Does Your Dog Have a Flatulence Problem? That Must Really Stink!

  Posted on March 3, 2015  by Joy of Living  No comments

 

Hey! It’s Tuesday and while I normally don’t tend to the blog until Fridays, I wanted to weigh in here on something that has been annoying me. It is a sensitive topic and one to which many of you can relate….flatulence…in dogs…yeah, you heard me…dog farts! What a horrible assault on the senses they can be and I am here to dish on ways to deal with it!

Farting is caused by gas in the bowel. Dogs fart for pretty much the same reasons people do, only they have no regard for whoever is around them when they do it!

Gas is caused be fiber, starch and some complex sugars that your dog cannot readily digest. As such, they ferment thanks to bacteria in the colon, produce hydrogen, methane and hydrogen supplied gases. These gases must be released and are eventually expelled as flatus.

Is it normal for dogs to fart? Yes, it is, but when they seem to be excessive or incredibly stinky, that foul odor can possibly be an indication of food that has not been properly digested and is lingering and fermenting inside the body. It’s that fermenting food that causes the stink!.

Here are a few reasons why your dog might fart:

**He has a poor quality diet.

**He eats too quickly.

**If he eats some of your table scraps, be aware that some foods contain starches and carbs that are strong contributors to flatulence.

**He does not get enough exercise.

**He may also be lactose intolerant.

So, what can you do to minimize the stink?

Well, be advised that some infections, diseases and GI tract disorders can be attributed to excess gas production, so consult your veterinarian to rule out anything else if flatulence is not the lone symptom.

If your dog’s farting is accompanied by a foul odor, consider changing your dog’s diet to a premium brand that is readily digestible.

Be sure to incorporate some exercise into your dog’s daily routine to stimulate his intestines. A good walk will go a long way in this regard.

Ditch the soy products. Many processed dog foods contain soy to read the pet food labels!

If your pet is accustomed to table scraps, avoid giving him cauliflower, broccoli, beans, peas, cabbage, bread, fried food and anything spicy. These can all contribute to flatulence in your pet.

Keep the dairy products away from your dog. However, your dog may benefit from yogurt, which has good bacteria and can be quite helpful in treating excess gas. Feed two to three tablespoons of plain, organic non-fat yogurt daily. Give it time, however. Don’t expect results overnight. It could take up to a week.

Consider feeding you dog three smaller meals a day instead of one big one. That way, he won’t be tempted to gulp his food down all at once, thereby swallowing air and creating a gas problem!

Thanks to dogchatforum.com for this helpful information. I know I must employ some of these ideas, as sometimes that mangy mutt Jessie has some farts that can really pack a punch, if you know what I mean!