Do dogs like the smell of fart?

Do Dogs Fart? Yep! Here’s What You Can Do To Reduce the Toots

Now before we start pointing fingers, let’s clear the air: everybody poofs. Humans release gas about 12–25 times a day—sometimes more depending on our diet. How often do dogs fart? About the same amount, actually. Cats do, too.

So in most instances, flatulence or flatus is a completely normal bodily function. But there might be some reasons why your pooch is particularly windy.

Why Do Dogs Fart?

Our pups float air biscuits for the same reason we do: It’s all part of their digestive process. In fact, according to Brian Evans, DVM, the medical director at Dutch, humans and dogs have similar digestive systems.

«While there are differences, both of our digestive tracts are filled with bacteria that help us digest our food,» he says. «In this process, gas is produced and moves through the digestive tract until it eventually is released to the outside world.» When we talk about gas, this includes both burps and farts, although the latter is definitely more frequent.

The Morris Animal Foundation reports that dogs have «several hundred families of bacteria in their intestinal tract, but 99 percent belong to one of five main groups: Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria.» Collectively, these make up what’s called a gut microbiome: a community of millions of organisms that helps facilitate better digestion and overall good health.

Evans says some dog breeds also tend to be more gassy than others, including boxers, bulldogs, mastiffs, Newfoundlands, pugs, and some other brachycephalic breeds. This is because they have flat-faces and stubby snouts, which restrict nasal passages, so they often gulp in a lot of air while eating and drinking. In one end and out the other!

Why Do My Dog’s Farts Smell So Bad?

«While some gas doesn’t clear the room, others can make your eyes water. This is based on the amount of hydrogen sulfide found in the gas,» Evans says. «The higher the levels of hydrogen sulfide, the greater the distance you’ll need to move to breathe comfortably.» This chemical is the main reason why your dog’s farts smell like skunk or rotten eggs.

But it’s not as though your dog farts on purpose to gross you out. Even if they’re aware of the emission, just as they would be to other eliminations, rest assured they’re not mad at you and seeking revenge. They’re just being dogs—after all, sometimes they eat poop, don’t they?

Smelly gas could also be the result of sudden dietary changes, low-quality fillers in their food, too many table scraps, or an upset stomach caused by food allergies.

However, Evans adds that dogs with chronic stinky gas might have an underlying gastrointestinal issue that may need to be addressed. He recommends a veterinary exam to check for conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Canine colitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Intestinal parasites, such as worms
• Irritable bowel syndrome, especially as a result of stress
• Pancreatitis
• Stomach upset or infection

What To Do About Dog Farting

Interestingly, Evans’ suggestions for reducing the toots are the same many humans hear from their physicians: exercise, eat right, and enjoy food slowly.

He references research that indicates daily walks, playtime, and other forms of exercise help decrease how many times dogs fart. Why? Regular movement helps gas slip out more easily, instead of building up. So let your doggo romp at the dog park or amble around the neighborhood more frequently, and hopefully the flatulence will be less noticeable. Exercise also helps reduce obesity, another reason for excessive poots.

Also work with your vet to evaluate diet and treats. Remember, no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily intake should be snacks. While certain human foods are safe for dogs as occasional treats, too much might still cause stomach upset, which results in additional gas. Ingredients such as milk, cheese, cauliflower, and broccoli might be culprits contributing to your pup’s poofs.

«There are studies which have also shown that certain products can help. Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora probiotic is one that reduces not only the amount of gas but also the smell,» Evans says.

Finally, slowing down meal time helps lessen the amount of air dogs take in when they snarf down their food. This quick fix is a simple as a using a slow-feeder bowl, or try a DIY method such as:

• Put a ball into their food dish—as long as they don’t dash off with it, they’ll have to eat around it.
• Flip over a muffin tin, and sprinkle kibble bits in the flat parts around the raised areas.
• Use a bone broth or dog «beer» (not real beer!) to moisten the food.

What if your dog has a great vet check, is healthy and active, eats well and with control, but still breaks wind a lot? Evans says the majority of people just live with it.

«A survey of pet owners in New Zealand found about 40 percent of dog owners noted their dogs’ flatulence,» he says. «While some owners would consider switching the diet to help reduce their pet’s gas, most were unconcerned and accepted it as a normal part of their pet.»

‘Cause as we all know, the unconditional love of a good dog is worth a sneaky toot now and then.

Why Is Your Dog Farting So Much & Natural Remedies

Just like humans, dogs can get a bit gassy and let out an occasional toot. That gas could stink a whole room and even cause us to tun on a fan or move to a separate room. However, if your dog is farting frequently there may be an underlying issue.

Dog farts, while it may be humorous, can give owners insight as to what’s going on in their pup’s digestive tract. Luckily, understanding the root cause can help you find the right solution to solve this smelly problem.

What Causes a Dog to Fart?

Flatulence or farting, is a by-product of digestion. While your dog’s body is breaking down food into nutrients, gas could become trapped in their colon- which can only be let out by farting.

Occasional gassiness is usually alright, but if your dog is farting often, there could be a problem with something they ate. For example, eating scraps from dinner or rummaging through the trash usually causes doggy gassiness the next day. However, sometimes bad gas can be caused by the primary part of a dog’s diet: kibble.

Imagine if you ate Del Taco or McDonald’s every day. Of course, you would feel gassy, bloated, and sick. Unfortunately, thousands of dogs that predominantly eat kibble feel this way every day. Kibble, to dogs, is like fast food to humans, each pellet being filled to the brim with carbs and questionable ingredients.

Why Do My Dog’s Farts Smell So Bad?

Bad-smelling farts are usually caused by the same thing as frequent farts. With a diet relying on kibble, dogs are eating heavily processed foods every day. Kibble contains indigestible ingredients like corn and animal scraps, and contains preservatives and food dyes that can all cause odorous farts.

Along with bad-smelling farts, kibble can cause a variety of other problems in your dog’s body. To name a few examples, your dog may experience dehydration, mold exposure, malnutrition, cancer, and dental issues. To learn more about the harmful factors of kibble, check out these blogs below:

• The History of Kibble
• Why Is Kibble Bad For Dogs?
• Top 5 Nutritional Deficiencies of Kibble
• Nutrition Comes from Nature, Not Kibble
• 10 Reasons to Quit Kibble & Switch to Natural Raw Dog Food
• Kick Kibble to the Curb & Give Your Dog a Fighting Chance with a Raw Food Diet

Should I Be Worried That My Dog is Farting a Lot?

If your dog farts every once in a while, there is no need to worry. However, if your dog’s farts are frequent and smelly, it could signify a problem in your dog’s health. Flatulence is something that many owners take lightly, unaware that their dog may have a consequential health problem.

First, you should check to be sure your dog isn’t displaying any other side effects. If your dog is displaying symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, or difficulty with basic tasks, you should take them to the vet as soon as you can. Gassiness can be a symptom of a wide range of serious diseases, such as:

• Cancer
• Canine Colitis
• Enteritis
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
• Food Allergies
• Intestinal parasites
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Pancreatitis
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Once you’re able to rule out any flatulence-causing diseases, it’s safe to assume that your dog has eaten something bad. If you’re feeding your dog kibble, you should definitely worry about the effects on your pup’s long-term health. Frequent gas is not a good thing, and can be an early warning sign to many health problems your dog may develop in the future.

How to Stop Your Dog From Farting

Nobody likes dog farts- they’re smelly to humans and painful for your pup. If you’re an owner of a gassy dog, it’s in the best interest of your dog to help them. The most sensible way to help reduce your dog’s gassiness is to switch up their diet to something natural and easy to digest.

The best, easiest to digest doggy diet is a BARF (Bones And Raw Food) diet. By switching your dog to a BARF diet, they will be eating what they naturally need for proper nutrition. While kibble contains about 46-74% carbohydrates, a BARF diet contains the very minimum amount of carbs. In addition, a raw diet fuels your dog with protein content rather than excessive carbs.

Other ways to help your dog’s gas is by restricting their access to table scraps, trash cans, toilet water, and litter boxes. The more access your dog has to things they shouldn’t consume, the likelier they are to have frequent flatulence. Put lids on your trash cans at all times and keep bathroom doors closed, and be sure not to feed your dog any human foods unless they are beneficial to your pet.

If your dog is overweight, that may be another reason as to why your dog has gas. Obesity is a serious issue in dogs, and is often overlooked. To help your dog lose some weight, follow our dog weight loss guide.

Other Benefits of a BARF Diet

If you start your dog on a raw diet, you will notice that your pup’s stool will become smaller and have less of a smell. The same will go for their farts! Through a raw diet, your pup’s digestive tract will thank you after receiving the proper care it needs.

Feeding your dog a raw diet will not only help with gassiness, but it will also help with your pup’s general wellbeing. Your dog will gain increased energy, skin and coat improvements, increased dental health, weight management, and a stronger immunity.

How Do I Start With a Raw Diet?

To start changing your dog’s life for the better, you should first calculate how much raw food your dog should eat according to their ideal weight. A feeding calculator is available on our website as well as a large collection of guides and blogs for raw-feeding education! Become your dog’s health hero by starting them on Cali Raw, and not only will their gassiness get better- their livelihood will as well.