If you’ve got a furry friend at home, you’ve probably experienced the awful stench that can come from being gassy! So, we’re here to help, starting with explaining some common reasons why your four-legged friend is suffering from flatulence, and how you can help!
What Causes A Gassy Pup?
Some common causes of flatulence in our canine friends can be:
- Eating too quickly and swallowing too much air
- Sudden change in diet
- Food allergies
- Obesity
- Underlying health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal parasites (these are usually accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, or lethargy)
Ways To Help A Gassy Dog
If your dog is eating too fast, it can be helpful to buy a slow-feed food bowl that will force your pup to slow down. If you feed kibble or freeze-dried food, you can also try sprinkling their food into a rolled-up towel or other similar enrichment idea to slow them down.
If you just recently changed your dog’s diet, or he/she got into something they don’t normally eat, it can cause some short-term gas problems. However, if flatulence has been an issue for quite some time, it may be worth switching up your dog’s food.
Lastly, it’s important to check in with your vet to rule out other issues such as parasites or other gastrointestinal issues, and to make sure your dog’s weight is in a healthy range!
Dog-Safe Home Remedies
If your vet has given you the all-clear, you may want to look at adding in some DIY home remedies to help your gassy pal! Here are some of our top foods to help calm your pet’s tummy.
- Parsley, which can be added to their diet in dried, fresh, or essential oil form
- Foods that are high in enzymes such as papaya, melon, raw honey, or coconut water. Make sure to remove the seeds from papayas or melon first!
- Ginger can also help with an upset tummy
- Yogurt to add probiotics, but start small! Some dogs are quite sensitive to dairy
- Peppermint oil
- Fennel, dried or fresh
- Also you can add in healthybud’s Gut Booster as a treat or crumbled on your pup’s meal! This powerful formula features some of the enzyme-rich foods mentioned above (papaya and ginger root, to name two!) and also includes a prebiotic blend.
A gassy stomach can be troubling for owners and dogs alike, since excessive gas can cause discomfort for our pup.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is not meant to replace your vet's advice or prescribed medications, but only to suggest additional options to explore, based on your dog's condition.
