A MIGHTY WIND

A Message from Jeffrey Proulx, DVM
Director of Veterinary Services, the San Francisco SPCA

It's normal for dogs to pass small amounts of gas every now and then. However, persistent passing of large quantities is abnormal. A low quality diet containing ingredients that are not easy for the animal to digest is often the cause. These ingredients pass through the intestinal tract without being absorbed and end up in the large intestine (colon and rectum), where bacteria ferment them to produce gas.

If your dog or cat often gets into the garbage, or just loves to pig out, keep that gas mask handy! Large quantities of food overwhelm the ability of the intestinal tract to digest the food, and things end up fermenting that would normally be digested. Some dogs and cats are also born without the ability to digest certain ingredients in their diet. For instance, some pet foods are comprised of up to 25 percent soybean, which is packed with protein, and while this may not be a problem for most cats and dogs, it can mean gas galore for others. Many dogs and cats with a lactase enzyme deficiency may also have difficulty digesting milk. Then there are the dogs and cats that chow down with such gusto that they take in large quantities of air with their food. Once ingested, the air has to be expelled from the intestinal tract, from one end by burping, or from the other end by…a blow out.

Controlling your pet's breezy exhalations begins with a change of diet. A high quality, highly digestible, low fat diet should be substituted gradually. . Suitable commercial products are available from most of the major manufacturers. On the other hand, pet owners can prepare a homemade diet made up of easily digestible proteins and carbohydrates, such as cottage cheese and rice, appropriately balanced with vitamins and minerals. However, pet owners need to be aware that long-term use of homemade diets can often lead to nutritional deficiencies or excesses, and that supplements can result in the production of more gas. If you give your pet milk, switch to the lactose-free or lactose-reduced kinds.

Pet owners can reduce a pet's gulping of air while eating by feeding small amounts several times a day in a quiet place, or by feeding two or more pets separately. This should discourage nervous, greedy eating by ensuring that pets do not feel competition for food.

Daily exercise is very important to reduce gas because it promotes regular defecation. Overweight animals are also prone to flatulence, so exercise will be beneficial for them too.

If flatulence continues you should see your veterinarian, who may prescribe medication. And if gaseousness is causing your pet abdominal discomfort and is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, this could suggest a more serious gastrointestinal disorder.