Dogs & Flatulence

Awkward as the subject is, excessive flatulence in dogs is no joke. Of course, some gas production is perfectly normal, in dogs as well as humans. But too much of it is not just a nuisance for those living with the afflicted pooch, it’s a sign that something isn’t working as it should in the dog’s digestive system. An overproduction of gas can have many different causes, like eating food too quickly, food allergies, overgrowths of bacteria, a chronic bowel disorder, or a serious illness.

So, what do you do if your best friend is too gassy? First step is a visit to the vet, where stool checks, bloodwork, X-rays, and ultrasounds are standard initial diagnostic tools. If those don’t yield results, an endoscopy may be necessary. Most often, though, the answer will be something lifestyle related, like a change of diet or chewies, feeding smaller meals more frequently, or trying probiotics.