Pet Flatulence Treatment Hingham MA

Rx: Quell the Smell of Pet Flatulence

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By Gina Roberts-Grey

With their wagging tails and bright eyes, dogs know how to light up a room. Occasionally, they also know how to clear one when they experience a bout of flatulence. Tiffany J. Rule, DVM, a veterinarian in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, says frequent or excessive gas isn’t normal for a dog and shouldn’t be ignored. “Gas is caused by an overproduction of bacteria in the GI tract,” says Rule, “and can result when a dog eats foods his body is not used to or cannot properly digest.”

To get to the source of your furry friend’s problem, look at the whole animal. Aside from flatulence, is the dog healthy? If your dog has chronic health issues, visit your veterinarian to eliminate possible medical causes. But if your gassy dog is in otherwise good health, Rule says it may be time to look to his diet.

“The most common factor is food, which includes your dog’s daily meals as well as treats,” says Rule. If Fido’s diet contains processed food, high amounts of soy, or other ingredients that interfere with normal digestion, he may experience stomach problems, including gas. “Gas can also indicate a food allergy or the need to eat higher quality food,” says Rule.

Kymythy Schultze, CCN, AHI, animal nutritionist and holistic practitioner, and author of Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet (Hay House, Inc., 1998) says a fresh food diet is the healthiest option for dogs. “Whole food that’s not been processed is the easiest for dogs to digest,” says Schultze, who feeds her own dogs a diet that consists of boiled lean ground beef, chicken, rice, vegetables, and other unseasoned, whole foods.

Switching up your dog’s diet too often can also cause digestive problems. “Once you find a balanced diet that agrees with your pet, feed him that diet long term to avoid recurring bouts of gas,” says Schultze.

Here are a few natural remedies to try if your dog gets into something he shouldn’t or while transitioning to less gassy dinners and treats:

Peppermint. Mix a few torn leaves of this herb into his food once a day.
Nux Vomica. A homeopathic remedy for gas, nux vomica comes from the dried seeds of the poison nut plant, a tree that grows in the East Indies, Malaysia, and northern Australia. Mix a tablet in your dog’s food after checking the label for specific dose information based on your dog’s weight.
Enzymes. Mix with food. They help breakdown undigested food in Rover’s GI tract.
Probiotics. Ask your vet about the amount to sprinkle on food. Good bacteria in the digestive system help knock out gas.
Massage. Relax your dog onto his back and gently massage the midline of his stomach three or four times a day.
Finally, don’t try all of these at the same time, or you’ll never know which worked best.

Author: Gina Roberts-Grey

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