How gassy is your dog?

[Possum]

Semi serious question!

Small dog is relatively gas free unless we've made an error with a treat we've given her, at which point she releases the most noxious SBD emissions you can imagine.

Large dog however burps and farts regularly. I admit I do generally find it highly amusing (infantile sense of humour, I know) but I'm also a little concerned that either his food doesn't agree with him (fishmongers so grain free, thought it was fairly bland) or that it's an indicator that I need to be ultra-concerned about bloat. Obviously I take all the ordinary precautions, feed him 2 smaller meals a day, he doesn't gulp his food, don't feed at least an hour either side of exercise and restrict his water on the odd occasion it's necessary. Is him being so burpy an sign that he has more air in his stomach than he should, or can it be completely normal?

 

[chillipup]

My old Belgium shepherd used to burp quite a lot...throughout her life..but not fart so much. Old rescue bulldog on the other hand could fart for Britain and clear a room! (but seldom burp) (but bulldog breed is notorious for doing this)

What sort of dog is it? everything else all good health wise? Why would you have to restrict water though?

 

[Possum]

He's a Newfoundland, 100% health wise as far as we know.

The restricting water is a breed specific thing, he can get a bit silly with it and if he's been on a car drive or something so has had a small amount of time without free water access will drink and splash and gulp to excess so I restrict it to an inch in the bottom of the bowl topped up regularly until he's calmed down .

 

[MotherOfChickens]

He's a Newfoundland, 100% health wise as far as we know.

The restricting water is a breed specific thing, he can get a bit silly with it and if he's been on a car drive or something so has had a small amount of time without free water access will drink and splash and gulp to excess so I restrict it to an inch in the bottom of the bowl topped up regularly until he's calmed down .

I'm sure someone on here will tell me if I'm wrong but I was told recently that shallow water increases the amount of air taken in although this was in relation to a long snouted dog such as a poodle or setter. Certainly when I was working huskies back in the day, water was given in small amounts after work though. My setter has always been weird with water, it has to be exactly the right temp and straight out of the tap unless its from the ducks' paddling pool. He also belches after food and water-usually comes up to share too. He rather memorably did it when I was on an online meeting once. embarrassing.

Wind-wise he's much worse on on cheaper, soft kibble type dog foods. He was excellent on raw. He is now 11 though and a fussy ****** who is allowed to eat what he likes (and went completely off raw)-so no raw and some wind.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Bear does audible little fairs, which spooks him, so he leaps up to look round at his own bum! Makes me die! None of mine are very gassy, although the occasional smell wafts charmingly round. Tripe is worse than other food.

 

[chillipup]

He's a Newfoundland, 100% health wise as far as we know.

The restricting water is a breed specific thing, he can get a bit silly with it and if he's been on a car drive or something so has had a small amount of time without free water access will drink and splash and gulp to excess so I restrict it to an inch in the bottom of the bowl topped up regularly until he's calmed down .

I can quite understand the water reason now, you'd have to wear waders otherwise

chillipup

 

[Vicky Arabian]

I had a very burpy newfie, in fact once he had eaten his dinner he used to come up to me on the sofa and burp in my face. I like to think it was his way of saying thank you!

He did have a very sensitive stomach though and the only feed I found that kept him regularly and fart-free http://www.fish4dogs.com/ I cant recommend it enough!

 

[Bellasophia]

Id suggest scalding bis food with boiling water,just to get it swell ,before he eats it...most deep chested breeds benefit from this as an anti bloat measure .How are his stools? If firm and well formed I'd say you don't need to worry.
The dogue de Bordeaux I had was very sensitive to protein changes in the diet and this would result in gas and loose stools.
One of my last poodle girls had IBD and was constantly affected by painful gas and stinking loose stools,the latter due to bacterial overgrowth.

 

[Dry Rot]

I used to feed raw beef tripe, as from the back door of the abattoir. That makes dogs fart for Britain! The cure is a separate car trailer -- and drive fast!

 

[Possum]

Lol I knew that this was a good place to ask about this - thanks all .

I've spent a productive afternoon on Google, and discovered that burping is a good thing - the more he burps the less gas in his stomach so I can carry on giggling and encouraging it!

I find it bizarre that so little is known for definite about bloat when it's so common and so serious. About the only thing people seem to agree on is that stress is a factor and it is to some extent genetic - otherwise the limited research that has been done has frequently come to completely different conclusions.

 

[AmyMay]

Not gassy at all.

Oh, hang on a minute...... Eewww!

 

[satinbaze]

Lily has always burped and farted for England. At 2 years old she had a GDV and required emergency surgery and a belt loop gastropexy. I am now constantly on bloat watch, here are a few of my tips from living with a bloaty dog for 9 years
Burping and farting are good, the gas is being released naturally
Always crate to encourage rest before and after feeding (I do 2 hours after feeding)
Never restrict water as this makes lily gulp water when she has access to it, I always keep her water bowl topped well up. Yes she is a messy drinker but hay ho better than a trip to the vets
Feed a raw or wet food diet, yes she has blown on wet food but is far worse on dry
Use an anxiety wrap or thunder shirt if I feel she is going to be under stress at any time, use anxiety wrap overnight
Always feed from the ground
Never feed anything frozen
Always carry windeeze gel capsules and if she looks like he is building gas shove 2 down her throat. These will encourage her to bup and fart, they won't stop a GDV but may give you a few extra minutes to get to the vet.
REMEMBER A GDV is a true veterinary emergency. If in any doubt get to the vet ASAP. I was on the phone to the vet whilst getting the dog in the car to tell them I was on my way. Vets would far prefer to have a false alarm than a dead go because the owner left it too long.
Love her pieces
The best piece of GDV research is one by Perdue university in the states but. Can't remember the title off hand
Keep burping and farting

 

[Possum]

LOL Amymay

Satinbaze - thank you that's really interesting. Yesterday I went from idle curiosity about the condition to blind panic that I would miss it, so I have read the Purdue study (http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/dissertations/AAI3099198/ for anyone interested), bought windeze, looking to get a baby monitor so I'm less likely to miss anything untoward happening overnight and think I'll change his food. I can't crate him but I can restrict his access to my other dog (aka his favourite wrestling partner) and we tend to go to bed fairly soon after feed time so generally he just conks out.

Sorry to hear you had it happen in a young dog, I'm so pleased that she made it through, it's nice to hear of instances with more positive outcomes.

What are your thoughts on preventative gastropexy in otherwise healthy dogs that are high risk due to their breed/conformation?

 

[Bellasophia]

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=402

Useful link with bloat risk chart which includes your breed...
With educated, preventative management care, I would not opt for tacking the stomach in your breed.

 

[satinbaze]

I'm not sure I would have a preventative gastropexy done, it is probably something to discuss with your vet.
I would NOT have the stomach sutured yo the abdominal wall as I have heard this does not last long. Lily's niece had this done when she had a GDV and she twisted again 4 months later and unfortunately died.
The belt loop that lily has, has certainly saved her life since surgery but I have noticed that her exercise tolerance is reduced, possibly due to the fixed stomach restricting 1 lung.
The belt loop procedure is no longer the "gold standard" as the out of hours vet informed me but I cannot remember the procedure that has superceeded it.
Good luck

 

[satinbaze]

By the way in Lily's case there is a strong genetic link which is why lily has never had puppies and Tiva does not have the suspect line in her