February 2, 2022
Does it sometimes feel like your dog is unleashing chemical warfare on your home? In this article we examine the main causes of excessive flatulence and ways to help reduce it.
A flatulent dog can be the butt of the family’s jokes (no pun intended), and is often a scapegoat for many human indiscretions….
If air quality in your home needs a bit of an upgrade due to your dog’s flatulence, then this article will help explain what may be going on, and how you can reduce the offending odours.
So why are some dogs gassier than others, and what can we do to minimise it?
Excessive bottom burps are due to inefficient and incomplete digestion of food. There are three main factors that affect digestion, and we will look at each of these below:
Poor Quality Food
If you put rubbish in - you get rubbish out!
Highly processed foods contain low quality ingredients, fillers, and artificial preservatives that are very hard for the body to digest. Most people now know that a diet of heavily processed kibble is not the best option for dogs as it commonly consists of poor quality meat, grain, rancid fats and chemicals.
The more removed a diet is from fresh, whole foods, the harder the body has to work to digest it. As the body struggles to digest the food, the undigested particles cause a build up of gas in the intestinal tract and colon.
Breed Traits
Some of the worst offenders of chronic flatulence are British Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Rottweilers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The short-nosed breeds tend to swallow a lot of air when eating, which passes through the stomach and intestines before being released.
Some breeds are known to have a weaker digestive system and are therefore pre-disposed to food allergies and intolerances i.e. Irish Setters, Shar-Peis and Labrador Retrievers to name just a few. These breeds in particular require quality foods to help the digestive process and minimise gas build up.
Spinal Health
As an Animal Kinesiologist, this is my main area of interest as it is often overlooked as a source of the problem.
Dogs carrying tension in their mid-back area are more prone to flatulence. This links with acupressure and the location of the stomach association point.
This point is crucial to the energy flow to the stomach. When compromised by either a spinal misalignment or muscle tension, the energy flow is disrupted. As a result, the ability of the stomach to churn food with gastric juices is reduced. It is always worth checking to see if your dog has any discomfort around this point.
Slow Down Your Speed Eater
Introduce a slow-feeding dish to prevent your dog gulping down food and air at the same time. There are many options available on the market, but serving your dog’s food spread out on a flat tray gives a similar result as it slows down the intake of food.
Exercise
Daily exercise helps the function of the digestive system and works gases through the intestinal tract which means smaller releases of gas in the fresh air, instead of gas bombs from your couch potato dog!
Diet
Switch to a high quality diet made with fresh whole foods with no added fillers. Try this Premi Yum recipe! Avoid dairy products in particular as dogs are lactose intolerant. When changing your dog’s diet, remember to introduce new foods slowly and give the digestive system time to adjust.
Probiotics
If you recognise that your dog has a weak digestive system and is prone to food intolerances, consider adding probiotics to help balance the gut bacteria and improve the efficiency of the digestive process.
Physical Check-Up
An animal physical therapist will be able to check your dog for any spinal tension, releasing and realigning the spinal muscles to improve posture as well as increasing energy flow to the digestive organs.
If symptoms still persist, it could mean there is a more serious underlying problem. Check in with your veterinarian to explore other causes. More serious causes of flatulence can be:
- Colitis (Inflammation of the large intestine or colon)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Pancreatitis
- Intestinal Parasites
Supporting your dog’s digestive health has a huge impact on their overall wellbeing. A happy digestive system, means a happy dog - and human!
Claire Oats
Specialist Animal Kinesiologist B.Sc, Dip Kin
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About the author
Claire Oats is a Specialist Animal Kinesiologist and Canine Behaviourist from Perth. Claire has worked with dogs for the last 25 years and specialises in resolving behaviour problems using Kinesiology techniques to remove physiological, neurological and emotional stress.
Please note: Claire's blog is general advice only. For further information on this topic please consult your veterinarian.
