Let’s talk dog farts! Discover why your dog farts and how you can stop your dog from farting!
Your sitting on the couch with your family, watching a movie, when suddenly you smell something revolting! You begin to play the blame game while everyone covers their noses, laughs and denies it (blaming it on the dog). You then look down and see your sweet little fur baby looking at you…
Nooo… Could it be?… Did you?… No way… Do dogs fart?
The answer is YES and it is very common! Dogs fart (and burp) just like humans and for the same reasons!
Fun Fact: Did you know there is a Dog Farting Awareness day? I didn’t either! It’s April 8th and there is a Facebook page that you can like (Dog Farting Awareness Day) There really is a day for everything!
And there is a children’s book called Walter the Farting Dog. If you have children or if you don’t 😉 you may enjoy listening to this book. I did. 🙂
Okay enough fun for now let’s get serious…
Why do dogs fart? The Causes!
Well…
Dogs don’t fart on purpose.
They leave ‘after dinner mints’ for the same reasons we humans do. Animal or Human, we all have digestive systems to process our food and our digestive systems can be finicky sometimes. (Or like in my case all the time. Lol!)
While our digestive systems obviously aren’t exactly the same, they are similar in function. They both have bacteria that breaks down food and gas can be produced during this process. That gas is pushed through and eventually released through one end or the other…
You guessed it by farting OR burping!
Just as in humans, the main culprit for causing farting in dogs is the food they eat. Diet is the most common cause of dog farts. We have all experienced it, certain foods tend to cause more gas than others.
Some other causes of dog farts are:
- Swallowing air. (Eating too fast).
- Lack of exercise.
- Genetic.
- Gastrointestinal Health Problems such as IBS, food allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Do some dog breeds fart more?
Yes, some dog breeds fart more than others. One of the causes of dog farts (as I mentioned above) is genetics. Brachycephalic dogs fart the most. Because of their ‘squished faces’ as I like to call it, their airways are more obstructed. They also swallow more air when they are eating and drinking.
So, what dog breeds fart the most?
English Bulldog comes in at #1. Following behind them in no particular order are Pugs, Boxers, Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinchers, Beagles, Golden Retrivers, and Yorkshire Terriors.
Why do Dog Farts Smell so Bad?
Boy do they! Dog farts smell bad enough to gag a maggot!
Sometimes rotten eggs or the smell of skunk doesn’t even begin to explain the horrid smell.
Scientifically, the smell is from a hydrogen sulfide gas that is released during the digestive process. Certain foods and gastrointestional conditions can contribute to stinkier than normal farts. (I’m not sure anyone’s farts smell good, although we like to think we smell like rose. LOL!) They can also contribute to your dog farting more than normal.
If your dog’s stinky farts are caused by a gastrointestional condition, you will usually see other symptoms as well such as vomiting, diahrrea and/or blood in the stools. If your dog is experiencing any of the above, it is not normal and you should consult your vet.
So which foods contribute to stinky dog farts?
Table scraps, low quality dog food, and dairy/soy products can produce an excessive amount of stinky gas in your dog. I have also noticed when I feed my girl salmon, she has the most ‘nose hair curling farts’ ever.
Some other foods that cause foul dog farts are:
- Brussel Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Spicy Foods
- Peas
- Beans
- Dairy
- Cauliflower
How to Stop my Dog from Farting?
Unfortunately, you can’t stop your dog from farting. Just as you fart, it is a fact of life.
Although you can’t stop your dog from farting, you can reduce your dog’s farting as well as the intensity of the smell.
So how do you stop your dog from farting?
To reduce your dog’s stinky gas, you can do the following:
- Change your dog’s diet. Avoid gas-inducing foods as I mentioned above. Avoid table scraps, low quality dog food, and dairy/soy products. Use chicken or beef broth to moisten dog food.
- Slow down the time in which your dog eats. If your dog is inhaling his food then try buying a slow feeder dog bowl. Forewarning though, Your dog can quickly learn how to master slow feeders so you may to change them up. Another way to slow them down is to put their food in a dog puzzle. This helps them slow down while stimulating their minds.
- Add chicken or vegetable broth to your dog’s dry food.
- Add supplements to your dog’s food. Supplements like probiotics can help aid in and improve your dog’s digestion.
- Increase activity level and exercise. Exercise can help get ‘things’ moving. Go for a nice walk, play fetch, or just let you fur baby run wild in the backyard.
Bailey was letting some deadly toots. I noticed that this became an after dinner and evening event after I began adding salmon to her dry dog food.
Since I replaced the salmon with chicken broth we haven’t had any major farting issues. The air smells so much better!
Do dogs fart loud?
Many dogs let silent but deadly farts, like our Bailey. But like us, dog farts come in all shapes, sizes, and loudness!
Here is a YouTube video of some loud dog farts. You can see just how loud they can be. I’m sure you will get a kick out of it as well.
I mean we can’t talk about dog farts and not have a good laugh. 🙂
Conclusion.
Yes, dog’s fart just like you do! (They also burp.) They come in all shapes, sizes, and smells.
Most commonly dog farts are caused from a poor diet. Although, they can also be caused by swallowing air, genetics, lack of exercise or a gastrointestional problem.
You can’t stop dog farting but you can reduce it. Start with changing your dog’s diet. Also, incorporate more exercise, slow down the tine in which your dog eats, and/or add supplements.
(If your dog is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea with excessive, stinky dog farting then you will want to schedule a vet appointment to rule out any Gastrointestinal problems.)
If you have any questions or found this post helpful feel free to leave a comment below or share it. 🙂
Happy Training,
Lisa Marie