Flatulence in dogs (aka farting) is a result of excess gas in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s a completely normal biological process that can be linked with both dietary and non-dietary causes. Excessive gas can end up in the intestinal tract by being swallowed, produced during the digestion process, or caused by bacteria in the GI tract. Typically, the majority of these gasses are odorless; those that seem noxious likely contain hydrogen sulfide.
Why Is My Dog Gassy?
Unsurprisingly, there are lots of culprits to point your finger at when trying to find out why your dog keeps farting. If you suspect it could be a food allergy or intolerance, you can chat with your veterinarian to see if an elimination diet could help find the trigger.
Culprit #1: Swallowing Air
Dogs normally swallow some amount of air when eating. Our pups that eat very quickly tend to ingest more air with their meal. Dogs that aren’t able to breathe as well through their noses (brachycephalic breeds like pugs) may breathe more by mouth and in turn swallow more air.
Exercise that causes panting can even result in a larger amount of air being swallowed. What doesn’t come out by burping must come out the other end. Fortunately, this gas doesn’t usually have much odor.
Culprit #2: Eating Something New
Anything that can cause GI upset in dogs can also result in excessive gas. Hard-to-digest foods (like fatty table scraps) or spicy food can really upset your dog’s system, as can scarfing down garbage. Dairy products usually aren’t a good idea either, since most dogs are lactose intolerant. To help curb unwanted gaseous emissions, make sure to stick to a complete and balanced dog food and always follow the transition guidelines found on the back of the bag. And remember, if you’re transitioning your pup to a new food, it’s common that they’ll have some changes in their poop and gas in the beginning.
Culprit #3: Their Daily Diet
Flatulence related to dog food ingredients typically has something to do with the type and amount of carbs and dietary fiber in the formula. Carb sources are often cereal grains (corn, rice, barley), potatoes, legumes (peas, chickpeas, lentils), or a combination of these. Legumes are more likely to promote flatulence than any other carbohydrates (think beans!). Examples of dietary fibers in pet foods include tomato pomace, potato fiber, rice bran, dried chicory root, beet pulp, and miscanthus grass.
Dogs don’t digest dietary fiber, however, bacteria in the colon are able to break down the fibers and produce gas in the process. Some fibers, especially dried chicory root, are considered great prebiotics, supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. A high fiber diet usually leads to more gas-producing bacteria in the gut ultimately resulting in more gas. Some dogs respond better to certain fibers than others.
Food and treats that are made from low-quality ingredients, fillers, or artificial preservatives can also be to blame for why your dog is farting a lot.
Culprit #4: Larger Health Issues
Several health issues can also affect gas production by altering the normal function of the GI tract. Flatulence can be a symptom of conditions such as food allergy or intolerance, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and cancer. We recommend consulting your vet if your dog repeatedly has excessive gas and especially if they are showing any additional symptoms.
Want to help their tummy get back on track? The best thing you can do is start by feeding a high quality, highly digestible diet. During independent studies, our Jinx recipes received top scores for palatability (how it tastes), digestibility (how your dog processes it), and stool quality (no explanation needed there). We even added prebiotics and a patented probiotic to our recipes to help support a healthy gut.
When To Call the Vet About Your Gassy Dog
While flatulence in dogs is totally normal, if you’ve noticed your pup has smelly gas or a gurgling stomach many times a week, you might want to talk to your veterinarian.
Definitely get them checked out if their gas occurs alongside vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, appetite loss, and/or lethargy.
A Few More Things You Can Try…
You might be wondering how to relieve gas in dogs naturally or how you can update your routine to help out your nostrils. Luckily, there are many things you can try to keep the stinky gas at a minimum:
- Table scraps are off the table. Human food can be high in fat and sugar, which can make your dog bloated and uncomfortable.
- Slow down your dog’s eating with a puzzle feeder or snuffle mat. This can reduce the amount of air they swallow while they chow down.
- Feed smaller, more frequent meals.
- Avoid foods containing lactose, like milk or cheese.
- Avoid foods that produce gas in your pup’s belly, like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.
- Secure your trash can and be mindful of trash on the sidewalk they can get into.
- Exercise your dog regularly to help keep their GI tract functioning normally.
- Switch up their diet gradually to try different ingredients and carb/fiber content.
Some methods will work for your dog, while others won’t seem to help at all. If you run into the latter, consider feeding your dog a mix of dry and wet foods.
My Dog Has Bad Gas. What Can I Give Him?
Make sure you’re providing the right amount of protein through meals and treats. In general, you should feed your dog more protein than carbs, but feeding only or too much red meat could also lead to excess gas. Adding a probiotic supplement to their meals can also promote healthy digestion. Good news for Jinx households: Our kibble recipes already feature probiotics, the perfect blend of protein, fat and carbs, and easy-to-digest ingredients.
Always ask your veterinarian first if you’re considering giving your dog over-the-counter anti-gas medication.
Next time you find yourself asking, “why does my dog fart so much?!” check out the potential culprits above. Likely, there will be one if not many methods you can try immediately to help reduce your dog’s smelly gas.