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Dog Flatulence
A Serious or "Passing" Issue?

My spouse and I know first hand that dog flatulence can be a real “pain in the butt!” There are days when we are stunned that such a stench can be produced by Tay Tay’s tiny little body.

I’m sure that most of you have experienced a similar stinky situation with your furry friends. But when the situation gets out of control, you start to wonder whether there might be something wrong. And if not, can you make it go away?

The main goal of this article is to try and help you pinpoint the cause of your dog’s flatulence and get rid of it…plain and simple.

First we’ll cover the natural digestion process.

Then it’s on to the causes…

Eating a poor quality dog food

Lack of exercise

Foods that are known to cause dog flatulence

Eating too fast

And we’ll wrap it up with the best natural treatments, supplements and foods.

Let’s get started…

The Natural Digestive Process

Let’s face the facts…we all have gas, and it can be embarrassing (and funny) at times!

You have to laugh at "doggie farts" sometimes too – especially after the smell wafts your way and your dog gives you that indifferent “what?” look. Flatulence is a natural part of normal digestion, but excessive flatulence can drain the patience of the most compassionate and understanding dog owners!

It happens when the digested food sitting in the intestines has not decomposed properly. This lack of full digestion can cause a buildup of gases. The blood absorbs most of the gases, but some of it transforms into flatulence.

Luckily, it is fairly easy to combat the problem of excessive dog flatulence by feeding healthy food, monitoring eating habits and making sure that exercise is part of the daily routine.

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Eating a Poor Quality Dog Food...

…is the number one cause of dog flatulence. We at Organic Pet Digest have focused much of our time and efforts on making sure that our readers are well informed about the importance of choosing one of the top 10 best dog food options.

It makes sense…right? What happens when you eat fast food for a few days in a row? Unless you have a stomach made of steel, you’ll probably end up with some uncomfortable digestive issues.

Same goes for your dog, whose digestive system mirrors yours.

If they eat a commercial dog food made from by-products and superficial fillers, then they are not going to be at optimal health and their digestive system may suffer, resulting in excessive flatulence, diarrhea and low energy.

If you are new to our site, we have many wonderful articles and tools to guide you through the commercial dog food maze, and help you come out on the other side with an excellent food choice for your dog!

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Lack of Exercise and Aging

Lack of exercise can cause flatulence in older dogs.

Exercise gets the body going and stimulates the intestines, making waste run through the body faster and easier. So… go on, take your dog for a nice long walk once a day.

If your dog is too old, try a shorter distance and a slower pace. Any exercise is better than none.

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Eating Foods that are Known to Cause Dog Flatulence

“Beans, beans, the musical fruit…”

It’s true that certain foods in our diets can cause flatulence, and these same foods can cause gas for your dog.

Common flatulence-causing foods include:

Beans of any sort
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cheese
Milk
Soybeans

Try to keep these flatulence-causing foods out of your dog’s diet, and check your dog’s food to see if it contains these ingredients.

Proteins in your dog’s food can also be the source. It is recommended that you try switching protein sources, slowly at first, to see if that might be the cause.

Foods that are rich in fiber can also help to move things along in the intestines. As we’ll discuss in further detail below, the daily use of a fiber supplement could help to regulate the dog flatulence problem altogether.

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Eating Food Too Fast

When it comes to meal time, does your dog dart to the bowl and suck down the food as if he hasn’t eaten in days?

Our dog builds up such anticipation for her food that she barely stops to breath! If your dog behaves similarly, it would be beneficial to modify his eating schedule to prevent this from happening.

Certain dogs eat too fast because they are concerned that someone or something is going to come along and steal it from them. Puppies that were born the runt of a litter often times display this type of behavior because they got pushed away from the food source by their siblings.

Dogs that have lived on the streets can also have this eating habit. They literally had to scrounge for their food and eat quickly while the food was available.

If you think that your dog is eating fast out of fear, then try moving the food bowl into a quiet, safe-feeling spot where they might feel less challenged.

Other dogs simply eat fast out of habit or simple hunger. Dogs that are particularly active might work up quite an appetite during the day and, as a result, eat their food too fast at night.

In order to stop the fast eating habit, try feeding a few smaller meals throughout the day instead of the typically recommended two per day. By feeding smaller amounts more frequently, you could eliminate the gorging and resulting digestive problems.

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Natural Treatments and Supplements

As discussed above, one of the main ways to control dog flatulence is to feed them a superb natural, well-rounded diet.

In addition, by adding fiber supplements to your dog’s diet you could help to ease the flatulence problem. Natural Moves for Pets is a good one.

The following supplements could also help to regulate your dog’s digestive system:

Digestive enzymes
Probiotics
Vitamin B complex

Many herbs could also be beneficial for your dog, including:

Cardamom
Chamomile
Fennel (foeniculum vulgare)
Fenugreek
Peppermint

GasBGone Herbal Formula contains a couple of these and more.

You can also try adding the following to your dog’s food:

Brown Rice
Fresh apple
Vegetables, excluding broccoli, cauliflower and beans
Yogurt

Click here for our recommended high fiber dog foods that include these and other digestion-regulating ingredients.

If you're still having problems or you're not sure what to do, you can always ask our veterinarians directly through My Online Vet MD.

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For additional research, search our site...

Also see...

High Fiber Dog Foods

10 Best Dog Food Options on the Market by Category

Dog Dietary Supplements

Finding the Right Veterinarian

Pet Insurance Reviews

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Dog Flatulence A Serious or "Passing" Issue?