the processing of food in the dog.
Conclusion
Farts in dogs are very common but may become unpleasant if they are excessive or there are too many foul smelling ones. Knowing the factors causing dog flatulence e.g. if it is their diet, eating too fast or health problems will help you come up with a plan in preventing the gases and odors from residing in your house.
This can be achieved simply by giving your dog better quality food, preventing your dogs from being in a hurry while eating, and ensuring that their health is good in general, preventing the occurrence of most of the foul odors left behind by your pet. And with all this information when you experience other abnormal signs apart from gas in your dog, feel free to go to your vet for advice.
