Flatulence in Dogs

Why some dogs fart a lot, and how to prevent it!

This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian, Dr Carla Paszkowski, BVSc (Hons)

Is your dog farting up a storm? Flatulence, or excessive gastrointestinal gas, is a common and stinky problem suffered by dogs all over the world. As funny as the odd 'fluff' may be, excessive gas may be a sign that something is wrong with your dog's guts. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to help solve this stinky issue - and most of them won't break the bank!

Is it normal for dogs to fart?

The first thing to clear up is that the odd fart is completely normal for dogs - just as it is for humans! However, just like humans, the odd 'gassy' day is fine but ongoing chronic farting and any putrid smelling gas is absolutely worth investigating.

Contents

1. What causes flatulence in dogs?

2. Veterinary tests that may be required

3. Treatment of flatulence in dogs

4. The Best Diets for dogs with flatulence

5. The best Supplements for dogs with flatulence

What causes flatulence in Dogs?

Farting in dogs can be caused by something as harmless as a change in diet, but it also could be a sign of an underlying gastrointestinal issue. The most common causes of dog farting include:

1. Unbalanced gut microflora

The microbes living in the gut are a surprisingly vital part of the body and gastrointestinal system. The population of microbes in the gut is also known as the 'gastrointestinal microbiome' or 'gut microflora'. All animals (including dogs) have billions of 'good bacteria' in their gut microbiome. These bugs help fight infections, strengthen the immune system, digest food, and produce nutrients for absorption.

A healthy microbiome should have a varied and diverse population made up of a mix of different microbe species - this healthy mix is also known as 'biodiversity'. A microbiome that is less biodiverse, or has a 'bad' species growing in dominant quantities, can be caused by a course of antibiotics, a change in diet, a parasite infection, food poisoning, when weaning off puppy milk, or during times of stress. Disrupted microflora can lead to a range of signs including flatulence.

To promote biodiversity in your dog's gut microbiome, it can help to feed a varied diet rich in prebiotics, and consider probiotic supplements too. Rather than go into detail here, we suggest reading our article: Probiotics for Dogs.

2. The wrong diet

Tying in closely with the section above, the wrong diet can lead to excessive gas production in dogs. This could be caused by a number of different mechanisms:

Poor quality food that is hard to digest. Cheap pet food is usually made with poor quality ingredients, which are hard to digest and the nutrients are not absorbed well. This can lead to bloating and gas.

Poor quality fibre. Cheap food is also made with heavily processed sources of poor quality fibre (sometimes referred to as 'fillers'). These can release excessive gas when the gut microbes try to break them down.

High fibre content. Diets high in fermentable fibre sources such as soy, peas, beans, chickpeas, legumes, lactulose, psyllium, or oat bran, can lead to excess gas production.

High fat content. Dogs that are fed a high fat diet, such as a puppy food, excessive leftovers, or a diet with high meat content, are known to fart more.

Raw meat and bones. raw meat diets and bones are common causes of diarrhoea and gas in pets due to the high level of harmful bacteria present. (Remember, there's a reason us humans cook our meat before eating it!)

Spoiled food. Just as in humans, eating off food can lead to gastrointestinal upset and gassiness.

A sudden change in diet. If your dog has been eating one pet food for a long time, a sudden change can lead to gas (as well as diarrhoea). Feeding a rotation diet can help keep your dog's tummy primed and used to changes in dietary ingredients.

Milk, dairy products, or spicy food. Dogs can be very sensitive to dairy and spicy food, and may experience diarrhoea or gas after consuming them. Best to keep your butter chicken and spicy vindaloo to yourself!

Food intolerances. Food intolerance can present as chronic gas or diarrhoea, and will often wax and wane. There is a common myth that grain is a common cause of food allergies, however studies show that the most common food allergens for dogs include chicken, dairy, wheat, beef, and pork.

Read my top suggestions for dogs with a touchy tummy in my other article The Best Diets for Pets with a Sensitive Stomach.

3. A gastointestinal illness

There are a number of gastrointenstinal problems that can lead to flatulence in dogs; the most common of which include:

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Intestinal Parasites

Enteritis

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Food allergy

Most of these illnesses are usually accompanied by other gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting. Your vet will be able to rule out these diseases with testing.

4. Air Swallowing

Air swallowing, or aerophagia, can lead to farting simply due to the passage of gas through the gastrointestinal system. Aerophagia is particularly common in flat-faced ('brachycephalic') breeds such as pugs, boxers, cavalier king charles spaniels, and french bulldogs. Due to the malformed nature of their upper respiratory tract, these breeds tend to swallow a lot of air when they eat or drink.

Dogs who eat quickly (often aptly referred to as 'inhaling' their food) may also swallow air. To remedy this, you may like to try a puzzle feeder or snuffle mat to help slow down mealtime.

Feeding your dog straight after exercise can also lead to air swallowing, as your dog may pant while they are eating. Always give your dog ample time to cool down after physical activity.

Diagnostic tests for dogs with flatulence

If your dog has excessive gas for longer than a few days, your vet may suggest some of the following tests:

Faecal examination and Faecal egg float - your vet may examine your dog's faeces under a microscope to observe for any abnormal microbe overgrowths or worm eggs

Faecal culture - a more accurate lab test that determines which bacteria are dominant in your pet's faeces. This is particularly useful if your dog has not responded to antibiotics

Blood and Urine Tests - this can help determine if any underlying illnesses are present, such as endocrine diseases or pancreatic insufficiency

Abdominal ultrasound - this helps determine if there are any structural issues such as a tumour, torsion, or foreign bodies

Elimination diet - a way of diagnosing food allergies. This dietary trial involves feeding a hydrolysed (allergen-free) diet for 4-6 weeks and then introducing one ingredient every week to observe for a reaction.

Treatment of Flatulence in dogs

Photo credit: Hal Gatewood from unsplash

The usual remedy for dogs with excessive farting is a swap to a highly digestible diet that is low in fibre and fat. This type of diet helps reduce the amount of food that needs to be digested and absorbed before reaching the colon. See the section on diets below for our top recommended diets for flatulence.

Other non-medicated products that can help relieve flatulence include prebiotics (such as psyllium husk or Yucca schidigera) or probiotic supplements. See our section on supplements below for our top recommended probiotics for flatulence.

Medication for flatulence in dogs?

In severe cases, and only if the dog is not responding to a digestible diet and pre/probiotic therapy, medication may be required. Medical therapy may include flatulence relieving compounds including carminatives such as zinc acetate.