You’re trying to get a good night’s rest.
But then this bad smell hits you in the nose.
It certainly wasn’t you.
Gasp! The culprit is your bedmate. Your pooch.
As you try to breathe through the smell,
You wonder,
“How is it possible for a dog to have so much gas?”
- 7 dog breeds that fart a lot.
- The easiest way to cope with farting dogs.
- 9 reasons why your dog farts so much at night.
- PROVEN: A study explains why brachycephalic breeds fart a lot.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Why does my dog fart so much at night?
Your dog farts so much at night because of diet-related issues. Such as eating rotten food or ingredient sensitivities. Some breeds fart because they swallow lots of air when eating. Digestive tract diseases and parasites cause farting, too. But it’s also normal for dogs to fart.
9 reasons why your dog farts so much at night
#1: Food intolerance
People often make a mistake when identifying these.
It’s common to think of these as food allergies.
But these reactions are food intolerances/sensitivities.
In most cases, it causes immediate reactions such as indigestion or farting.
“How do dogs get food sensitivities?”
This happens because there are certain ingredients that dogs have trouble digesting.
One of the most common ingredients that dogs are intolerant to is dairy.
This includes:
- Milk.
- Butter.
- Yogurt.
- Cream.
- Cheese.
My friend’s dog, Hela, has extreme reactions when it comes to milk.
When Hela was a puppy, her dog parent would use milk as a way to feed her medicines.
But my friend quickly learned that it wasn’t for Hela.
Because a few minutes after drinking it, she’d beg to go out to poop. And she had the runniest poop ever.
You might also like: Can Dogs Eat Alfredo? 7 Ingredients Reviewed + 7 Dangers
#2: Eating rotten food
Does your dog have an unhealthy obsession with food from the trash?
Then they might be in danger of eating rotten food.
Some might even like the smell of dead animals or even eat them.
Not only does this cause an upset stomach.
But it’s also very dangerous for your dog.
Spoiled food often contains mold. And the ASPCA cautions dog parents that it contains mycotoxins.
These cause bad muscle tremors in your dog.
Dr. Sandra Mitchell of PetMD, adds that rotten or moldy foods are one of the causes for food poisoning.
She emphasizes keeping your dog out of the garbage can or compost pile.
Dogs might find it a culinary treat but it can lead to serious consequences.
“How do I keep my dog from getting into the trash?
The first way is to prevent them from getting into areas where there’s a garbage can.
So you can:
- Install barriers like baby gates.
- Get garbage cans with locks.
- Tether your dog when taking out the trash.
And if your dog still gets into the garbage?
Then before they do that, you can teach them to have a reliable “Leave it”.
So you can get them to make the choice to leave the rotten food and come to you.
Watch this video and learn a step-by-step method to teach the “Leave it” command:
#3: They swallowed too much air
Some dogs like to zip like lightning through life.
They do everything so fast. From running, to eating their food.
It’s entertaining to see. Especially once they get the zoomies.
But when it comes to eating and drinking, this behavior causes smelly farts at night.
When they gobble their food, they also take in much air.
“Why does my dog eat so fast?”
PetMD tells us that they do it when they’re competing for food. Especially in a house with a lot of dogs.
Or it’s a learned behavior from when they were puppies.
They often have to eat fast or their siblings would leave nothing for them.
You can help your dog slow down by getting them a slow feeder bowl.
And this doesn’t just stop farts.
It also prevents:
- Bloating.
- Vomiting.
- Weight gain.
Reading tip: 11 Reasons Why Your Puppy Is Suddenly Eating Slowly + Tips
Brachycephalic breeds often get really farty. It’s because of the structure of their airways.
The ar passages are smaller. Which makes them breathe more with their mouth than their nose.
This study also says that their airways often have obstructions. And this is the reason why snoring and farting is common in these dogs.
Brachycephalic or flat-faced breeds include:
- Pugs.
- Beagles.
- Bulldogs.
- Shi Tzus.
- Pekingese.
- Lhasa Apsos.
- Boston Terriers.
Best Friends Vet Center explains that it’s better to do corrective surgery on these dogs.
It gives them a chance to breathe normally.
And it lowers the risk of:
- Heatstroke.
- Death from airway restriction.
- Recurrent respiratory disease.
And to top it off, your dog won’t fart as much.
#5: Sudden diet changes
Did you switch to a new dog food recently?
If so, how did you introduce it to your dog?
Giving a new kind of kibble can cause stomach upset in your pooch’s tum-tum.
Their digestive system has to adjust to it. And dogs have very sensitive stomachs.
So the best way would be to introduce new dog food slowly.
The AKC says that an ideal transition phase is 5 to 7 days.
And the process involves mixing in increasing amounts with your dog’s previous food.
A typical way to do this is:
- Day 1-2: 25% new diet, 75% old diet.
- Day 3-4: 50% new diet, 50% old diet.
- Day 5-6: 75% new diet, 25 % old diet.
- Day 7: 100% diet.
You might also want to know: Feeding Schedule For 5-Week Old Puppy: When & What To Feed
#6: Eating table food
Feeding your dog scraps from the table is convenient. You don’t have to buy dog food.
But this practice isn’t good for your pooch.
The AKC explains that these foods are usually high in sugar and fat.
And dogs can’t process them.
Which results in digestive problems like farting or diarrhea.
They may also contain ingredients that are dangerous for dogs.
Such as:
- Salt.
- Garlic.
- Onion.
- Coffee.
- Chives.
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Citric acid.
- Chocolate.
So, think twice when you want to give your dog a piece of bacon or sausage.
Don’t fall for their begging, puppy dog eyes. Stand your ground.
Your dog’s body will thank you for your control.
#7: Digestive tract diseases
Farting isn’t something that dog parents should worry about.
But when it happens all the time then there’s a problem.
Prolonged farting is usually a sign of digestive tract diseases.
MSD Manual says that other general signs include:
- Shock.
- Bloating.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Dehydration.
- Constipation.
- Abdominal pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Difficulty pooping.
- Excessive drooling.
Because there are a lot of possible diseases for your dog to have, there are lots of tests to do.
And depending on the results, your dog can have:
- Diarrhea.
- Intestinal cancers.
- Irritable bowel disease.
- Gastrointestinal disease.
- Inflammatory bowel disease.
Problems with the digestive system happen often in dogs.
In fact, this study tells us that digestive problems are among the highest recorded issues in dogs.
A big part of why this happens is because they explore the world by sniffing. And putting things in their mouth.
As a result, all these can make their way inside:
- Viruses.
- Foreign bodies.
- Infectious bacteria.
Note: The best thing you can do here is prevention.
- Make time for daily exercise.
- Don’t miss regular vet checkups.
- Feed your pooch high-quality food.
#8: Intestinal parasites
This is a normal occurrence, especially in small pups.
This is why some of you might have squealed in disgust when worms accompanied their poop.
It’s not a pretty sight. And this is why it’s so important to give deworming to dogs.
Especially to small pups and momma dogs.
Many parasites are contagious. Even sniffing the ground deposits them into your dog’s system.
Some can even migrate into your body and cause diseases.
Here are the most common according to MSD Manual:
- Flukes.
- Tapeworms.
- Whipworms.
- Hookworms.
- Roundworms.
#9: It’s normal
Just like humans, dogs have digestive bacteria in their stomachs.
And these help to break down their food.
The air we all breathe also contributes. It contains nitrogen and oxygen.
According to Scientific American, the 2 combine with other gases as it passes through the body.
Hydrogen sulfide is one of these gases present in farts. And it’s responsible for that awful rotten egg smell when dogs do this.
And there’s nothing we can do about it. It happens in our bodies, too.
Farting is completely natural and normal.
But if you can’t bear the smell, here are some things you can do:
- Open the window.
- Light a scented candle.
- Spray some air freshener.