Why Does My Dog Fart So Much And How To Stop It

Diet and food ingredients

One of the reasons why your dogs may be passing out a lot of gas can be because of the diet and food ingredients that they are having. Some foods are hard to digest while some are not. Different foods have different characteristics and properties which play an important role in the dog's digestive tract functions.

High-fiber food

Foods that have high levels of fiber can be difficult for dogs to digest completely. The fibers can ferment in the digestive system of the dogs resulting in producing gas as a byproduct. The foods that are high in fiber are green vegetables, grains, some commercial dog foods, etc.

Dairy products

Most dogs are lactose intolerant, which means their bodies do not produce enough digestive enzymes called lactases. Because of this, the body of a dog cannot break down lactose in milk and dairy products like butter, cheese, ghee, and many more.

This causes the lactose to undigest resulting in gas production.

Certain vegetables

Some vegetables are hard to digest which can cause gas in the intestines due to fragmentation. They produce a lot of gas as they break down resulting in excessive farting by your dogs. Some of these vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.

Low-quality dog foods

Dog foods that are low in quality ingredients, fillers, and have large amounts of artificial additives added can be hard for the dogs to digest. This may result in poor digestion and fart production. Such foods may contain more fillers like corn, soy, wheat, etc.

High-fat foods

Diets with high fat can slow down the digestive process. This leads to more fermentation and gas production. In other words, slow digestion due to high fat allows the bacteria more time to produce gas. They include coconut oil, fatty meats, etc.

Processed food and additives

Preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors are added to processed foods. This can cause an upset digestive system as some dogs may not be able to digest them properly. For example: highly processed kibbles and treats.

Carbohydrate-rich foods

Foods high in carbohydrates like sugar and starches can be difficult for your dogs to digest. High levels of carbohydrates can ferment in the stomach, taking more time to digest or sometimes not being digested at all, causing more gas production.

Spoiled or contaminated food

Consuming foods that are spoiled or contaminated can upset the digestive system of your dog. Having such food can even cause gastrointestinal distress, leading to more gas production in the stomach. They can be expired dog food, bacteria-contaminated food, etc.

Swallowed air

Swallowed air, medically known as aerophagia, is the process of swallowing too much air while eating, drinking, or even breathing. This is caused when the air turns into gas and enters the stomach and digestive system.

Your dog may swallow more air if they are eating quickly, or breathing heavily when they are excited or anxious, leading more gas to be trapped in the stomach. Immediate exercise after eating can also lead your dogs to swallow more air due to excessive panting.

When the dogs have consumed more air, it turns into a gas in the dog's stomach, which seeks a way to come out resulting in excessive farting.

Sudden dietary change

If your dogs eat certain diet foods regularly, then their body is used to that. They are already comfortable with it and follow a routine, but when you suddenly change your dogs' dietary plan, this can also result in more farting. A sudden dietary change can cause disturbance in the digestive system of your dog, as it needs to manage its path and make adjustments.

Sudden dietary changes can also cause your stomach bacteria, which help in digestion, to be disturbed as it has been following a routine. The imbalance of bacteria can lead to more gas production. This takes time for your digestive system to adjust to a new routine and plan.

Poor digestive system

The digesting power of dogs is limited so if they overeat at the same time, it'll be hard for the digestive tract of the dogs to process and digest them. In this situation, the dog will have a gas problem as the engine cannot do its work properly.

Similarly, your dogs' health also decreases along with their age. The older they become the more they will face many digestive problems including gas. Along with old age, if your dog is taking extra medicine this may also cause them excess gas as a side effect. 

When your dogs are stressed and anxious, in that situation as well, your dog's digestive system does not work properly. You still need to consider these factors, as they can also be the main reason for your dog's farting.

Food Allergies Or Intolerances

Certain dogs may be allergic to certain foods for various reasons. If your dog is allergic to any food, consuming them can also cause the dog to indigestion problem. While some dogs may not be allergic to any foods, they just may be intolerant to those foods. In this case, they also cannot digest properly.

If your dogs are allergic to any food or if they cannot tolerate it, it's better to keep them away in case other problems may arise.

While it's often normal for the dogs to pass gas, sometimes this can also occur because of some serious health problem in your dogs. You need to be more considerate if you think this is the reason behind your dogs' gas because it can lead to more serious issues.

The health problems that are causing your dogs to fart more are mostly associated with the dogs' stomach, digestive tract, digestive system, and so on basically with the part that helps in digestion. All these problems don't let your body function and digest properly which won't allow you to digest fully.

Some of the common health issues that cause your dogs to pass on more gas are Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),  Intestinal parasites or infections, Cancer, Pancreatitis, Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and many more. These problems are combined with other symptoms like cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in appetite, and weight loss.

Dietary adjustments

One of the reasons for this may be because of unadjusted diets in your dogs' food plan. Certain foods which are high in fiber, fat, etc can cause this problem. If this is the reason, then you need to ensure there is a balanced diet and are of high quality with adequate amount of fillers and artificial ingredients. 

If you are planning to switch your dog's food, you must do it slowly to avoid an upset stomach. You must not let them consume gas-providing foods like dairy products, beans, foods high in fats, etc. You can also switch to easily digested foods.

Not all diet foods are supported to reduce your dog's farting. You should have basic knowledge about it, or you must consult someone who knows it more. Proper dietary adjustments can create healthy balanced food for your dog, which helps them to have a healthy life.

Slow feeding techniques

When the dogs eat fast, they consume more air which turns into gas when they reach the stomach. Let your dogs eat slowly to decrease the intake of air and improve digestion. You can use slow feeder bowls as they have raised sections and patterns to make it difficult for dogs to access their food. This helps to slow down their eating process.

Instead of giving a large portion to your dog, you can also give them small portions from time to time or you can also place the portions in different locations. If you are comfortable, then you can also feed your dogs through your hand which can slow down the eating process and even increase the bond between you and your dog.

Slow eating is also considered to be a healthy eating way. This technique can help your dog to live a healthy life with good eating habits and a proper digestive system.

Probiotics and digestive supplements

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that have health benefits when your dogs consume them. Supplements are a mixture of several ingredients that attempt to provide all the necessary nutrients to your dogs. Probiotics and supplements can help to maintain and improve your dog's digestive health and have a healthy stomach.

They break down foods, making nutrition more accessible and maintaining a balance of healthy bacteria in the intestine. Some of the digestive supplements are probiotics, fennel, ginger, yucca, etc. Combining them with a healthy balanced diet can help improve your dog's digestive system a lot.

Exercise and activity levels

Exercise and activity levels are important for dogs not only when they have digestive issues, but for their overall health and well-being. They also show a positive impact on the dog's physical health, mental condition, and behavior.

Exercise and activities will allow your dogs to be physically engaged, which helps in digesting your dog's food easily. You should make them both physically and mentally engaged so that they can digest their food properly.

They help to maintain your dog's weight, cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and also flexibility. Your dogs can also become more stress-free and less anxious. This helps your dog to socialize more. However, the exercise and activity levels, however, depend on the dog's age, size, and health condition.

Farting sometimes or occasionally is normal for all dogs, but if your dog suddenly starts passing gas more frequently than usual followed by greater intensity, then you must be concerned about your dog's health. Sudden onset or increase in gas can be a sign of serious dietary issues. You should try to find out the reason behind it.

Sometimes it can also be followed by other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc so you must be concerned. This may be because of some other reasons or some other serious health problem that your dog is facing.

Order in the gas is normal, but the worse the order is, the more serious the problem is. While there is a mild order in every gas, if the gas has become more smelly, then it indicates that there are more serious digestive issues and an imbalance in the stomach bacteria. If you realize a foul order in the gas left by your dog, then you must consult the dog's doctor.

Problems in the diet can lead to this problem, but if your dogs still have more gas despite you changing the dietary plan and switching to different foods in your dogs' diet, this may be because you are missing something in the change. Try adjusting it, but if this continues, then you must consult your vet and ask for the reasons and suggestions. 

If your dogs are already suffering from some health problems related to the digestive system, a small change in their digesting process or their fart should be monitored. If your dogs are consuming medication, this can also affect it. This may also include a medical condition that affects digestion. 

Certain breeds like Bulldogs, Boxers, or other short-nosed dogs have gas problems due to their body structure. In that case, being an owner, you must be considerate toward them and take them for occasional checkups. A slight change or increase in gas in these breeds must be observed and consulted. If not, this can lead to a more severe issue. Yet if you face these problems with your dog, you must see a veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Breed Predisposition
• Underlying health conditions
• Persistent flatulence despite diet change
• Accompanying symptoms
• Foul order
• Sudden onset or increase in gas