There’s something particularly noxious about the smell of a flatulent dog. If you share your life with a windy pup, you well know how unpleasant it is to be near them. Fortunately, there’s no need to put up with the smell because there are a number of things you can try to improve your situation.
Gas in your dog’s intestines comes from two sources. Most dogs swallow air when they eat, especially if they gulp their meal quickly. This air has to get out somehow, so either it makes its way back up to the mouth as a burp, or it moves along the gastrointestinal tract and causes flatulence. The other source of gas in the intestinal tract is bacteria. Dogs have a resident population of bacteria that plays a role in digesting food, particularly fiber. The gas produced by the bacteria smells particularly bad.
It makes sense that to cut down on the amount of smelly wind your dog passes, you need to stop them from swallowing as much air and reduce gas production by bacteria in their intestines. If your dog’s flatulence problem is a recent occurrence, then a visit to your vet is in order to make sure that there isn’t a medical issue with their digestive tract. Otherwise, here are some things you can try on Fido; one of them may make a difference.
1. Stop your dog from gulping their meal. This should cut down on the amount of air they swallow. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is to purchase a food bowl with bumps in the bottom that is specifically for this purpose. If you want to save your dollars, feed your dog from a muffin pan with some kibble in each space. Alternatively, put a smaller bowl upside down in their main bowl so that they have to eat around it. Some people put a large rock or two in their dog’s dinner bowl to serve the same purpose but if you want to try this, make sure that it’s too large for your dog to swallow.
2. Change what you feed your dog to a kibble that’s highly digestible and with low residue. Ask your vet for advice if you’re not sure. The reason behind using this type of food is that there is less digestible food material reaching their large intestine, and that’s where the bacteria do their job. If there’s not as much material for them to digest, then there shouldn’t be as much gas production.
3. There have been claims that prebiotics or probiotics may help. Prebiotics are food ingredients that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Probiotics are strains of bacteria that are good for the digestive tract. Neither will do your dog any harm so while you may or may not find them helpful, they’re worth a try. Similarly, anti-gas products that are available over the counter from a pet store or your vet can also be tried; just make sure that you follow the directions closely.
4. Stop feeding your pooch any of your leftovers. Some of them can be high in fiber and this can trigger fermentation. Some aren’t easily digested; for example, dogs lack the enzyme needed to digest dairy products properly. Ideally, feed your dog their usual food and leave human foods out of their dinner bowl.
If your dog’s flatulence has you gasping for air, try the tips above. If you have other tips, please share them below.
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