free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

1-877-937-4372 the pet expert hotline

free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

Yucca for Dogs

Discomfort Relief, Digestive Support, and Dog Appetite Booster

USD $46.95
Yucca for Dogs USD $46.95 Add to Cart

Vet Talks: How To Help Your Pet Stop Farting

Vet Talks 4 min read
Young woman holding a white pomeranian in one arm and pinching her nose with the other. How to help your pet stop farting

We feel like we should start this article by managing expectations, your pet will never stop farting. It is a natural part of life, and, unfortunately, we’re stuck with it! That being said, while a little gas is normal in our pets, there is such a thing as too much gas. Sometimes, symptoms such as diarrhea, foul odors, gurgling noises in the belly, can be a sign of a more serious health problem that could require a trip to the vet. Here will explain what may be causing your pet’s gas and how and what you can do to help your pet stop farting.

It is a natural part of life, and, unfortunately, we’re stuck with it!

Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers are all brachycephalic dog breeds (a shortened snout) which causes them to swallow lots of air when they breathe or eat, causing them to be more susceptible to gas. While passing gas may happen more frequently with brachycephalic breeds, other breeds of dogs and pets like cats will also experience some flatulence from time to time.

Depending on what is causing it, here are some ways you can help your pet stop farting so much.

Too Much Air

Most dogs eat down their food very quickly, and while they’re doing this they’re also swallowing lots of air, which causes air to build up in the belly, and flatulence to ensue. While cats are less prone to eat quickly, they too can get gassy from swallowing too much air. To help out with this, you can try feeding your pets smaller meals throughout the day or even buy toys that are specifically designed to help your pet eat slower.

Two white lab dogs eating food off of a plate. How to help Your Pet Stop Farting

Bacteria and Parasites

If your pet is producing too many gases through bacterial fermentation in the intestine this could also lead to an increase in passing gas. Your vet will be able to let you know what the cause is, and what the next steps are.

In some cases, a feces test may be needed to make sure that your pet does not have parasites, giardia, or pathological bacteria. Then, based on the results of the test, you may need to start your furkiddo on some form of treatment, which could be antibiotics or deworming, depending on the problem. We also suggest Inulin-PK vet-formulated, natural parasite cleanser, and dewormer for dogs.

Supplements

To help support the health of the digestive tract, we recommend NHV Yucca. Yucca root is a powerful herb with many properties beneficial to pets, including helping to support digestion and being highly nutritive. NHV Yucca is vet-formulated to be easy to administer to pets and is safe for long-term use. Yucca root is often used in pet foods not only because of how nutritious it is but also because it contains compounds that can help reduce unpleasant odors in urine and feces. It also has antiparasitic properties that may be helpful in the case your pet has parasites such as giardia.

Diet

If you’ve tried these tricks and the problem still persists, it might sometimes be necessary to change your pet’s diet. Your current regimen could include some ingredients that your furkiddo is allergic/intolerant to, or the diet could be too high in carbohydrates, fat, or protein. It is important to avoid garlic, onions, soybeans, dairy products, and any ingredients that can be toxic to your pet. It’s also a good idea to walk your dog 30 minutes after each meal, as this can help with digestion and the elimination of gases.

For help finding a balanced diet for your pet, I offer personalized nutrition plans through NHV. These nutrition plans are cooked by you at home so that you can be certain of what is in your pet’s diet and that they are getting the right balance of nutrients that they need. 

When To See The Vet

Whether your pet’s toots make you laugh, make you cringe, or leave the room, it’s important to pay attention to and monitor whether their gas is normal or too much as there could be a more serious issue with the diet or intestines or both. An extreme of this could result in abdominal distension (swelling in the abdomen), significant discomfort, or worse, and should certainly be taken seriously. If you notice that your pet’s gas passing habits have changed, you should contact your vet.

Veterinarian inspecting a dog. How to help Your Pet Stop Farting

There’s no need to panic! It can be overwhelming and scary to think that every time your pet farts that there might be an issue. If you ever have a concern or are unsure if your pet’s farting is normal, please send us a message.

Dr. Amanda Nascimento DVM, MVSc, PhD

Dr. Amanda Nascimento DVM, MVSc, PhD

Dr. Amanda completed her undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine in 2010 and graduate studies in veterinary pathology (MVSc. 2012 and PhD 2016) at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo. She completed her post-doctoral training at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine – University of Saskatchewan in 2018. Dr. Nascimento will be hosting her own blog series and sharing her knowledge with our extended NHV family.

Published: September 2, 2020

3 replies

  1. Hamza says:

    Hello Dr. Amanda,

    Thank you for proving such informational content regarding pets and Gas. I’ve been reading online regarding this problem of farting of animals, and I think this is completely natural. One should accept this natural habit ass your pet can do nothing about it.

    Tell if I’m wrong, but farting is healthy for pets as it can eliminate the chances of bloating belly. However, if farting is not natural as it has already been said in this informative article, then one must pay a visit to the vet.

    Thanks
    Hamza

    1. Team NHV says:

      Hi Hamza,

      Sometimes farting can be normal of course as it is physiological. However, it can be related to a disease such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) for example. The idea of the blog is to give some tips on how to identify if it is physiological or pathological. The best person to give the diagnose is the vet.

      If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re always here to help.

      Yours in wellness,
      Team NHV

      1. Hamza says:

        I get it now.

        Thanks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like