We all do it … our dogs included! Passing wind is healthy and natural in Border Collies – but when do Border Collie farts become something to worry about? Hold your nose! … in this article we are going to focus on flatulence – everything you need to know about Border Collies and farting!
Do Border Collies fart? Yes, as with all dog breeds, Border Collies pass wind as part of a healthy and natural digestive system. Any significant increase in frequency or foul smell in your Collie’s farts could be a sign of digestion problems in which case you should consult your veterinarian for advice. A healthy diet – including avoiding cheap dog food – and exercise in the form of physical and mental stimulation, will help your Border Collie maintain a healthy gut and maintain farting at normal levels.
One of the things people consider when getting a new dog are smells – “will introducing a new dog to my house cause visitors to think my house smells like a wet dog”? Surprisingly, the cause of these smells is often linked to canine flatulence! Read on to find out more about i) whether Border Collies fart (and why so much?); ii) how to reduce farting; iii) when to worry about flatulence and iv) Border Collie digestion.
Do Border Collies Fart?
One of my childhood Christmas memories is our family dog sitting next to my Grandma after he had eaten the leftovers from the Christmas dinner – including the brussel sprouts! Let us just say my Grandma was not very happy! (Or maybe the dog was the scape goat?)
ALL dogs fart and Collies are no exception. If you have a dog in your life, I’m sure you have experienced one or two “silent but deadly” farts.
Flatulence in dogs is very common and normal – gas forms in their stomachs and air is inhaled. And it has to go somewhere! Just like in humans, non-smelly farts in dogs are normally just the result of air inhaled during eating. This is why dogs with flat faces (e.g. Pugs and Boxers) tend to fart more than other breeds as they inhale more air when eating/drinking.
Cheap dog food, high fiber foods, spicy food and inflammatory/allergenic food like dairy can mean that your Border Collie farts more and that they are more smelly. Find out more below about why your dog may be farting more than normal.
Why Does My Border Collie Fart So Much?
Does your Border Collie fart a lot more than other dogs? Have they suddenly started passing wind more often with worsening smell? This could be due to one or more factors presented in the following list.
Why does my Border Collie fart so much? Increased flatulence in dogs can be a result of numerous factors, although it is normally diet-related. Common reasons for increased flatulence are i) eating quickly; ii) a sudden change in diet; iii) cheap low-quality dog food; iv) dairy products and other inflammatory table leftovers and v) food intolerance.
These reasons are fleshed out in the following list of five reasons why Border Collies start farting more:
1. Rapid Eating: Your pup may be related to wolves… but if they ‘wolf’ their dinner down, this will hinder the digestion process and also result in more air being inhaled resulting in potential bloating and increased volume of farts.
2. A Change in Diet: a sudden change in what they are given to eat may result in their digestion struggling to catch up – their gut microbiome takes time to adjust, so a gradual, gentle transition is needed.
3. Cheap Dog Food: Poor quality dog food often contains ‘fillers’ meaning empty calories such as carbohydrate heavy soy or wheat and bad meat, which can be terrible for digestion!
4. Leftovers! Sharing healthy meals with your dog can be a great experience for both of you, and can avoid the trappings of poor quality tinned/dry food – you know exactly what they are getting! However, if you are not selective and give them everything such as dairy, lots of high fat or fiber foods, spicy foods and lots of beans… then both of you may regret this an hour or two later!
5. Food Intolerance: This is often combined with diarrhea or loose stools and it should be fairly obvious if an intolerance or even allergy is being experienced. Keep a ‘food diary’ to monitor which new food may have set them off. Dairy is a classic allergen that should always be avoided; as with humans, lactose intolerance is very common as we both did not evolve to consume the milk from other species of animals!
Or it could be a fruit or vegetable which is either indigestible or even poisonous. And both ends may smell for the same reason – see our article on bad breath for related symptoms.
Other health factors including stress or diabetes could be at play with poor digestion and increased flatulence; if in doubt, consult your veterinarian for advice!
Fart Reduction – What Can I Do About My Border Collie’s Flatulence?
Dogs farting at normal levels is healthy and has benefits your dog, releasing toxins and gas which could result in bloating otherwise. And let’s see the funny side as well, dogs farting can amusing – seeing a dog let one rip, providing some comic relief in otherwise tense situations.
However, giving your dog the wrong food is one of the main reasons for chronic flatulence and can cause gastrointestinal issues. If the levels and smell of flatulence are above normal and becoming problematic, then here are four ways to reduce farting in Border Collies to healthy levels:
1. Dairy and High-Fiber Foods – Vegetables and dairy products produce gases in our digestive system. Vegetables and the nutrients and fiber they contain are extremely important for a healthy dog! In fact, the longest-lived Border Collie ate exclusively a plant diet (see: https://v-dog.com/blogs/v-dog-blog/bramble-the-collies-secrets-to-living-to-age-25). You just have to watch the fiber levels, and much depends on how this is prepared and cooked. As stated above, avoid dairy at all costs!
2. Environmental Factors: these can set off the gas too! Living in an urban setting may cause problems with digestion due to stress, with all that noise and fumes/pollutants. Aim to walk in your local park or in nature away from all that traffic – on a daily basis, you will benefit too!
3. Regular exercise – The amount of gas produced by a Border Collie is often dependent on how active they are. If they do not exercise regularly then there is a far higher chance that your dog will produce excessive wind when you least expect it!
4. Limit leftovers – Feeding your dog leftover human food such as processed food and high starch vegetables, rice, bread, and pasta can cause more frequent smelly farts. If feeding homemade food (often the healthiest option for them!), sometimes it is best to prepare for them separately especially if you are being more adventurous with spices etc, and your food is very rich!
If you feed your Border Collie a balanced diet of high-quality nutritious pet food, this can be a mix of wet food and dry food, together with a good daily exercise routine this should keep your dog happy and healthy.
If you find that your Border Collie has a more sensitive system you could try an elimination diet to find out if they have any particular food intolerance or even a food allergy.
When To Worry About Your Border Collies Flatulence?
Border collies can be a little more prone to digestive conditions than other breeds, leading to canine colitis – and increased farting. Canine colitis is a condition that occurs when the intestinal tract becomes inflamed. This can often be caused by diets that are high in fiber and low in fat, like those favored by border collies. When these foods are not digested properly, they can cause gas to build up in the intestines. This gas will eventually escape through the rectum, resulting in a fart.
Dogs may fart due to many causes such as stress, a high-fiber diet, dairy products, and fatty diets. Excessive flatulence may not always be due to your dog’s more sensitive stomach but can sometimes be a sign of a medical issue.
If you find yourself in a situation where your pet is out of breath or has a runny stool and is always stretching his legs and letting out gases, then they may actually have an issue with digestion. Take them to see your vet so they check their overall health.
Are Border Collies More Prone to Digestive Issues?
Yes, Border Collies are known to be more prone to digestive conditions than some other breeds. There are several things that you can do to help keep your Border Collie’s intestinal tract healthy. Feeding your dog a high-quality diet that is balanced in nutrients helps ensure that your dog gets the most out of his food. In addition, it is important to provide plenty of freshwater for your dog.
Exercise also is beneficial for intestinal health since it promotes intestinal motility and blood circulation, both of which help the intestinal tract work more efficiently. A routine deworming program is essential to prevent intestinal parasites from taking hold and robbing your dog of nutrients.
It is important to keep an eye on your Border Collies diet throughout their life as they can develop irritable bowel syndrome as they get older. If this is something your Collie suffers from there are many commercial dog foods available that are specifically designed to be low in fat that have beneficial ingredients to help ease your dog’s digestive issues. Finally, an appropriate amount of fiber in the diet keeps intestinal contents moving through at a good pace and can aid with intestinal function and wellness as well as with weight control.
Border Collie Digestion – Anatomy Lesson!
Your Border Collie’s digestive system is a marvel! Let’s find out a bit more about what happens to the food you lovingly prepare for them! The intestinal tract is designed to allow food and liquid to flow through it to absorb nutrients. This process starts at the mouth, where chewing breaks down food into smaller particles, which allows for easier digestion. The intestinal tract of dogs branches into two intestinal loops, with each loop ending in an opening, called the ileocecal valve.
Food then moves through the esophagus (food tube) and enters the stomach where digestive juices break down the food even further before passing out through the pyloric sphincter (the valve that separates the stomach from the duodenum). From there, food passes through the duodenum (the beginning part of the small intestine), jejunum (middle section of the small intestine), ileum (end section of the small intestine), and finally the ileocecal valve into the large intestine.
The intestinal tract of dogs is not always efficient in absorbing all of the nutrients from food. When this occurs, the dog may experience problems such as diarrhea, weight loss, and poor coat condition. Dogs with a genetic condition called malabsorption syndrome are more prone to develop digestive issues. This syndrome is caused by a defect in the intestinal lining that results in poor absorption of nutrients. Dogs with malabsorption syndrome may have chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and a dull haircoat.
