Flatulence in dogs can be a discomfort for them and uncomfortable for the owner if the dog is living inside. The following can aid your dog in keeping it to a minimum.
Causes - Diet, eating habits, digestive disorders, parasites, vegetables and grass.
The diet of the dog can cause gas, different brands of dog food affect different dogs so slowly introduce a change of brand for a possible improvement. More often tinned foods cause more gas than home prepared, semi-moist or dry foods. It might have to do with the time it takes the dog to chew its food. Tinned food takes very little chewing and can be swallowed in large gulps which also would cause large amounts of air to be swallowed. Harder-to-chew-up meals seems to ensure that only the food is swallowed not air.
The eating habits of your dog, like gulping down its food should be discouraged. Training and smaller meals more often will help. It is natural for puppies in large litters to scoff down whatever they can as quickly as they can. Once weaned and away from brothers and sisters this habit should resolve. This can be another reason for flatulence.
The use of vegetables in the diet is good but excessive amounts. (especially cabbage and cauliflower) cause a lot of gas. Grass eating in excess can also cause flatulence. Always make sure that the meat you feed your dog is fresh, as any suspect meat can introduce bacteria, which will cause a foul gas and a possible gastric infection. This can develop into diarrhea.
Digestive disorders like viral and bacterial infections, gut abnormalities and diseases can also cause flatulence. If you are unable to improve the flatulence and your dog appears to be uncomfortable get the dog to the vet to examine it and apply treatment.
Worms are also culprits in causing flatulence. You may see the dog scooting and very uncomfortable around its back end. You may even see the worms on top of freshly done faeces. You have to check straight away as the worms do not like the light and move away from it.
Treatment:
-Reduce meal sizes and feed three to four times a day. (Rather than one big gulping meal).
- Change brands of dog food.
- Try fewer vegetables.
- Add yogurt or other live enzymes to the diet.
- De-worm the dog.
- Give charcoal tablets or biscuits to the dog
-available from vets, pharmacies or stock-feeds.
- Check the quality of the meat.
If you are unable to improve the flatulence and your dog appears to be uncomfortable get a vet to examine the animal, to ease your dogs discomfort.
On a more serious note, there could come a time when you have to make the gut wrenching decision to put your dog down. For a detailed procedure of dog euthanasia and to help prepare you for the day, there is a tutorial at
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