Puppy farts

[Shianne Mack]

So when my puppy was about 8 weeks he started to have really smelly farts. And I thought it was like that because of the food change, but I am on the same kind and he is still having the same farts at 5 months I am feeding him complete health wellness puppy food. So. Is it the food, or do I just have a gassy doodle?

[Laura and Angus]

Do you give anything else besides the food? Like treats or people food?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know he was getting rawhide from another of your discussions. What else does he get in the way of treats or chews? 

You can try giving him a couple of tablespoons of plain, unflavored, nonfat yogurt 2 to 3 times a day; that may help. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

We adopted a kitten and had a couple of hundred mile ride home. That kitten had the worst smelling farts ever. Took him to the vet the next day for shots and a check up and mentioned the farts. The vet recommended the yogurt cure or nonfat buttermilk. We opted for the buttermilk and gave Ollie some daily for the rest of his life. Ollie was the sweetest most well behaved cat ever.

[Phoenix]

We use Wellness Core Puppy and we don't have this problem.

[VScott & Lloyd]

Lloyd was eating Wellness Complete Puppy (Large Breed) and although no gas, his poops were soft and runny even after 2 negative fecal tests from the vet. I switched him to Orijen Puppy and it's much better.  I also cut out the Zuke's training treats because he had an awful case after being over-treated at puppy class. Before I was sure it was mainly the kibble I would give him cooked rice with plain ground chicken and a spoonful of canned pumpkin and non-fat plain yogurt. That got him back on track and helped me figure out what the culprit was. Maybe that could help with the gas too?

[Shianne Mack]

Ever since I got my puppy too, his stool has never been completely firm. Sometimes it is on the pudding side and sometimes its more formed, but never hard. So I will try to the yogurt and see if that tells me anything! thank you :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think a grain-free formula would be a better choice for your pup than the Complete Health, as others have suggested. If you want to stay with Wellness, the CORE line would be a better choice, and might help firm up the stool. 

[Shianne Mack]

Okay, I will do that!

[Shianne Mack]

I gave him a rawhide bone before, but recently i found out that those are one of the worst things you can give your dog, I have stopped. The other treats I give him are some Old Mother Hubbard crispers and occasionally beggin bacon strips. I will try the yogurt though, and see if that helps! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Shianne, please look at our list of recommended treats. Begging Strips, while not as dangerous as rawhide, are really bad for dogs, and contain some terrible ingredients, including artificial preservatives and colorings that have been linked to the development of certain kinds of cancers. They could well be contributing to the gas and the loose stools. As I said before, there are no safe or healthy pet treats sold at grocery stores, Walmart, etc.

[Shianne Mack]

What would I do without you!! Thank you again!

[Laura and Angus]

I was going to say that my grandfather used to give our family dog (a standard poodle) the beggin strips and he would have terrrrible gas afterwards. Definitely check out the recommended list like Karen mentioned ...there are many options on there. We like the Old Mother Hubbard and Fruitables treats. The Fruitables are especially great because they are soft, have lots of options, and are small in size, which is great for training!