Farting Dogs: Stop the Dog Gas

Dog farts are the worse. Just when everyone settles in to watch a movie, you hear swissssh and you brace yourself for the nose-burning smell. It’s so gross, and extremely embarrassing when friends and family are visiting. While it’s impossible to eliminate all doggy gas, you can most certainly minimize gassy episodes.

It’s Not Always Food

For some reason, we always point to dog food when dogs have chronic gas. While dog food can cause gassy dogs, it’s not always the main cause. If your dog has been eating the same food forever and gas has recently become an issue, it’s not the food.

Usually, gas pops up when dogs have eaten odd things outside (sticks and bark), ingested a new chewie (bully sticks) or gotten into the garbage can. When this happens, gas episodes are short-lived over a couple of days. If it’s continuous, keep an eye on your dog outside and near the trashcan.

RELATED: Why Do Dogs Eat Strange Things?

Home Remedies for Dog Farts

Try New Dog Food

If your dog is eating a new food, expect gas until your dog has adjusted to the new food. Usually, this takes 7 to 14 days. Don’t forget to transition your dog to a new food slowly. Feed 25% new to 75% old food for two days. Then, feed 50%/50% of both dog foods for three days, and finally 75% new food to 25% old food for two days. Still, give your dog a bit more time to adjust to 100% of his new food. This can easily take another two weeks.

Add Fiber

If your dog’s gas can clear a room, then add a bit of fiber to each meal. Adding a teaspoon (one tablespoon for large dogs) of canned pumpkin, cooked oatmeal, or canned (and rinsed) green beans will keep gas to a minimum. Don’t overfeed fiber because that can certainly make gas worse. Start small and increase slowly if needed.

Provide Probiotics

Probiotics works wonders! My Bull Terrier developed horrendous gas after taking antibiotics for four weeks. I tried everything and finally put her on probiotics. Probiotics made a huge difference! Now, it’s not instant. It takes a couple of weeks of daily dosing, so be patient while you’re holding your nose. Check out my favorite probiotics here. I saw a quicker response by giving my dog Iams Prostora Max probiotics, so that’s worth a try as well.

You don’t have to live with dog gas forever. Do a bit of detective work first, and soon you’ll breathe fresh air during your next movie.