How to Reduce Doggy Flatulence

While gas passing is not the most pleasant topic, it is certainly more peasant to talk about than it is to experience it first hand. Some dogs rarely pass gas while others have their owner’s leaving the room or opening a window to get away from the unpleasant odor. If you have ever had the pleasure of trying to curl up and watch a movie in the same room with a dog with a bad case of gas then you know just how unpleasant doggy flatulence can be! While you can not prevent a dog from farting just as you can’t prevent a human being from doing so, but there are things you can do to reduce the occurrence.

1. Try to reduce the size of your dog’s meals by feeding three or four times a day rather than one or two. Dogs have a tendency to wolf down their food and when he is eating a large meal a significant amount of air is swallowed in the process. When several small meals are eaten throughout the day your dog is less hungry and less likely to wolf down their food. Smaller quantities of food also ensure less air is swallowed, thus producing less gas in you dog.

2. Change brands of dog food. Experiment with different foods until you find one that causes your dog to pass less gas. Generally speaking this will be a food with fewer vegetables and more protein. Dogs can eat vegetables; however, they are not as important to them as they are humans and are likely a culprit if your dog has excessive gas. Vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage are the worst offenders, but excessive vegetables of any kind can cause gas in dogs.

3. Stop your dog from eating grass. Eating grass is instinctual for some dogs. They tend to eat it for the moisture inside, but it can tear up their intestinal tracts. Dogs often gorge on grass and their bodies tend to respond with foul smelling gas and even vomit.

4. Add enzymes to your dog’s diet. Try adding plain yogurt with active cultures to your dog’s food. Yogurts contain good bacteria in the form of priobiotics which are living organisms that adjust the natural balance in the organisms within the intestines. This will help reduce flatulence and diarrhea and generally regulate your dog’s gastrointestinal system. This works very well for dogs and humans alike, but it takes several days to a few weeks to take effect. You might enjoy flavoring and fruit in your yogurt, but skip it in favor of plain for your dog as the fruit and preservatives might further irritate his gas problem.

5. Take your dog to the Veterinarian. Excessive gas can be a sign of an underlying health problem, particularly worms. Symptoms of a worm infection from hookworms, roundworms, heartworms and tapeworms all include gas and bloating. Some of these diseases are relatively easy to treat; however, others can be fatal so it is very important to make sure that the gas is not caused by a worm infestation.

6. Add charcoal to your dog’s diet. If the Vet confirms there are no worms present then he might suggest adding medicinal biscuits made of activated charcoal. Do not mistake this suggestion for regular charcoal briquettes as used on the grill as they are dramatically different. Charcoal briquettes can seriously harm your dog while medicinal charcoal biscuits are made from food grade charcoal and will relieve flatulence, heartburn and upset stomach. The charcoal relieves these conditions because it is extremely absorbent and will suck in excess gas built up in the stomach and intestines.