Is It Normal For My Dog To Fart So Much?
- by Jodi Troskie
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IS IT NORMAL FOR MY DOG TO FART SO MUCH?
If your dog is emitting noxious odours regularly, there might be an underlying issue worthy of investigation. Here's how to know if your dog's farts are normal or whether there's cause for concern.
Firstly, dog farts are totally normal. All mammals ‘float an air biscuit’ every now and then! If your dog lets out a ripper here and there, this is entirely normal. If the stink factor becomes more severe or the ‘one-cheek squeaks’ become more regular, then you might want to take your pooch for a visit to the vet. While you can’t completely control your dog’s bodily functions, you can take measures to relieve the frequency and toxicity of your fur-kid’s toots.
- It might be diet-related
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Gut-health
- Eating etiquette
- Watch out for Gastrointestinal diseases
- Help mask the smell
It might be diet-related
If you've recently changed your dog's diet, then this might be the reason your fur-babe is releasing excess stink bombs. Your pooch requires steady acclimatisation from his current dog food to avoid digestive issues and a sore tummy. Hill's recommends a 7-day transition whereby you gradually decrease the amount of the old dog food while proportionately increasing the amount of new dog food.
According to PetMD, feeding your precious fur-child “human food” is not always a good idea. Some foods are more difficult for your dog's anatomy to digest, such as legumes, dairy products, some spices, and some high-fat and high-fiber foods. Much like their human counterparts, dogs don’t digest spoiled food well, so make sure your dustbins are inaccessible to your doggos and always check expiry dates.
Your best bet is to keep to strict feeding times and keep your precious pups on a well-balanced diet that you know contains all the right stuff to optimise your angel's health and wellness.
Click here for a ‘nutrient-perfect’ dog diet
Food allergies or sensitivities
If you can’t resist those darling puppy eyes (who can, am I right!?) and you find yourself sneaking a slice of cheese under the table to your furry friend, this might be at the root of your doggo’s … “canine cologne”. Just like their hooman-companions, dogs can be allergic or have food sensitivities to several things. Your dog could just be sensitive to dairy, and by eliminating this food group from their diet, you could decrease those “bottom burps” significantly. Hill’s Ph.D. nutritionists have found that dog foods that contain high levels of protein or poorly digested proteins can produce more … erm … "fragrant" farts. Foods such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts can produce sulfur-containing gases that lead to a more putrid “gas-leak”.
If you suspect your doggo’s food sensitivity to be the cause of the poop-tarts, consider switching to Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin dry dog food. Hill's offers a specially formulated nutrition-balanced diet that provides optimal digestive health while nourishing your fur-baby’s skin and promoting a lustrous coat. Science Diet pet food is available in various yummy dry foods, good-boy or good-girl treats, and tail-wag-inducing canned foods.
Gut health
If your dog is already on a high-quality diet but is still extra gassy, consider food with probiotics to support your fur-baby’s digestive health. Probiotics are "friendly bacteria" that help balance intestinal flora in the gut. Research indicates that probiotics help treat a range of health issues, such as diarrhea, irritable bowel, intestinal inflammation, and even urinary tract infections. Take care not to use human probiotic products without consulting with a veterinarian first. We suggest erring on the side of caution and consider shopping for a scientifically formulated dog food product that already contains the right amount of probiotics.
Click here for Hill’s dog food with added Pre-biotics.
Eating etiquette
If your pup is wolfing his food down, then he’s probably swallowing down on some air with his supper. Your doggo has to let the air … uh … escape, and the best escape route is via his gluteus maximus (AKA, his bum). If your dog inhales food before you’ve done a double-take, you might want to consider purchasing a ‘slow feeder’. Another thing to note on this topic, flat-faced hounds are more prone to swallowing air than doggos with long snouts.
Click here to order a slow feeder.
Intestinal parasite invasion
Intestinal parasites are a common cause of excessive flatulence. You would know your fur-baby’s gas-passing habits best. If your baby’s poots suddenly get louder, more frequent, or a lot more toxic without any change in diet, then a check-up at the vet might be in order.
Click here for parasite control products for dogs.
Watch out for Gastrointestinal diseases
Not to alarm you, but doggy farts could be a sign of underlying gastrointestinal issues. Gastrointestinal diseases are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, low mood, or weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms along with excessive flatulence, get your fur-babe to the vet immediately. If the diagnosis is a gastrointestinal issue (be it short-term or long-term), ask your vet about the Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ to alleviate your angel’s discomfort and support his gut health.
Help mask the smell
Suppose you've tried everything and ruled out any serious conditions or health issues after consultation with a veterinarian. In that case, there is a way to help mask the ripeness of your pup's bottom belches. COPRONAT® is a natural food supplement containing Yucca Schidigera Extract (YSE), which has been shown to control coprophagy and eliminate the offensive odour associated with flatulence in both cats and dogs.
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