by Alexis Elizabeth

Created on: April 18, 2009

Causes

Dogs get gassy for several reasons, but like humans, it's usually the result of their diet. If you are concerned about excessive flatulence the first thing you need to do is visit the veterinarian. It could be a sign of serious illness. Once you find your dog to be perfectly healthy you can try various methods to help reduce or eliminate the problem of excess gas.

What Can Be Done?

1. The most common cause of flatulence is the imprudence in your dog's food. Avoid dog foods with fillers high in soybean or corn. Wheat or rice tend to be the easiest to digest. The first three ingredients in dog food are the most important and indicates what the food contains the most of. The first ingredient should be meat and the second and third should not say anything about by-product or soy. The top 5 quality dog food brands include;

Natural Blend

Innova

Canidae

Life's Abundance

Iams (being the most budget friendly).

2. Measure your dogs food into four half portions throughout the day as opposed to the two regular measured portions. Smaller amounts of food are easier for a dog's stomach to digest than a larger meal that may take longer to digest resulting in fomentation causing foul odor and gas. Small portions are also great for dogs that have a tendency to eat too fast, subsequently swallowing too much air that results in an outcome of gas in the end.

3. Cut back or eliminate scraps and leftovers as well as dog treats that are not made from real meat. A good treat for your dog is bits of cooked chicken either baked or boiled.

4. Avoid dairy products. Most dogs have a hard time digesting dairy products. On the other hand mixing a spoonful of soy yogurt aids in the digestion process and as an added bonus helps to boost the immune system as well.

5. Exercise after meals. Taking your dog for a brisk walk within thirty minutes after completing a meal helps to aid in the digestion process keeping bowel stimulated and functioning normally.

6. Other remedies you may want to try are;

a) Purchase charcoal biscuits from your local pet store. These help to absorb odor while in the intestine.

b) Try supplements to add to your dog's food like digestive enzymes or probiotics.

c)Natural herbs like peppermint and chamomile may help to prevent flatulence as well.

The main thing to remember is that your dog's digestive system mirrors you own. If you eat foods like beans, broccoli and cheese you are bound to get a case of fowl gas and the same goes for your pet. A good diet and plenty of exercise is the best remedy for gas in both you and your pet.

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