Are Frenchies especially prone to flatulence?
French Bulldogs are little bundles of joy, but these doggos certainly know how to make a room stinky! You may have noticed that your Frenchie farts a lot. Unfortunately, flatulence is very common in Frenchies. It causes them to fart excessively.
Flatulence occurs when there is an accumulation of gas in the intestines. When the intestinal bacteria process the food that your doggo has eaten, this gas is created. It is very natural, and the only difference between a Frenchie farts and usual farts is that they are highly stinky.
This is nothing to worry about, though. Frenchies are gassy in general. This is mainly because they have incredibly sensitive stomachs. Farting in French Bulldogs can be triggered when they eat too fast or experience a change in diet.
While a fart here and there by your couch potato is simply amusing, excessive gas can make it hard to be around your Frenchie. When the farts are so often and so rancid, even that irresistible face cannot make your stay in the same room!
Signs of flatulence in your French Bulldog
The excessive farting by your Frenchie should be enough of an indication of gassiness, but here are some other symptoms:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Stomach bloating
- Rumbling sounds from your doggo’s stomach
Why do Frenchies fart excessively?
The major causes of flatulence in your Frenchie include diet, eating too fast, and swallowing excessive air. Lack of exercise and obesity also cause gassiness.
Frenchies are a brachycephalic breed, which is characterized by their flat faces and short muzzles. This causes them to swallow too much air while eating due to the shape of their face and bone structure.
You may have noticed that your little gremlin tends to eat food too fast. This is another trait of Frenchies that contributes to gassiness. When they eat too quickly, Frenchies also swallow a lot of air, which needs to be released later. This is known as aerophagia.
Diet is the number one factor when it comes to flatulence in Frenchies. You need to carefully regulate what you feed your doggo. Frenchies have sensitive stomachs and may react unpleasantly to certain foods.
If you do not feed any risky foods to your Frenchie and your dog still has a farting problem, you must consult with your vet at once.
Various other factors may cause your Frenchie to fart excessively. These include diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, neoplasia, intestinal inflammation caused by a virus, or abnormal pancreatic functions. Parasites may also cause flatulence.
Here are some dietary reasons your Frenchie may be a stinky little rascal:
Excessive carbohydrates
Excessive intake of carbohydrates can manifest in the form of gassiness. Some dog foods contain carbohydrates in large quantities, which is not suitable for your Frenchie. If you feed table scraps to your doggo, that may also contribute to excessive carbs in your Frenchie’s system.
Fat and fiber-rich food
Foods that are rich in fiber often take longer to get processed. This means that they remain in your dog’s digestive system for an increased period, get fermented, and produce gas.
Dairy
This may be a little surprising, but your Frenchie could be lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is fairly common in dogs and may take on a more intense form in your little Bulldog.
Fermentable foods
You must completely avoid feeding fermentable foods to your Frenchie. These include broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and cabbage, amongst others. Such foods can pump up your Frenchie’s farting business!
Spicy foods
Human foods have larger amounts of spices than dog foods. You may think that spices make food better, but that is not the case when it comes to your French Bulldog. The high content of salt, pepper, chilly, or any other spice is not good for your dog at all. This may result in flatulence.
How to control your Frenchie’s excessive farting
Bulldogs are known to be gassy and prone to flatulence. However, you should not worry because you can help your furry friend with excessive farting.
The best way to do this is to change your pooch’s diet. You must keep in mind that when you do choose to change your Frenchie’s diet, you should keep it slow and gradual. Frenchies have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts and often need time to adjust to new diets.
Ideally, consulting with a veterinarian who has a good knowledge of dog nutrition is the best path to take. Always check the ingredients of the dog food you purchase. In general, make sure you incorporate the following in your Frenchie’s diet:
- Protein
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Healthy fats found in oils and meat, such as omega-3, omega-6, and fish oils
- Plenty of water
- Good carbohydrates found in grains, oats, barley
You can also feed probiotics to your Frenchie, which reduce gassiness by aiding in digestion and preventing harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. Carminative is a herb that helps reduce flatulence too. Dry activated charcoal is also an option.
You should also make sure that your Frenchie gets enough exercise. Even though these adorable doggos can be lazy, they do need to go for relaxed walks! This will help in digestion and health.
As you now know, eating too quickly also causes your Frenchie to stir up a fart storm. You can use special bowls that are designed to help slow down your furry friend while eating. Such bowls typically have honeycomb patterns that will prevent your buddy from gobbling up food too fast.
Is your Frenchie in pain due to excessive flatulence?
Are you concerned about your Frenchie’s health because your dog is farting rancidly and excessively? You should not worry too much. Typically, your Frenchie will not be in pain since bulldogs are naturally prone to gassiness.
At most, your Frenchie may experience mild abdominal discomfort or pain, which can be taken care of if you take your dog to the vet.
Sometimes, however, excessive farting may be a symptom of an underlying gastrointestinal disease. Flatulence can also be caused by parasites, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and canine parvovirus infection. Various food allergies also cause farting.
It is best to contact your veterinarian before self-diagnosing your munchkin.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is feeding table scraps to your French Bulldog safe?
- No, you must not feed table scraps to your Frenchie. Human food contains a lot of ingredients that are not suitable for your dog and will cause increased farting.
- What grains can you feed your Frenchie?
- While grains are a good and healthy source of nutrition, some of them may have adverse effects on your doggo. Grains like barley and oats are safe to feed your dog, but others like wheat and corn must be avoided.
- What is Neoplasia?
- Neoplasia is a condition wherein there is an excessive amount of grown tissue in your dog’s bowels. This growth may be harmless but can also be cancerous. Neoplasia stirs up extra gas that needs to be passed by your dog.
- Is bloat the same as flatulence?
- No, there is a huge difference between bloat and flatulence. Bloating is caused when your Frenchie’s stomach is filled with fluid and gas. Frenchies with bloat will exhibit an enlarged abdomen, drooling, and anxiety, amongst other symptoms. If your Frenchie has these symptoms, you must treat it with urgency and rush to the vet. Bloat in dogs can be fatal.
To sum up
French Bulldogs fart a lot. This is due to these adorable dogs’ natural susceptibility to flatulence. Many factors come into play when it comes to excessive farting, such as quick eating or improper diet.
You must make sure that your Frenchie gets proper nutrition while also avoiding problematic or allergy-causing foods. You can also invest in a special bowl to help with slower eating.
A pleasant, relaxed evening can quickly turn into an unpleasant business if you do not account for your little potato’s health!
