Dog Fart A Lot? How to Remedy Your Dog's Smelly Gut Issues

While dog farts may be funny, they can also signal something's wrong with your dog's gut health. Foul-smelling gas is a common sign of several different health issues in dogs, ranging from gastrointestinal discomfort to cancer.

The amount of gas produced by a dog is dependent on their diet. Low-quality foods with fillers and additives can cause more gas than the average high-quality food would, especially if it contains grains or cornmeal.

Bad farts are a sign of gut health issues

If your dog has bad farts (and who doesn't occassionally?) it could be a sign of gut health problems.

While there are many similarities, dogs have a different microbiome than us humans and so their gut health issues are often quite different. Some are temporary, and others are chronic, but many can be cured by changing your dog’s diet or giving them medication.

Here's how to tell if your dog needs treatment for digestive issues:

• Check your dog's stools. Consistency, color, size and smell are your main indicators of whether or not your dog's digestive system is working properly.

• Watch out for diarrhea, constipation or general bloating, which can indicate either too much food in the stomach, or too little passing through the intestines.

• If you notice any changes in regularity or texture of stool that last more than a week then it's time to see a vet.

Feed your dog more fiber

And as much as we'd like to blame all of our canine companions for the occasional eye-watering stench that assaults our nostrils, far more flatulence comes from food than from your dog him or herself.

So, why do some dogs have so many intestinal issues? To put it simply, their diet is usually the culprit.

The simple fact is that most dog owners don't know that flatulence is what happens when fiber is consumed by the gut microbiome, and the output is gas. 

Think about how much fiber your pet is consuming—and decide whether your dog has a problem or if their farting is actually a sign of high fiber intake (which may be a good thing).

Fiber helps regulate bowel movements and prevents diarrhea, constipation, and bloating caused by excess gas. But how do you know if their farting is a sign of good or bad gut health?

If their fat smells really bad, they probably need to adjust their diet.

The easiest answer is to add a different food source to your pet's daily meals. Try supplementing with gluten-free oats or inulin.

You can also incorporate supplements like an omega-3 fish oil capsule into your pet's daily routine by breaking it open and mixing it into a meal. Just be careful not to overdo any of these changes; a quick change in your dog's diet can lead to other issues!

Try natural supplements to help ease bloating and gas

The problem with supplements is that they're not regulated, so it's difficult to know what you're getting.

If you are sold a bottle of “Probiotics for Dogs” in the hope that it will help your dog's digestive system and it turns out to be full of corn syrup, then you've wasted your money and potentially harmed your dog's health.

The trick is to know what's good and what isn't; here are some things I've learned:

• Read the label and make sure the product contains pre-and probiotics, as both are essential for healthy digestion.

• Look for a brand that uses human-grade ingredients.

• Check [an online review site] and see if other people have gotten good results from this product or company.

• You can also ask around on an online forum and see what people recommend.

We created Perfect Probiotics to provide pet parents with this level of transparency and quality in a supplement that can help.

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise

"If you’re an avid reader of dog blogs, you’ve probably heard that exercise is a great way to get your pup to release some of the gas-inducing substances in his or her digestive tract. It may be basic, but it really works!

The more you can get your dog moving and shaking, the better. Go on long walks around the neighborhood together. Take him to play fetch at the park (it’s good for both of you).

If your furry friend tends towards laziness and boredom, consider getting a doggie treadmill!  Your dog will have a blast during these healthy activities — and release plenty of extra air in the process!

Look for health problems that could be causing gas and excessive farting

There are a few potential health issues that can lead to gas and excessive farting in your dog. If you suspect your dog has a stomach problem, look for the following symptoms:

• Vomiting—Your dog may throw up bile, food, or blood.

• Diarrhea—Loose stool often accompanies stomach issues. Often the diarrhea is black or tarry and smells very bad.

• Pain or tenderness in the abdomen and/or signs of abdominal discomfort such as crying out when picked up, refusing to jump onto furniture, standing with their elbows tucked into their body and their back arched (“praying mantis” position), and reluctance to move around or exercise normally.

• A fever—If your dog’s temperature reaches 103 degrees F., it’s time to call the veterinarian.

Increased exercise and dietary changes can help improve your dog's digestion problems

You can help your dog's digestion by providing more exercise and making changes to their diet.

Regular exercise keeps the gut healthy, ensuring that food is being properly digested to produce energy, instead of accumulating and fermenting in the stomach.

The first step is to increase how much you move with your dog each day. This could be as simple as an extra walk around the block or more water playtime at a local park. You might want to consider signing up for a new class together like doggy yoga or even starting an agility course at home!

For dietary changes, start by adding more low carb foods (like salmon) and probiotics (like Perfect Probiotics). You should also eliminate known inflammatory allergens from their diet such as wheat products, soy, corn syrup, peas and meat meals.