Q. Why does my dog keep farting? It stinks!
Farting, or flatulence, originates from gas in the intestinal tract.
This gas may be produced by:
- swallowing air when eating, especially when dogs eat quickly
- short-nosed breeds who frequently breathe through their mouth
- bacteria in the intestines
Bacteria digesting fibre in the large intestine is the primary culprit of odourous gas. Thus, a diet high in fibre or an intolerance to certain dietary ingredients may predispose dogs to flatulence.
Tips to reduce flatulence include:
- Feed several small meals a day instead of one large meal
- Use feeding bowls with projections that reduce the speed of eating
- Avoid certain ingredients like dairy products, soy, and peas
- Feed a short-term low-residue diet to slow bowel movements
“Residue” refers to undigested food, including fibre, which ends up in your dog’s stools. Thus, a low-residue diet, as you may have guessed by now, involves feeding ingredients that are easily digested and produce less waste.
That is so that your dog’s body can absorb most of the nutrients before they reach the colon, where the gas-forming bacteria live.
By temporarily avoiding ingredients that are high in fibre (e.g. grains) or increase bowel activity (e.g. milk), you would see a decrease in gas and the frequency and volume of your dog’s stools.
Photo credit: unclebumpy via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
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Dr. Brian Loon graduated from Murdoch University, Western Australia in 2007 and has since been practising as a small animal veterinarian in Singapore. His areas of special interest include diagnostic ultrasonography, endoscopy, and minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery (laparoscopy).
He is also certified in Veterinary Acupuncture with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) and a certified and registered member of PennHIP, an internationally known modality for diagnosing hip dysplasia in cats and dogs.
