The Importance of Good Gut Health

If your dog is suffering diarrhoea or excessive flatulence it can be discomforting for them and embarrassing or messy for you.

Depending on the indications there are a number of things you can do to make things more comfortable for your pet and avoid those unwanted smells!

Embarrassing Smells

Frequent flatulence can be caused by a number of factors including eating cheap dog food, too many treats or leftovers, or even your dog eating its food too fast.

However, there are a number of things you can do to reduce excessive gas, including:

• Introducing a premium dog food:
  • Premium dog foods are nutritionally balanced and some are developed specifically to be more easily digestible for your dog.
• Reducing treats and leftover foods:
  • The food we eat may not be as good for your dog's stomach as it is for us. Keep leftovers and treats to a minimum to avoid upsetting your dog's stomach.
• Give your dog a quiet place to eat:
  • Dogs can be fearful that their food may be taken away from them. As a consequence they often eat quickly, swallowing air as well as gulping down the food.
  • Creating a quiet area for them to eat can reduce this fear and slow them down whilst eating.
• Frequent exercise:
  • Just like humans, dogs need exercise, too.
• Probiotic supplements:
  • Excessive gas can be due to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your dog's gut.
  • Probiotic supplements can restore good bacteria and maintain a healthy digestive system.
  • Choosing a probiotic supplement that includes essential nutrients and vitamins can also help to enhance your dog's health and vitality.

Frequent Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can be caused by a number of different diseases but is often related to infection, inflammation or parasites in the digestive system. These diseases alter the bacterial balance in your dog's digestive system, causing the bad bacteria to outnumber the good bacteria.

A probiotic supplement restores the good bacteria levels to maintain a healthy digestive system. However, if the diarrhoea symptoms persist then you should consult your veterinarian.

So, the next time your dog is suffering from excessive flatulence or diarrhoea consider your pet's diet, digestive system and whether they are getting enough good bacteria.

Author: Dr Julia Adams BVSc - Petalia Resident Vet

Article reprinted with permission from Petalia A world of Petcare  www.petalia.com.au. Petalia makes no representations about, and accepts no responsibility or liability for, the accuracy or currency of the information provided.