The dog did it! Here’s what you can do to treat stinky dog flatulence problems.

Everyone knows that old trick of blaming your gas on the dog, but sometimes you do come across an exceptionally windy pooch. While a little bit of gas is normal for dogs, if your canine companion routinely clears rooms with his noxious odors, then it’s probably high time that you acted. Not only is this stinky problem unpleasant for those who share space with your pup, it could also be the result of a more serious, underlying condition.

Underlying Issues

If your dog has serious gas – especially if it’s paired with abdominal pain, diarrhea or loss of appetite – it may be indicative of a more serious medical problem. Conditions that can cause dog flatulence include inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, internal parasites and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. It’s best to rule out anything serious to begin with, particularly if the gas problem has only started recently and your dog hasn’t had any recent dietary changes. Once an underlying issue has been ruled out, you can tackle the usual suspects.

Related:Rotation Feeding for Dogs

Diet

Some dogs have problems with flatulence because of their diet. As a rule, you should avoid giving your pooch milk or any other dairy products, as most dogs are lactose intolerant. Additionally, eating too many beans or legumes, spicy foods or fatty foods can lead to excess gas. It’s possible for gas to be caused by an issue with food absorption, in which case, your dog should be eating a good quality food that’s highly digestible and low in fiber. Flatulence can also be caused be a rapid change in diet, so if you do plan on changing your dog’s food, do so gradually.

Losing Weight

If your pooch is overweight or doesn’t get enough exercise, he may suffer from increased dog flatulence, regardless of how healthy his diet is. The best way to cut out problems with gas in an obese dog is simply to make sure he loses some weight, through increased exercise and a calorie-controlled diet.

Related:Green Interactive Feeder For Fast Eaters

Eating Speed

We’ve all seen how quickly dogs can devour food when they want to, but this can be an issue when it comes to flatulence. Dogs who eat quickly tend to swallow air as they’re eating, which leads to an increased amount of gas. If your pooch is the kind of dog who can inhale his dinner in the blink of an eye, consider getting a special food bowl which will encourage slower eating. There are a number of these bowls on the market, so you should be able to find one in any well-stocked pet store.

Medical Treatments

In some cases, these kinds of lifestyle changes won’t make any difference to your dog’s flatulence. The fact is that some types of dogs are simply more prone to flatulence than others. The biggest culprits are those breeds with flat faces, such as Pugs and English Bulldogs. If there’s nothing medically wrong with your dog and no problems with his diet or lifestyle, you can either choose to live with his problem (after all, even stinky dogs need love, too) or you can get your veterinarian to prescribe medication to reduce his gas. Simethicone, bismuth subsalicylate and zinc acetate are all commonly used. If you don’t want to go for a full on medication, treats or biscuits containing yucca or dry activated charcoal can also help to alleviate the issue.

Does your dog have a problem with gas? What do you do about dog flatulence? Leave your tips down below.

Lauren Corona is a freelance writer from merry old England. She specializes in writing about dogs and other critters. Lauren lives near Oxford, with her gorgeous Doberman, Nola. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard, you’ll find her walking in the woods with Nola-dog, raising money for the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, cooking vegan food, making zines and writing about herself in the third person.