Reasons for Flatulence in Dogs

We might all smile at the thought of a dog breaking wind. What might be funny once or twice, may actually be the signs of something more worrying. On most occasions, expelling gas is just a normal bodily function for your dog. While there may be nothing unusual with flatulence in your cockapoo, finding our why he experiences flatulence may help you to lessen the frequency or intensity of his gas.

When people suffer with a build-up of accumulated gases in their digestive system, one of the resultant effects is often flatulence. It is no different with dogs. Gas can build up in the digestive system if excessive amounts of air have been swallowed during eating, often as a result of eating too quickly. Your dog might burp this air back out, but if not, then he will likely expel it at the other end. Flatulence for this reason does not usually have an overpowering odor.

Gas is also produced in the intestinal tract as part of the process of digestion. Bacteria in the colon assists in breaking down food which was not digested in the stomach or in the small intestine. These gases will likely contribute to any unpleasant smells from your dog. Alternatively, if your dog has any disorder or disease associated with his digestive system, perhaps some kind of infection, then any of these conditions might also contribute to the production of excess gas, which must be expelled.

Consider your dog’s health and his diet, to see if you can identify any factors which might be contributing to unpleasant flatulence.

How to Decrease Flatulence in Dogs

Something which is surely of regular concern to you as a dog owner is the general health of your dog. Has he displayed any symptoms of ill health recently? If he has suffered from vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite as well as flatulence, he may very well have a problem with his digestive system. Your first action should certainly be to have him examined by your veterinarian before implementing any changes to his diet.

If the only symptom your dog is exhibiting is flatulence, it is still good sense to have him checked by your veterinarian first. Seek your vet’s advice in connection with the gas before taking action yourself and making changes. Dogs should receive a routine check-up every six to twelve months to monitor their health and any changes to their condition on a regular basis.

If your veterinarian gives your dog a clean bill of health, aside from the gas, then make your first action an analysis of his diet. Check the ingredients of the dog food which you purchase. Some dog foods contain by-products and so-called filling ingredients. Be aware also that some natural ingredients such as dairy, beans, soy, fruit and peas may cause gas production in your dog. Try switching the dog food that you buy, or even making your own organic dog food. You will know exactly what it is that your dog is eating, and can be confident of the quality of the ingredients.

Also, make sure you are not causing the problem by giving your cockapoo certain treats. Some treats have cheap ingredients, or even some expensive ingredients, that may be causing the issue. If you want to make sure it isn’t the treats, just withhold them entirely for a few days, and only give your dog bits of his normal kibble as a treat. If the gas disappears, but you still want to be able to treat your dog with something other than kibble, follow these recommendations.

Moving on, your dog may have a tendency to eat or drink too quickly. Slow him down by giving him several smaller meals during the day. Alternatively, try to slow him down by putting an obstacle, such as a play ball inside his bowl. Some dog food bowls are specially designed to encourage slower eating.

Much like humans, stress and anxiety can also play a factor in causing gas. When your dog is stressed, his body may slow down the digestive process, causing gas and cramps, and possibly even diarrhea. Try to maintain a calm home environment for your dog, especially after eating.

You may wish to try supplementing your dog’s diet with probiotics. For example, you could try the . While there are differing opinions as to the benefits of probiotics, you may wish to try all avenues to improve your dog’s digestive health. Other supplements such as Zinc acetate and Yucca schidigera have also been used to reduce the odor resulting from flatulence. Whilst these may not prevent the actual gas, it may likely decrease the offensive smell. Speak to your veterinarian for products specifically designed for dogs.

Instead of introducing many changes all at once, try each alteration one at a time. This way, you will be able to see if one particular change produces a good result. If you do not have success with individual changes, try combining the alterations or additions in turn. If your dog has any adverse reactions and develops loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or any other sign of sickness, consult your veterinarian straight away for advice and assistance.

As well as the above mentioned pro-active approach to resolving your dog’s gassy problem, you might include a short walk outside, around 30 minutes to an hour after eating. Gentle to moderate exercise will enable your dog’s body to move the gases along his digestive system, and hopefully expel them outside instead of within your home.

As you can see, all the things that can cause gas in people can also cause gas in dogs!