CHRONICALLY GASSY DOGS: OVERVIEW
1. If your dog seems to always have gas, make an appointment for a veterinary examination to rule out serious problems. Chronic flatulence may be a symptom of pancreatic disease, intestinal disease, parasites, or irritable bowel syndrome.
2. If you haven’t already, switch from that bargain-basement food to a high-quality food rich in animal proteins.
3. Keep track of the ingredients – at least, the major sources of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats – in each food you give your dog, and whether his gas improves or worsens with each. It may be that his problem is with one type of grain.
Borborygmus is not a sun-drenched isle in the Mediterranean. Nor is it an exotic species of houseplant. Borborygmus is the term given to the rumbling-gurgling sound one hears as precursor to flatulence, the expulsion of intestinal gas. Every dog lover is bound to experience their canine pal’s flatulence from time to time – some more than others.
This brings us to the latest case in my life. Just minutes ago, Cedar, my Australian Cattle Dog, scored a mouth-watering bite of my bean and cheese burrito. Cedar loves food – any food – and contrary to my better judgment sometimes I will slip him a treat that doesn’t quite fit into the scheme of natural canine nutrition.
And someone always pays the price.
Sure enough, a cry of disgust resonates from the other room, “Oh Cedar! What on earth died inside of you!?”
The truth is quite the opposite; nothing has actually died inside of Cedar. In fact, millions of Clostridia and other intestinal flora are very much alive and are working overtime to metabolize his treat. The problem is, they are doing a poor job.
Why? Because dogs, being carnivores, do not digest carbohydrates very well. Their bodies are deficient in the digestive enzymes needed to break down the indigestible fiber, oligosaccharides, and other carbohydrates that are contained in my burrito. So, rather than being properly digested, the flour, beans, and cheese of my burrito are fermenting in his intestine, causing the production of hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and other gasses that lead to…Well, you know what.
Fortunately, Cedar’s flatulence will be short-lived. He has a cast iron stomach, and he seldom has bad gas. And of course, this bout could have been avoided altogether – but Cedar just loves his occasional bite of a bean and cheese burrito, and who am I to deprive him of a little decadence once in awhile?
Unfortunately, many other dogs seem to always have gas. And sadly, many people accept this as simply the way their dogs are. In fact, some dog owners even punish their companions for having chronic gas – by forcing them to live outside, never go on car rides, or prohibiting them from socializing with human house guests.
This does not have to be. Even the most severe cases of chronic flatulence can usually be corrected.
What Are Some Causes of Flatulence in Dogs?
Hard-to-digest foods like table scraps or spicy foods can give your dog an upset stomach, which can result in excessive gas or excessively smelly gas. Feeding them food or snacks with low-quality ingredients, fillers, or artificial preservatives can also give your dog gas.
If your dog is fed a high-quality diet and still has excessive gas, your veterinarian can test to see if they have poor digestion. They can also try to identify or an intolerance or allergy your dog may have by eliminating ingredients from their diet and reintroducing them again.Â
Dogs who eat quickly will swallow more air while eating, which also leads to more flatulence.Â
Hello this could be gas in his stomach or intestines. If he is yelping in pain this could be something more like back pain, neck pain, or GI upset. If he is painful, it would be best to see a vet. They can determine the cause of this pain and give him something to help him feel much better.
Treatment for gastrointestinal dysfunction will vary according to the type and specific presentation of the illness as determined by the veterinarian. Acute gastroenteritis sometimes resolves itself, while parasite infections will require medication and decontamination of the animal’s living space. Inflammatory bowel disease has some treatments available, but is not well understood, and is often resistant to the available treatments. Some dogs do well on strict hypoallergenic diets.
While some amount of flatulence is normal, excessive or sudden onset may indicate a problem. Symbiotic bacteria in the intestines help digest fiber and other components the dog is not able to fully digest itself. In the process of digestion, these bacteria produce gasses. If the dog is unable to digest enough of these foods before they reach the intestine, excessive gas may be produced. The veterinarian will want a detailed account of the kind of food your pet is eating, the frequency and type of any treats, and whether it has been allowed to roam unsupervised (during which time it may have eaten something without your knowledge). Be sure to mention if your dog eats extremely quickly or “wolfs” its food. If no other symptoms are present, such as vomiting or diarrhea, the veterinarian may suspect a dietary cause.
IBD can be managed in many cases with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medication as well as a hydrolysed diet. Follow your veterinarian’s advice and monitor your dog closely. Flatulence is the least distressing symptom of IBD, so even if it cannot be successfully controlled, it does not pose a serious threat to your dog’s health.
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, without being able to see him, it is difficult for me to say what might be going on, but if he is not eating and seems gassy, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian. They will be able to examine him, see what might be causing this, and get treatment for him. I hope that he is okay.
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Stomach swelling in dogs can be a life-threatening emergency, or it can be as simple as your dog eating too much.
To keep your canine companion in good health, it helps to know the signs of dog stomach problems and what you can do when they happen.