By Gina Roberts-Grey

The energy and excitement level in a room increases when a dog walks in. With their wagging tail and bright eyes, dogs know how to light up a room.  Unfortunately, dogs are also masters at clearing a room when they experience a nasty bout of flatulence. 

     There’s nothing more embarrassing for a dog owner than a farting Fido or Fluffy. And, all too often dog parents find themselves making awkward excuses for the furry friend’s foul smelling presence.  But, veterinarians agree that frequent or excessive gas is not normal for a dog and shouldn’t be ignored because it may be a symptom of an underlying condition or illness.

     To get to the bottom of what's causing gas in your furry friend look at the whole animal.  Is the dog healthy and in good condition other than having gas?  If your dog is not in good health, then a trip to your veterinarian is in order to rule out parasites, illness and other medical conditions. If your dog is in good health, other than occasionally clearing the room, then it may be time to try a few simple, natural remedies. 

     The most common factor is food, including your dog’s daily meals as well as treats and chew toys. 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.

     Kymythy Schultze, CCN, AHI, animal nutritionist and holistic practitioner, and author of Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet says a fresh food diet is the healthiest and least gassy option for dogs.  “Species-appropriate food is the easiest for dogs to digest,” says Schultze, who feeds her own Newfoundland dogs a diet that consists of boiled lean ground beef, chicken, rice, vegetables and other unseasoned, whole foods. 

     “And it’s important to remember that “people” food, or table scraps, are different that natural, whole foods,” says Schultze.  For example, Schultze says many dogs can tolerate chicken, lamb, venison or beef that’s been boiled in water.  “But human owners think their dog would prefer eating something with seasoning because plain chicken and water seems too bland,” Schultze says, “When in fact, the seasoning and additives is what can make dogs gassy and even seriously ill.”

     But, experts urge owners to not just start tossing new foods into their dog’s dish.  “Do your homework so your dog has a balanced diet,” says Schultze.  With a little research and some patience, feeding your dog a less gassy diet is really quite easy to do.