Reasons Why Your Dog’s Farts Smell Like Rotten Eggs and Sulfur

Sometimes, dog farts can reek of rotten eggs or sulfur. The primary reason your dog’s farts smell bad is that the bacteria in its gut digest the food, which releases gas, causing its farts to smell.

We’ll explain everything you should know below, including the main causes of stinky gas in dogs, the best way to reduce the frequency of your dog’s farts, and when you should seek medical attention for your flatulent dog.

Let’s get started.

1. Diet

Some ingredients in your dog’s food can cause unusually stinky gas.

For example, foods that contain oat bran or legumes are notorious for producing a lot of stinky farts, and they’re present in many commercial foods. Some amino acids have sulfur, and too much sulfur can make farts stinky. Too much protein in your dog’s food can contribute to stink farts.

Fiber-rich may also make your dog’s farts smell like rotten eggs or sulfur. Because your dog’s digestive enzymes can’t break down fibers and complex carbohydrates, resulting in excessive gas and farts that smell like sulfur.

Additionally, homemade dog foods containing broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables can cause a lot of gas. Low-quality foods may also cause horrible-smelling farts, thanks to poorly digestible carbohydrates. Fortunately, this kind of problem resolves on its own over time.

Quick Solutions:

Choose a higher-quality dog food.

Assuming your dog isn’t suffering from health problems, you can reduce its smelly farts by switching to a higher-quality food.

Change your homemade recipe.

Because it’s difficult to provide a balanced diet, we recommend that owners use caution when preparing homemade meals for dogs. But, if your homemade recipe is making your dog gassy, consider using fewer cruciferous vegetables and beans.  

Make sure you switch foods gradually.

Completely switching your dog’s diet should take place over a week. Dogs have sensitive tummies, and when you suddenly switch their food to a new brand, you might deal with weeks of dog farts.

So, try mixing in increasingly large amounts of its new food with its old one, giving your dog’s system time to adapt to the new food and preventing digestive issues like excessive gas and diarrhea.

Cut back on the human foods and snacks.

The occasional treat of dog-safe people food isn’t a huge problem, but some foods can make dogs gassy. So, ease up on the French fries and chicken bites and check if that helps reduce the number of stinky farts your dog creates.

Consider food allergies if your dog’s farts smell like rotten eggs and sulfur.

Food allergies usually cause skin and coat problems for dogs, but they can also cause excess foul-smelling gas. So, you may want to take your dog to the vet and have him evaluated for food allergies. You should also consider hypoallergenic dog food.

2. Health Problems

Health problems can also make your dog’s fart smell like rotten eggs and sulfur. Some of these issues are mild and easy to treat, while others can be serious.

On the other hand, your dog’s farts can also result from serious problems like intestinal tumors or your dog’s pancreas. These problems are treatable in some cases, but they’ll require significant veterinary care.

Ironically, some medications to treat health problems also cause dogs to suffer from gas.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

This disease can cause farts in dogs. Having gas in the intestine is normal when a dog suffers from IBD. But sometimes, your dog may produce very stinky gas because the small intestine can’t absorb the food.  

As a result, the undigested food travels to the colon, where an overgrowth of harmful bacteria digest the food and produces more gas. Your veterinarian will treat your dog with a course of antibiotics, and probiotics may also help clear up such problems.

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Intestinal parasites

Intestinal parasites can also cause foul-smelling farts in some cases, but they’re easy to fix with the proper worming medication.

The most prevalent parasite in dogs is Toxocara Canis. An intestinal infection leads to flatulence, diarrhea, bloating, dehydration, and developmental delay.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

In EPI, the dog’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough digestive enzymes. And so, the dog’s body cannot digest properly and produces foul-smelling gas.

Other symptoms of EPI include:

  • Anorexia.
  • Vomiting.
  • Poor hair coat.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Flatulence.
  • Stinky stools.
  • Pica (eating non-edible items).
  • Increased appetite.

3.) Food allergies

Food allergies can make your dog’s farts smell like rotten eggs. When dogs consume foods they’re allergic to, it will irritate their stomach and makes them fart all over the place.

The following are the most common allergens:

  • Beef
  • Lamb
  • Dairy
  • Wheat
  • Chicken

The less common allergens include:

  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Pork
  • Rice
  • Corn
  • Eggs

Note: When your dog has an allergy, it may display one or more of these symptoms:

  • Diarrhea
  • Licking their paws
  • Itchy anus
  • Sulfur-smelling farts
  • Intense itching on face and head

Quick Solutions:

Consult your vet.

If you think your dog’s poor health is responsible for its stinky farts, you’ll need a vet’s help to fix it. They may rule out any medical causes and advise you to switch foods, but it is also possible that your dog will need medication or surgery to address the issue.

Tell your vet about your dog’s primary diet and any medications it’s taking.

Your vet might ask about these things during your office visit but be sure to bring them up if they forget.

Ensure that you mention the frequency and onset of your dog’s excessive, smelly gas to the vet.

As you can tell by now, there are many reasons your dog’s farts can smell like rotten eggs or sulfur, so your vet will have to try hard to figure out the cause. Explain the symptoms and context to your vet as best you can so your vet has as much information as possible. Remember that the patient cannot talk, and you are acting as their interpreter.

Other Tips To Avoid Smelly Farts in Dogs

Keep Your Dog Out of the Trash

Dogs are curious creatures that enjoy exploring the trash for tasty treats. Eating out of the trash can be extremely harmful to your dog, and it can cause stomach upset, leading to stinky farts. Prevent your dog from accessing trash by putting it in a covered can.

During walks, keep your dog away from any suspicious things on the ground, like trash your neighbors have discarded. Owners can also teach dogs the “Leave-it” command so their dogs can drop any trash they find.

Avoid Fart-Inducing Foods

Some foods are more likely than others to cause farting. Steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are healthy snacks for dogs, but too much of them could lead to smelly farts.

Speak with your vet to see if a highly digestible, low-residue diet could help your dog. This diet contains fewer hard-to-digest ingredients like beans, fiber, peas, and soybeans, meaning that there will be fewer farts after your dog eats.

Keep Dogs Active and Slow Down Fast Eaters

Dogs that eat their food like they’re in a race strain their digestive system, leading to smelly farts later on. Divide your dog’s daily portions into several smaller meals and feed them to fix this behavior throughout the day. Or use a slow-feed dish that features a raised center to prevent your dog from swallowing large amounts of food.

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In addition to slowing down your dog’s eating, keep it active with regular exercise and playtime. Exercise can help improve digestion and reduce farting.

Give your dog a canine probiotic. 

The vet might recommend giving your dog a canine probiotic or a dog food containing beet pulp, which has probiotics. Probiotics help balance the bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract, which may reduce the smelly farts. 

Follow the vet’s recommendations about administering the probiotics. And don’t give probiotics for human use to your dog.

Use digestive enzymes or activated charcoal. Consult with the vet about adding digestive enzymes to your dog’s food. These will help your dog break down food easier and reduce foul-smelling gas. You may also need to give your dog activated charcoal tablets for up to 3 days. These can help your dog break down carbohydrates easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I take my gassy dog to the vet?

Fortunately, excessive gas will usually pass within two days, assuming you fix the cause. But if the smelly farts persist, they may indicate a medical issue.

Gas is rarely a cause for concern because it’s a normal bodily function. All dogs suffer from occasional gas build-up, and some dog breeds are gassier than others. However, in some cases, it may indicate an underlying health problem. There aren’t any rules regarding when to seek veterinary attention, so you’ll have to use your best judgment and act in your dog’s best interest.

Here’s what you can consider before seeking veterinary attention:

Has your dog always produced foul-smelling gas? If so, it’s unlikely that it’s suffering from a serious health problem. This kind of gas is often the result of a poor diet, frequent snacks, or a simple predisposition to produce stinky farts. All dogs are individuals, and some are more likely to stink up your home than others.

Did the gas arise suddenly and without a clear cause? You probably need to visit the vet if your dog suddenly begins producing smelly fats that last for more than a few days.

What can I give a dog for smelly farts?

Once your vet rules out a medical or dietary cause of your dog’s excess gas, they may recommend a medication like an antacid to help reduce your dog’s farts. Supplementing your dog’s primary diet with probiotic powders may also help reduce farting. Finally, dog foods and treats featuring ingredients like zinc-acetate may help reduce your dog’s stinky gas.

How do you get rid of sulfur-smelling gas?

Taking medications with enzymes like alpha-galactosidase (Beano) can help reduce gas and bloating. If your dog has gaston-intestinal uses, taking simethicone can also relieve sulfur-smelling gas.

Can worms cause foul-smelling gas in dogs?

Intestinal parasites like roundworms cause digestive issues, including gas in dogs, as do intestinal tumors. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, and foul-smelling gas.

What’s the best dog food for gassy dogs?

Here’s a list of the best dog foods for gassy dogs:

  • Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dog Food.
  • Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dog Food.
  • Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe.
  • Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free.
  • Holistic Select Adult Health Lamb Meal Dog Food.

What are the signs my gassy dog has a liver problem?

If you suspect your gassy dog has a liver problem, below are some signs you can look out for:

  • A loss of appetite
  • Vomiting, stomach ulceration,
  • Diarrhea
  • Seizures or other neurologic problems
  • Fever
  • Blood clotting problems
  • Jaundice
  • Excessive urination
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Kevin Myers

Kevin Myers is a passionate animal lover, pet enthusiast, and dedicated writer. With over a decade of experience as a professional pet blogger, Kevin has gained a wealth of knowledge and insights into the world of pet care. He firmly believes that every animal deserves a loving and nurturing home, which has driven him to adopt and foster numerous pets throughout the years.

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