Bloating in a dog (flatulence in another way) is a lesion that causes a lot of pain to both the owner and the pet itself. In most cases, a dog’s stomach swells due to malnutrition. If this happens, then it becomes dangerous for her, since in the future it can lead to obstruction of the esophagus, and in some cases to inversion of the stomach and its further displacement from the usual position.
Causes of trouble
Many factors can lead to flatulence. If the dog has a bloated stomach, the reasons may be:
- improperly selected dog food and food;
- poor care;
- pancreatic insufficiency;
- problems with the functioning of the liver;
- dysbiosis;
- bowel disease.
Improper feeding of a pet may result in excessive amounts of carbohydrates, cereals, and legumes. The digestive system of a dog can do well with meat products, some cottage cheese, well-boiled porridge and vegetables. In most cheap pet food mixtures, some of the meat is replaced with soy. In carnivores, such a product is poorly absorbed and provokes strong gas formation.
In any animal, flatulence can occur due to the constant use of too hot or cold food, a sharp change in the usual diet. In addition, mixing canned and dry foods from different manufacturers can cause gas to build up in the intestines in dogs.
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It implies a restriction of pet activity. In a normal state, with active movement, the dog’s abdominal muscles press on the intestines. This process significantly accelerates the activity of the intestines, which is responsible for pushing the feed out, which helps to achieve normal emptying, including getting rid of accumulated gases.
With low mobility, such a mechanism does not work, which is why gases accumulate in the intestine.
Digestion problems
Pancreatic insufficiency leads to problems with the production of important enzymes that help digest incoming food. This especially affects the digestion of proteins and the synthesis of enzymes that break down carbohydrates. As a result of such insufficiency, digestion does not occur in full. Such disorders are characteristic of inflammation of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus and other lesions.
Difficulties with the functioning of the liver lead to a change in the amount of bile and its constituent components. As a result, the stomach suffers and the absorption of the components deteriorates. The remaining substances in the intestines begin to ferment and give off gas.
Dysbacteriosis is described by a violation of the composition of microorganisms in the intestine. This impairs the digestion of fiber and carbohydrates by microorganisms. With dysbiosis, a large amount of toxins and gases accumulate in the body.
For intestinal disease, dysbiosis and problems with the absorption of components are characteristic. Against the background of digestive disorders, the process of carbohydrate absorption is also deteriorating.
The consequences of digestive problems
Due to possible digestive disorders, the intestines of the animal begin to fill up with a large amount of gases and significantly increase in size. As a result, the dog’s stomach is inflated, pain occurs. Gases begin to be slowly absorbed and lead to intoxication. Negative load on the liver increases significantly.
The expansion of the intestine leads to its increased work, which accelerates the movement of digested food. The dog begins diarrhea. At the same time, a large amount of gas continues to remain in the intestine, moving closer to the sphincter of the rectum and accumulating in this place. After the accumulation of a certain amount of gas, emission begins with an unpleasant odor.
Emitting excess gases through the anus is not enough to empty the intestines. Its walls continue to expand, and pain only grows. In this case, there is a danger of the dog developing stomach diseases, increasing flatulence and impaired liver function.
The main symptoms
Bloating can be acute as well as chronic. If it is of a chronic type, then it can proceed secretly. But over time, the animal will begin to have difficulties with the pancreas and liver. It is important to remember that, together with a malfunction of the described organs, the state of the digestive system and all processes occurring in it are significantly worsened.
As with other diseases, the acute form brings the greatest threat. The pet with such a violation begins to get very nervous and whine. The dog’s stomach is bloating, the muscles are tight. Side effects of bloating include stomach upset, nausea, complete or partial refusal to eat, blue gums, difficulty breathing, increased pain in the abdomen.
Problem identification
If the dog’s abdomen is greatly inflated after eating, then the abdominal area can be measured using a centimeter tape. Measurements are recommended in the widest part of the abdomen. Such a simple procedure will help to track the progression of the disease and understand exactly if there is a threat to the condition of the animal.
If the symptoms are quite serious, it is important to immediately consult a veterinarian. In the clinic, doctors will be able to conduct all the necessary examinations, including the analysis of bowel movements, blood and x-rays. The main goal of a doctor is to exclude a disease with similar symptoms, for example, bowel disease or a lack of enzymes in the body.
Treatment selection
What to do, the dog has a bloated stomach? Most therapeutic measures will be associated with the nutrition of the pet. To begin with, it is important to provide the animal with proper nutrition in a calm environment. It is not necessary to distract the dog during feeding, and it is also forbidden to allow children to do this. This behavior can end badly, as when eating food, dogs become especially sensitive.
The feeding place should also be separate, since dogs are used to swallowing food in whole pieces without chewing (this is especially true for houses where there are other animals). Eating too fast can lead to an accumulation of large amounts of gas, which will only worsen the situation.
If a dog’s stomach is bloating, it’s important to buy liquid food for it. Veterinarians recommend giving a pet, which often has bloating from simple feed, liquid or almost liquid food. Dry food is prohibited in this case, as it absorbs a large amount of fluid in the stomach itself, leading to bloating. If the owner does not have time to prepare food for the animal, then he can make dry food much softer by adding liquid to it. This method will help absorb water before it enters the stomach.
It is important to remember that nothing can be better for digestion, like home-cooked food, which will help to avoid any difficulties with the dog’s stomach. Specialists were able to prove that dogs that eat homemade food recover much faster than animals that continue to be fed in-store food.
Herbal tincture
What to do, a dog’s stomach is bloated? Another effective way is tincture of chamomile. Such a plant is a good helper in the fight against various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Chamomile helps not only to relieve stomach problems, but also to avoid possible bloating.
Small breeds of dogs whose weight is less than 15 kilograms are allowed to give half a teaspoon of the decoction every day. Large breeds can take a tablespoon of the drug daily. If the animal is stubborn and does not want to eat the cooked broth, then it can be mixed with food or poured into the jaws of the pet with a simple syringe.