When it’s clear that someone in the room passed gas—and especially if it’s a strong odor—it’s a standard joke to blame the dog. And sometimes it truly IS the dog. While any dog can occasionally pass gas, if it is a frequent occurrence you might want to investigate the situation, especially if there’s also diarrhea. Frequent gas with diarrhea or gas that seems to appear suddenly in the dog are both signals to schedule a veterinary visit.
Causes of Gas in Dogs
My daughter’s lovely Belgian Tervuren would literally clear a room at times with her flatulence. It took some research, but eventually the culprit was found: potato! Researching to find a potato-free diet took some time, but once changed over, she was gas-free. It also meant, however, that if she had a gastrointestinal upset, mashed potatoes were not an option.
My daughter’s dog was not an isolated incident. Dogs with food sensitivities can create some noxious gas due to interactions in their intestinal tract. Overweight dogs and dogs who don’t get enough exercise may also pass extra gas.
Brachycephalic dogs, like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers, tend to gulp in extra air when they breathe. Once it goes in, that air must go back out and, as it travels the gastrointestinal tract, it picks up noxious odors. The same scenario with extra air intake can occur with dogs that are fast eaters and gulp their food. There isn’t much you can do about your brachycephalic dog, since the cause is part of their anatomy. You can check to see if he is rapidly wolfing down his food, however, and if he is, consider implementing a remedy to slow his food intake.
Home Remedies for Gas in Dogs
Dogs who do eat in no-time-flat can be slowed down. You can try one of the many slow feeders on the market. It will take some experimentation to see which one works for your dog, but these bowls do work.
Some people find success by adding some clean large rocks to the food dish, but you need to be certain the rocks are big enough that your dog won’t swallow one by mistake.
A snuffle mat works well for dry food because your dog needs to hunt for the kibble, not gobble it all down in a few bites. Most dogs enjoy snuffle mats.
If you have several dogs, sometimes just separating dogs for meals will help, as submissive dogs may feel the urge to eat fast and the dominant dogs may try to eat as quickly as possible to get another dog’s dinner.
Tips for Controlling Flatulence in Dogs
Overweight dogs: Dogs who are overweight and do not get enough exercise need a weight-loss diet and an exercise plan. Remember, slow but sure is the way to go with both. Adding fiber to the diet may help, but it can add to the problem for some dogs. Trying some plain canned pumpkin is worth it, though, as it is an easy fix if it works. Remember: You want plain canned pumpkin without any additives.
Food sensitivities: While the potato sensitivity we mentioned above was a little odd, it’s a lesson that means you may need to do an elimination diet.
Many dogs can’t dairy. If that’s your dog, it means no more yogurt or ice cream treats. Cheese can be a factor as well (many of us use string cheese to train with!). The upside is that dairy products are obvious and reasonably easy to work around. Other ingredients may take more sleuthing and some major diet adjustments.
Hopefully, if your dog has a food sensitivity you can quickly identify it. Keep note of any unusual or extra treats that precede a gas attack. Then try to avoid the offending ingredient.
Consider probiotics: Probiotics help some dogs. Forti Flora from Purina and Royal Canin’s Probiotic have worked well in my experience.
Figuring what’s causing your dog’s gas takes determination and attention to detail. But, with any luck, you can figure out at least part of the why behind your dog’s gas and arrange to avoid the inciting factors.
And, as we stated at the start, consider a veterinary check if your dog also has diarrhea or any other symptoms.
