Dogs with BAD GAS. Any treatment secrets?

[teacups]

Oh boy... our 10 year old lab needs some serious help. Already chaged food a couple of times. No luck. Vet sort of told us it's an old age thing and to deal with it. (Easy for him to say )Does anyone have any remedies that they use for their dogs that work?

 

[ceecee]

Our labs get gas when we give them people food. We changed them to Wellness and they have done excellent on it. One of the labs had ear infections twice a year and hasn't had one since. If you haven't tried a top of the line food, try it and no more treats of people food. dogfoodanalysis.com has rating for the different foods.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Good point about the treats. Do you feed your dog any treats at all? Hopefully you have already cut out all people food.

 

[JessicaR]

My 8 year old - 180 lb dog started stinking so bad. His food was never changed and the vet said its an age thing. He had me add a little pumpkin puree to his dinner and it worked like a charm! Make sure its plain pumpkin not the pie filling. Also plain yogurt helps.

Stinky!

 

[LisaR]

I am far from an expert but I disagree with your vet that it is an old age thing.
As a human, if you suddenly had the same problem and it was never an issue before, would you just think it was your age? Something isn't agreeing with his system.

If it was me, I would put him on plain white rice and boneless, skinless chicken for a week or two and see if it clears up. If it does, there is something in the brands of food you are trying that are causing the problem (corn, wheat, etc). If it doesn't clear up, I would put him on just chicken for a week or two and again see if it clears up.

If you don't want to go that route, I would by one of the true top of the line dog foods with minimal ingredients on the label.

I have owned and cared for many dogs (including several labs) and this was never something that happened when they got older. Good luck.

 

[Disney Doll]

Sounds like they need good quality food and treats, no people food and maybe a little yogurt.

 

[DVC Sadie]

We had a Boxer who had terrible gas from the time she was a pup and the only thing that helped (sometimes) was a tablespoon of plain yogurt mixed with her dry food.

We also had two Labs (one is gone now) and they both developed more gas as they aged, but then again so have I. Maybe it is an age thing.

 

[Feralpeg]

Read "Harold, The Farting Dog". You may find that having a dog with gas problems could be a good thing!

 

[JessicaR]

I am far from an expert but I disagree with your vet that it is an old age thing.
As a human, if you suddenly had the same problem and it was never an issue before, would you just think it was your age? Something isn't agreeing with his system.

If it was me, I would put him on plain white rice and boneless, skinless chicken for a week or two and see if it clears up. If it does, there is something in the brands of food you are trying that are causing the problem (corn, wheat, etc). If it doesn't clear up, I would put him on just chicken for a week or two and again see if it clears up.

If you don't want to go that route, I would by one of the true top of the line dog foods with minimal ingredients on the label.

I have owned and cared for many dogs (including several labs) and this was never something that happened when they got older. Good luck.

My vet explained that my dog is taking in air either too quickly or in excess as he eats his dinner. It had nothing to do with his diet since that has not changed. The speed of digestion also changes as they age and can account for the gas as well. Another cause due to aging is when the dog's intestines start progressively losing their muscular tone.

 

[teacups]

He doesnt get treats (maybe once or twice a week.) and no people food.
We had him on Eukanuba since he was 6 weeks old...then he just stopped eating it. Would not touch it. We switched to a locally made high quality food. Nope. Then Diamond lamb and rice. Nope. Then i went the cheap grocery store route desperate, that was horrible. I found a recipe for home made treats that are supposed to help with gas... but I've never heard of half the ingredients so dont want to do that. I'll try the things mentioned here. Thanks all.

 

[LisaR]

My vet explained that my dog is taking in air either too quickly or in excess as he eats his dinner. It had nothing to do with his diet since that has not changed. The speed of digestion also changes as they age and can account for the gas as well. Another cause due to aging is when the dog's intestines start progressively losing their muscular tone.

I understand what your vet is saying and there can always be underlying problems. Having owned a pet store, affiliated myself with tons of pet owners, owned and fostered too many dogs to count; many of whom were older, I never saw a typical "well, the dog is older now so it will have bad gas" as a common thing. Something has changed with your dog if this was never a problem in the past.

I know you say that it doesn't have anything to do with his diet because that hasn't changed but that is not necessarily true. People and animals can develop allergies and sensitivities to food that they never had problems with in the past. It happens all the time.

My only point is that I don't think it is something you have to live with just because the dog is older. Adding pumpkin, changing the diet, giving smaller quantities to help him digest the food better, using digestive enzymes, etc are all things that can help. Don't give up just because the dog is older. There are some solutions.

 

[JessicaR]

I understand what your vet is saying and there can always be underlying problems. Having owned a pet store, affiliated myself with tons of pet owners, owned and fostered too many dogs to count; many of whom were older, I never saw a typical "well, the dog is older now so it will have bad gas" as a common thing. Something has changed with your dog if this was never a problem in the past.

I know you say that it doesn't have anything to do with his diet because that hasn't changed but that is not necessarily true. People and animals can develop allergies and sensitivities to food that they never had problems with in the past. It happens all the time.

My only point is that I don't think it is something you have to live with just because the dog is older. Adding pumpkin, changing the diet, giving smaller quantities to help him digest the food better, using digestive enzymes, etc are all things that can help. Don't give up just because the dog is older. There are some solutions.

I was not discrediting what you said Lisa, just offering a differing opinion. If you do a search aging dogs and increased gas is not uncommon.
I also said pumpkin and yogurt is helpful in my first post.

 

[teacups]

BTW... I dont know what pumpkin puree is. I dont think Ive ever bought canned pumpkin other than the pie filling kind. I thought that was pure pumpkin. Ooops. I will check my local Wally. I will also get the yogurt as that makes perfect sense.

 

[LisaR]

I was not discrediting what you said Lisa, just offering a differing opinion. If you do a search aging dogs and increased gas is not uncommon.
I also said pumpkin and yogurt is helpful in my first post.

Sorry. I wasn't trying to discredit what you or your vet said either. I just don't think it is a "you have to live with it" situation. Things change when dogs and humans age but some things can be fixed or improved. I guess I read into it that your vet basically felt like it was normal and there wasn't anything at all that can be done. It didn't sound to me like he offered up any options. Glad you are going to try some steps to resolve it. Good luck!

 

[teacups]

This says 100% pumpkin. This is what I generally use for pies.
Is this what you guys use for the dogs?
Thanks.

 

[ceecee]

My vet has recommended yogurt when one of my girls was vomiting and it seemed to help. Maybe a corn or wheat allergy? Dogs can develop allergy later in life just as people can.

 

[JessicaR]

teacups - thats the stuff! The other canned pumpkin has spices and other fillers added.

Sorry. I wasn't trying to discredit what you or your vet said either. I just don't think it is a "you have to live with it" situation. Things change when dogs and humans age but some things can be fixed or improved. I guess I read into it that your vet basically felt like it was normal and there wasn't anything at all that can be done. It didn't sound to me like he offered up any options. Glad you are going to try some steps to resolve it. Good luck!

I'm guessing you didn't read my first post. It was my vet that said to offer pumpkin or yogurt in the first place. I don't understand where you got, "live with it, nothing can be done. " I have been giving him pumpkin and yogurt now for a long time and it worked at resolving the stinky gas. Thankfully!

My 8 year old - 180 lb dog started stinking so bad. His food was never changed and the vet said its an age thing. He had me add a little pumpkin puree to his dinner and it worked like a charm! Make sure its plain pumpkin not the pie filling. Also plain yogurt helps.

 

[LisaR]

I'm guessing you didn't read my first post. It was my vet that said to offer pumpkin or yogurt in the first place. I don't understand where you got, "live with it, nothing can be done. " I have been giving him pumpkin and yogurt now for a long time and it worked at resolving the stinky gas. Thankfully!

I now see the issue. You are not the original poster. Sorry, but I do not look at names. I assumed you were the OP and no where does it say in the OP that the vet said to give pumpkin and yogurt. I was responding to the OP where the vet seemed to say to live with it.

 

[teacups]

Pumpkin and yogurt!

OMG! I have never seen something work so fast! I dont know which it is, the pumpkin or the yogurt but WOW! Results the very first day! I'm going to keep giving him both.
I thank you.
My family thanks you.
My dog thanks you.
Maybe even my neighbors and the air quality board thanks you!

 

[JessicaR]

Pumpkin and yogurt!

OMG! I have never seen something work so fast! I dont know which it is, the pumpkin or the yogurt but WOW! Results the very first day! I'm going to keep giving him both.
I thank you.
My family thanks you.
My dog thanks you.
Maybe even my neighbors and the air quality board thanks you!

So glad it worked.
Funny story - When my dog started farting and he is a BIG guy it was loud and deadly. He would get up have a look around like who did that? Then leave the room from his own smell! Of course this opened a whole window of opportunity for the kids to blame the dog ALL the time. Glad its better.