WHAT IS CANINE FLATULENCE?

Also referred to as passing gas, this stinky dog condition is both offensive and embarrassing to a dog owner. Gas is produced naturally in the intestines during digestion, and some dogs produce more than others. Usually, the obnoxious condition isn’t dangerous, but flatulence can be the sign of a health problem.

I’m sharing this entry about canine FLATULENCE, an excerpt from Dog Facts, The Series 6 (Chapter F). This chapter covers a lot of ground, and here’s the topic list:

Fading Puppy Syndrome, False Pregnancy, Fear, Fence, Feral, Flatulence, Fleas, Flower Essences, Flukes, Food, Food Additives, Food Supplements, Fracture, Frostbite, and Fungus.

I’ve broken the massive book into discounted treat-size alpha-chapter sections available ONLY to subscribers of my PETS PEEVES NEWSLETTER. Folks can choose which ones they most need. Each chapter will release every other week. Of course, you can still get the entire DOG FACTS book either in Kindle or 630+ pages of print.

WHAT CAUSES CANINE FLATULENCE?

What and how the dog eats influences how much gas will be produced, and ultimately passed. Inappropriate food supplements, snacking from the garbage, or any sudden change in diet can make the problem worse. Diets that include highly fermentable substances, large quantities of milk, or simply gulping air when eating or drinking are common causes.

Gorging allows food to stay in the stomach for extended periods, and tends to make dogs more prone to gas. Feed your dogs separately to cut down on competition. Slow the gulper by placing a large non-swallowable ball in the bowl so she must eat around it. Invest in a foraging feeder, bowls designed to make dogs work to reach the food.

REDUCING DOGGY STINK BOMBS

Try offering the dog a more digestible diet. Check the ingredient list on the package and ask your veterinarian to recommend an appropriate choice. Change diets gradually over a week’s period, by initially mixing two-thirds of the old diet with one-third new. Progress to half and half, then one-third to two-thirds, and finally the new diet entirely.

The flower essence crab apple can help bring the body back into balance. Add two or three drops onto your pet’s tongue or in his drinking water each day. Adding digestive enzymes to your dog’s food may also help. As your holistic veterinarian for a recommendation.

Another helpful option is garnishing the dog’s regular diet with a tablespoonful of plain yogurt, which contains beneficial bacteria that helps digestion and reduces flatulence. Many dogs love the flavor. As a last resort, your veterinarian may prescribe a human medication that contains simethicone and activated charcoal to control the gas. There is also an anti-gas veterinary product called CurTail that contains an enzyme that aids food digestion and reduces flatulence. Amazon also has a number of potential remedies for dog flatulence.

Do you suffer from doggy stink bombs? How do you manage gassy pets? Any successful tips you can share? Fire away! (pun intended…)

For more information, refer to posts on doggy diarrhea and managing food obsessed gulpers. 

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Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!