Dealing with Smelly Dog Farts: Causes and Solutions

Do you ever feel like your home could be in the running for an award for having the smelliest dog farts known to humanity?  If the answer is yes, then you're likely all too familiar with the dreaded smelly dog farts. While dog farts can often be comical (especially if they cause your pup to leap off their seat in surprise), they can also be embarrassing and downright smelly!

However, most dog owners don't realise that stinky farts may actually indicate an underlying health condition or food sensitivity. In this blog post, we cover both the common causes and solutions to help you keep things stink-free.

It is normal for a dog to sometimes fart but if you find your dog farts excessively or they smell bad then it could be a sign that something’s not quite right with their digestive system. There are a variety of reasons why your dog has stinky farts but two of the most common reasons are:

When a dog wolfs down their food or drinks too quickly they can swallow excess air which then needs to be gotten rid off in a fart. This is a common problem for short nose breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston Terriers.

If you’ve recently changed your dog’s diet this may be causing them to fart more as they’re needing to digest something they’re not used to. It may be taking them longer to digest the food which means sulphur and methane gas builds up in the large intestine as when bacteria is breaking down the food leading to smelly farts. 

These help slow down how quickly your dog is eating and stop them gulping down their food and air at the same time. This means there is less gas in their body that needs to be burped, or farted, out. Lick mats are also great enrichment for your dog as they stimulate your dog’s brain and help them enjoy eating their food.

Avoid Grains: Many commercial dog foods contain bulkers and fillers such as different grains that can be hard for a dog to digest. Grains contain mainly starch and the more there is in your dog’s food the more gas will be produced as it’s digested meaning more and stinkier farts.

Avoid feeding scraps to your dogs: Even though your dog may find food from the table really tasty and think it’s a treat, certain parts of your Sunday Roast can make your dog more gassy. For example, when peas and beans are being digested the particular starch they contain causes acid fermentation in your dog’s intestines which can make them bloated and gassy.

Observe your dog after they eat: Each dog is unique and can react to different foods in different ways. If you notice your dog farts more after having certain foods then they may have an intolerance to them. If this is the case then you can look to cut those foods out of your dog’s diet.

If you are looking to change your dog’s food to either a different brand or different type of food altogether try to do this slowly. Any sudden changes in your dog’s diet can confuse their digestive system so it is best to gradually introduce the new food over at least a week to help your dog’s stomach get used to the new change.

Good quality dog digestion supplements are a great way to help balance your dog’s gut microbiome and build up the good bacteria in their stomach. Prebiotics and probiotics will help support their digestive system and also have the added benefit of helping your dog’s skin be less itchy and help support normal yeast production meaning healthier ears. 

It is also a good idea to take a look at the amount of fibre your dog is getting as getting that balance right can help food pass through their digestive system at the right speed and help stop any build up of smelly gases. A great source of fibre, and prebiotics, is pumpkin powder which you can sprinkle onto your dog's food, make into a puree to add to their food or lickmat or even make up into pupsicles by mixing with some yoghurt, pouring into a mould and putting into the freezer.

Studies have also shown that Yucca schidigera helps decrease the smell of dog farts and poop by reducing the concentration of hydrogen sulphide in them so using a supplement that contains yucca is a great way to help the bad smell.

If no matter what you try to help your dog their farts don’t improve then it is time to book an appointment with a vet. It may be that your dog has an underlying condition that is causing the problem and it’s always best to make sure this isn’t the case by getting them checked to make sure there isn’t something more serious wrong with them.

Ultimately, dealing with dog farts can be a challenge for anyone who has a canine family member. While every dog is different and what works for one might not work for another, the tips discussed in this post can help you troubleshoot the cause of your pup's flatulence problems and help you decide what solution will work best to reduce the smell. 

Whether it is introducing dietary changes, seeking the advice of your vet or investing in natural remedies, there are plenty of ways to make both you and your pup more comfortable.