If you've been sitting with your Frenchie long enough, you know that smell and sound! French bulldogs have some gas issues, and it's no surprise that their flatulence is an inherited trait that links back to their digestive system.
So Why Do French Bulldogs Fart So Much
Farting in Frenchies is typically due to a change in diet. Was it possible that you fed something on the lactose intolerant list? There is such a thing for French bulldogs! While not all dairy products cause noxious gas fumes from your little French bully, it's important to check the ingredients on your Frenchie's food.
You can check this complete this for other reasons why your French bulldog may have excessive gas.
Check Symptoms for French Bulldog Diarrhea
Does your pup also have loose stools or liquid diarrhea? In this case, full diet changes may be in order.
Some signs to look for include:
- Gaseous flatulence
- Abdominal discomfort
- Stomach bloating
- Loose stool or diarrhea
Diet is the main issue for gas and diarrhea in French bulldogs. These pups have sensitive stomachs that don't do well with dairy products, starches, and cornmeal.
Is Your Frenchie Eating the Bad Stuff?
What ingredients do you see on your dog food label? While dairy products are a common problem for Frenchies, there are some other ingredients to look out for.
Here is a complete list of what causes the digestive problem in Frenchies:
- Eating too many carbohydrates, such as processed dog foods with lots of starch
- Eating table scraps
- Diets with too much fat
- Dairy products like cheese or milk proteins
- Low-quality dog food with cornmeal, wheat, and chemicals
- Beef and turkey causes digestive issues with some Frenchies
- Peas have been known to cause issues in Frenchies
The best diet for Frenchies will be balanced with fiber, and the first ingredients should be chicken or lamb with rice and veggies other than peas.
If you know that your Frenchie has issues with certain dog food brands, you should check the ingredients list to see what the major ingredients are.
In addition, you should talk to your vet about what diet to feed a French bulldog prone to digestive problems such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Aerophagia or Swallowing of Air
It's no secret that French bulldogs have sweet yet flat faces. This trait causes certain issues, such as swallowing air when they eat. If your French bulldog eats very quickly, there's a chance that he's swallowing air quite rapidly as well.
This will definitely lead to expelling air. There are bowls that you can buy that actually slow down your dog's eating so that they avoid swallowing air.
Lack of Exercise and Obesity
French bulldogs are also prone to gaining weight if they stay inside too much and constantly nibble on food. You'll need to be careful about what you feed your Frenchie at the table, and if they are gaining lots of weight, you may want to put your bulldog on a safe diet.
In addition, these rambunctious pups need lots of exercise and time at the dog park. If they're having issues with energy levels, there could be something else going on that's causing fatigue and possibly depression.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
According to Vet4Bulldog, Did you know French bulldogs have a history of inflammatory bowel disease? It's actually prevalent in bulldogs specifically.
In this case, your bully will likely need to go on a special diet and may need steroids to help keep inflammation down at first. Over time, more medications may be prescribed so that your bully is able to eat dog food.
Spoiled Wet Food
Are you feeding wet food to your pup? French bulldogs tend to have sensitive stomachs that can't tolerate the preservatives in most canned dog food.
According to WholeDogJournal, You'll need to check the ingredients list to see if there are any milk proteins or chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, and another called ethoxyquin.
Typically if dog food contains any type of "cornmeal," "chicken meal," or "turkey meal," it means that it contains chemicals and most likely preservatives as listed above.
Neoplasia
This is a serious cause of flatulence, and if you notice that your pup is farting excessively, this could be the reason why.
Neoplasia causes excessive tissue growth in the bowels, which leads to multiple digestive problems. One of the signs is constant gas. However, you'll need a vet to take x-rays to determine if this is the cause.
Parasites like Giardia
Parasites also cause significant digestive problems in canines. If you notice that your pup is having diarrhea and vomiting in addition to noxious farts, then it could be a parasite.
According to VetStreet, One of the main gastrointestinal parasites found in dogs is Giardia. This parasite may cause diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy, but it also doesn't always present with symptoms.
A vet can test your dog for Giardia infection and administer medication to quickly treat it.
Could It Be Pancreatitis?
While the pancreas is supposed to release enzymes that help in digestion, some dogs don't have a working pancreas, and they may need a diet lower in fat to help regulate these enzymes.
Some signs of pancreatitis include diarrhea, gas, loss of appetite, hunchback, pain in the abdomen, bloating, weakness, and fever.
If your dog is overweight and already has a history of diabetes, it's most likely that they'll have pancreatitis as well. Vets can diagnose and treat certain cases of pancreatitis, but it could be fatal if not treated in a timely manner.
In addition, dogs with pancreatitis symptoms should not be fed anything other than a prescribed diet or meal plan as discussed with a vet. This means no table scraps or highly fattening foods.
What Food Causes Gas in French Bulldogs?
There are some food groups that dogs just don't digest well. If your Frenchie has a lot of gas following their dinner, it's likely because there were certain ingredients in the dog food you chose.
Here is a list of food allergies that are common to Frenchies:
- Dairy including milk, yogurt, and cheese
- Red meat such as beef
- Beans
- Soy
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Cauliflower
- Corn and starches
- Cheap dog food with poultry meal ingredients
One of the best ways to help your Frenchie with this is to serve up a meal of plain boiled chicken and rice.
These pure, natural food sources should reset your pup's system. If not and you still notice gaseous emissions, then it could be a sign of something else such as a disease or virus.
Why Frenchies Fart More Than Other Dogs
One of the main reasons for this is because of their flat, smushed heads. They're part of brachycephalic breeds, which have smaller mouths and snouts.
This means that when they eat, they tend to swallow everything around the food including water and air.
You can take a look at this video of the "Loving Bowl", which was specially designed for these types of breeds.
It reduces the amount of space between the food and their mouths to allow them to quickly lick up food without taking in too much air.
Medications to Help French Bulldogs with Digestion
Your vet should be the first line of defense against these issues, but there are some common herbs and medications out there that actually help French bulldogs with gas.
These include:
Carminative
This is an herb you can purchase for dogs that reduce gas and bloating. It shouldn't be used too much, and you'll need to check the dosage with your pup's weight.
Yucca Schidigera
This is a plant that you'll find out in the world deserts of the world. It's a natural deodorizer and may help your pup from smelling.
Dry Activated Charcoal
Did your pup digest something you know will cause problems? You can feed a small amount of dry activated charcoal to prevent the stomach and intestines from absorbing toxins.
This shouldn't be used on a normal basis as it's mostly used for pet poisoning problems. You can consult your pet's doctor in an emergency to see what else can prevent diarrhea and bloat.
Simethicone
This is another medication that helps dogs by reducing abdominal discomfort, bloating, and other pain resulting from excessive gas.
Wrapping Up
Have you noticed a change in your Frenchie's diet? Are the farts smellier than ever before? Your pup could be dealing with massive inflammation or a disease flare-up caused by a new diet or a high-fat diet.
It's best to work with your vet and test different "safe dog foods" to see what ingredients are intolerable to your Frenchie.
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As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama.
