What Causes Flatulence in Dogs?

Flatulence in dogs can be a difficult problem for any dog lover. Although in many cases the odors are generally harmless and nothing more than an annoyance, there are times when gas in dogs can be a symptom of a serious problem that requires the assistance of a medical professional.

  1. Swallowed Air

    • Most gas in dogs is caused from an excess of swallowed air. It is important to determine the times this is most likely to occur in dogs and take preventative measures. Some instances when dogs swallow too much air is when they eat food too rapidly, compete with other dogs for food, or immediately eating after exercising. There are also certain respiratory diseases that cause the excessive swallowing of air.

    Difficult-to-Digest Foods

    • A dog's diet is important to its overall health. The food created specifically for dogs on the market today is ideal for most dogs, and generally don't cause a lot of flatulence. Ingesting certain types of "people food," though, may cause flatulence. Culprits include soybeans, beans, peas, high fat foods, dairy products, spicy foods, and foods that are high in fiber content.

    Gastrointestinal Disease in Dogs

    • Although flatulence in dogs is usually not serious, there are occasions where it can be a more complicated problem. When a gastrointestinal is the cause of gas in dogs, there are usually additional symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and a loss of appetite. When these symptoms are present, consult a veterinarian.

    Digestive Enzyme Problems

    • Part of the digestion process for dogs is when enzymes break down food in the intestines. In some cases of gas in dogs, there is a buildup of gas in the intestines. For these cases, there are enzyme supplements that can be given to a dog before or during a meal to prevent the gas buildup in the intestines that leads to excessive gas.

    Too Much Food at One Time

    • When a dog eats too much food at one time, it can cause problems with gas. By spacing out meals to two or three times a day instead of once, a dog will not overeat but still maintain proper nutrition (also important to eliminate flatulence).