If your dog frequently clears the room with their gas, you’re not alone. Occasional flatulence is normal, but when it becomes chronic—especially if it’s smelly—it’s a sign that your dog’s digestive system is out of balance. Excessive gas is often the result of poor digestion, inflammation, or dysbiosis in the gut, and it can signal bigger issues that need attention.
Fortunately, with a root-cause approach and a few natural solutions, you can improve your dog’s digestion, reduce gas, and help them feel better from the inside out.
What Causes Gas in Dogs?
1. Poor Diet or Hard-to-Digest Ingredients
One of the most common causes of gas in dogs is a highly processed diet. Many commercial kibble formulas contain low-quality proteins, artificial preservatives, and high levels of carbohydrates—especially starches like peas, corn, legumes, and potatoes. These ingredients are difficult for many dogs to digest, and they tend to ferment in the colon, producing gas.
Additionally, meals that contain animal byproducts or rendered fats may not be as bioavailable, placing extra stress on the digestive tract and increasing the chance of fermentation and bloating.
2. Sudden Food Changes or Overeating
Switching foods abruptly, offering table scraps, or allowing your dog to overeat can disrupt digestive enzyme activity and microbial balance. This results in undigested food sitting in the gut, where it ferments and produces gas. Dogs with sensitive stomachs are especially prone to this reaction.
3. Gut Dysbiosis (Microbiome Imbalance)
The gut microbiome is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria that help your dog digest food, produce vitamins, and regulate inflammation. When this balance is disrupted—by antibiotics, poor diet, stress, or toxins—bad bacteria and yeast can overgrow. This microbial imbalance is known as dysbiosis and often presents as chronic gas, loose stool, skin issues, or immune dysregulation.
4. Food Intolerances or Sensitivities
If your dog has a sensitivity to a certain protein (such as chicken, beef, or dairy), gluten, or other dietary ingredient, they may develop inflammation in the gut. This can compromise digestion, cause fermentation of food, and trigger flatulence. Reactions may also present as itching, ear infections, or inconsistent stool quality.
5. Eating Too Fast or Swallowing Air (Aerophagia)
Some dogs inhale their food without chewing, especially if they’ve been in competitive feeding situations or are just naturally fast eaters. This can lead to swallowing excess air, which gets trapped in the digestive tract and contributes to bloating, burping, and flatulence.
How to Fix Gas Naturally
1. Switch to a Fresh, Whole Food Diet
Feeding your dog a diet made from real, whole, minimally processed foods can dramatically reduce gas. A fresh, species-appropriate diet—whether raw or gently cooked—is easier to digest and free from the inflammatory fillers that contribute to gas.
Choose limited-ingredient recipes with novel proteins and low-starch vegetables. Avoid highly processed treats, and focus on feeding meals that resemble what your dog’s ancestors would have eaten in the wild.
2. Support the Gut Microbiome
A healthy microbiome is critical for digestion and gas reduction. Introducing a high-quality probiotic can help restore microbial balance, especially if your dog has a history of antibiotics, stress, or dietary instability.
Soil-based probiotics (SBOs) and spore-forming strains are especially resilient and can survive the digestive tract more effectively. Pair probiotics with prebiotic-rich herbs like dandelion root, slippery elm, burdock root, or marshmallow root to support beneficial bacteria.
3. Add Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes help break down food into smaller, absorbable nutrients. Many dogs—especially those on cooked or processed diets—are deficient in enzymes, which can lead to incomplete digestion and gas formation.
Supplementing with a full-spectrum digestive enzyme (including protease, amylase, lipase, and cellulase) can ease the digestive burden, reduce bloating, and improve nutrient absorption.
4. Eliminate Common Food Triggers
Food intolerances are often missed as a source of gas. Consider doing an elimination diet or food trial using a novel protein (like duck, venison, or rabbit) and avoiding known triggers like chicken, beef, dairy, corn, wheat, soy, and legumes.
Stick with simple, clean recipes and rotate proteins every few weeks to reduce the risk of developing new sensitivities. Look for freeze-dried or fresh whole-food options with minimal ingredients.
5. Slow Down Mealtimes
Dogs that eat too fast often gulp air along with their food. This air can become trapped in the digestive tract, contributing to bloating and gas. Try a slow feeder bowl, snuffle mat, or food puzzle to extend mealtimes and promote better chewing.
Feeding smaller meals more frequently can also support digestion and prevent overloading the gut with food.
6. Use Carminative Herbs to Relieve Bloating
Carminative herbs help relax the intestinal muscles and expel gas naturally. They’re often used in traditional herbal medicine for colic, gas, and indigestion.
Safe, dog-friendly options include:
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Fennel: Soothes bloating and supports motility
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Ginger: Reduces nausea and helps digestion
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Chamomile: Calming to both the gut and nervous system
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Peppermint: Eases gas and bloating (use in very small, diluted amounts)
These herbs can be given as teas, tinctures (alcohol-free), or added to food in powdered form. Always use herbs that are specifically formulated for dogs.
Final Thoughts
Chronic gas isn’t just embarrassing—it’s a sign that your dog’s gut needs some support. Whether it’s from a poor diet, food sensitivities, or a stressed-out microbiome, flatulence is your dog’s way of saying their digestive system is under pressure.
By switching to a fresh, whole-food diet, balancing the microbiome with probiotics and prebiotics, supporting enzyme activity, and eliminating common triggers, you can dramatically reduce your dog’s gas and improve their overall digestive health.
At The Organic Dog Shop, we’re committed to helping your dog feel their best from the inside out. We offer a curated collection of gut-friendly probiotics, digestive enzymes, fresh food toppers, and natural herbs designed to support your dog’s digestion—without synthetic fillers or artificial ingredients.
Explore our digestion support collection today and take the first step toward better gut health—and a less gassy home!