Why Do Pitbulls Fart So Much? And How To Deal With It


Whether you just got your first pitbull or have been owning them for years, you probably know that pitbulls tend to fart–a lot. Of course, some gas is normal, but excessive farting can be smelly and downright embarrassing. What could be causing this excessive buildup of gas in your pitbull? And is there anything you can do about it?

The main factors that cause flatulence in pitbulls are poor diet, food intolerance, swallowing air, lack of exercise, and digestive issues. Ways to correct the problem include changing your dog’s diet, correcting their speed eating habits, exercising them, and giving them probiotics or home remedies.

Read on for a closer look at each potential cause of your dog’s gassiness, how to correct the problem, and when to take your pitbull to the vet.

What Makes Pitbulls Fart So Much?

Pitbull farts can be quite a nuisance. Not only do they smell terrible, but they can be embarrassing if you’ve got company at your house. Your pitbulls farting habits may even keep you from inviting people over in the first place. 

But you don’t want to keep living at the mercy of your dog’s gas problems. You want answers that will correct the problem and let you get back to living a normal life.

Truth be known, you dog would probably want that as well.

Before we dive into how to correct your pitbull’s gas problems, let’s discuss some of the most common causes of excessive farting in dogs. 

Eating a Low-Quality Diet

Most cheap dog food comes with a lot of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. All of these can cause excessive fermentation in your dog’s gut, which in turn will lead to excessive farting. Even some natural foods, such as grains and beans, will cause your dog to fart a lot.

Higher quality food may be more expensive, but it is better for your dog’s overall health and may significantly improve their gas problems.

Food Intolerance in Pitbulls

Did you know that most dogs are lactose intolerant? Giving them milk or dairy products may not only cause excessive gas but may give your dog a stomach ache.

In addition to milk, other “human foods” may also cause your pitbull to fart more than normal. Some of these foods include peas, soybeans, spicy foods, grains, and excessive amounts of fat and protein.

That’s right: even some protein-rich foods, such as chicken and fish, may be hard for your dog to digest, which in turn will produce copious amounts of gas in the intestines.

It may take some trial and error to figure out which foods affect your dog and which ones don’t, but to avoid the problem altogether, you could simply stop feeding your dog table scraps and make sure they don’t dig them out of the trash.

Your Pitbull Might Be Swallowing Air

Some dogs, and some pitbulls in particular, tend to inhale their food. They lap up every meal as though they were starving to death, often swallowing large amounts of air along with the food.

Pitbulls may also take in extra air when drinking, especially if they lap up the water as rapidly as they eat their food.

Even if your dog isn’t a “speed eater,” they may take in extra air when eating or drinking after exercise. If they are tired and panting a lot while eating or drinking, all that extra air is going to go down with the food and water.

Living a Sedentary Life

Your dog’s activity level may also affect their gas levels. Pitbulls are naturally active dogs, so if they are kept inside all the time and not exercised properly, their overall health will begin to deteriorate.

Among other issues, your dog may develop chronic gas problems as a result of this deteriorating health. Making sure your dog gets plenty of exercise is essential to keeping their digestive system functioning as it should, which in turn is key to controlling their flatulence. 

Digestive Issues

Of course, food and activity levels both play a significant role in your dog’s digestive health. But even if you’re giving them top quality food and plenty of exercise, some dogs simply have more sensitive tummies than others.

If your dog shows signs of digestive issues in addition to their frequent gas, such as vomiting, and diarrhea or loose stools, it may be a good idea to get them checked out by their vet. Once more serious problems have been ruled out, using probiotics and home remedies may help to ease your pitbull’s tummy troubles and reduce their farting.

How to Stop Pitbulls Farting So Much

Now that we’ve discussed some common causes of excessive farting in pitbulls, let’s take a closer look at some possible solutions.

Change Your Dog’s Diet

If you suspect your dog’s gas problems are caused by the food they eat, you may want to change them over to an all natural, premium, grain-free diet. 

Make this change slowly, gradually phasing out the old food and introducing the new. This will give their digestive system time to adjust to the new food. It might also help to stop giving the dog your table scraps, as many of them may cause extra gas.

Use “Slow-Down” Food Dishes

These types of doggy dishes are made for speed eaters. They let out a small amount of food at a time, forcing the dog to slow down and taste the food. These dishes can help reduce the amount of air your dog swallows while eating.

Another thing you could try is mixing ice in with the food. The dog will have to chew the ice, which will cause them to eat slower.

Exercise Your Dog Daily

Take your pitbull for daily walks and, if possible, allow them plenty of time to play outside in your yard or at the dog park. Not only will this allow them to burn off excess energy, it will keep things moving through their digestive system and may prevent gas from building up.

Give Your Dog Probiotics

If your dog has a sensitive stomach or has excessive gas not related to an underlying medical condition, giving them a daily probiotic may help. Probiotics provide the gut bacteria essential for healthy digestion and may relieve excess gas.

Use Home Remedies to Reduce Gas

Herbs such as fennel and parsley may be sprinkled or mixed into your dog’s food. Both of these herbs can help relieve gas, and parsley will neutralize the odors so the farts don’t stink so badly.

Your vet may also recommend medications or over-the-counter digestive aids to help relieve your dog’s gas. Be sure to consult your vet before giving your dog any medication.

When to See a Vet

Excess gas may be a sign that your pitbull has an underlying health condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, pancreatitis, and even cancer.These more severe conditions will likely present with a range of symptoms. 

In addition to excessive farting, other symptoms to look out for include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Bloody stool
  • Loss of appetite

If your pitbull presents with any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible to find out what is causing the symptoms, rule out serious conditions, and get the appropriate treatment.

Final Thoughts

It’s natural for pitbulls to fart from time to time, but there are things you can do at home to reduce the frequency and potency of your dog’s gas. Feeding them a better diet, making sure they get exercise, and using probiotics and home remedies can go a long way to improving your dog’s digestion and reducing their farts.

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