My Dog Has Loose Stools And Smelly Gas

The Short Answer is:

When a dog has watery poop and bad-smelling farts, this means the digestive system is under real strain and struggling to cope. Unfortunately, for most dogs, this will just be a temporary blip, but for a few dogs, this toxic combination may be a warning sign of something graver.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “My Dog Has Loose Stools And Smelly Gas“.

Despite how cute your dog is and how much you love him he has some unpleasant habits.

One of these habits is farting or flatulence.

It can be quite amusing because our dogs are often as surprised as we are when they fart.

However dog farts can become less amusing when they occur frequently and smell rotten as well. 

We’ll be honest its downright disgusting at this point. 

If you are experiencing diarrhea or loose stools along with the unbearable odor what should you do?

In other words we need to start paying close attention to our dogs and if necessary get them seen by a vet. 

What are the main reasons for a dog to have both loose stools and smelly gas?

In the next section we’ll find out.

Three main causes of loose stools and smelly gas

When a dog has watery poop and bad-smelling farts this means the digestive system is under real strain and struggling to cope. 

Unfortunately for most dogs this will just be a temporary blip but for a few dogs this toxic combination may be a warning sign of something graver. 

Loose stool and flatulence can be caused by three main factors.

It could be that you have recently changed your dogs diet and their digestive system is freaking out as a result.

Perhaps your dog is switching from one brand of wet food to another or from wet food to kibble or even transitioning to a raw food diet?

Your dogs reaction is natural and the combination of stool and farts will only last a short time.

Maybe you are making the change too fast and instead of stopping one type of food and switching to another in a couple of days perhaps you should go more slowly and make the changes over a week or 10 days?

First you were deliberately creating the noxious combination of stools and gas so the second main reason is an oversight.

Theres something your dog ate that should not have been there. 

They have stolen it from a work surface inside the house eaten some rotten food or animal carcasses while out walking or have raided the neighborhood garbage bins. 

Again the outcome will be bad but it should only last a short while. 

Alternatively your dog could have something much more seriously wrong with him that is causing him to have loose stools and smelly gas.

By eating the contents of your trash bin they are not changing their diet or winning the neighborhood lottery.

The digestive system is just beginning to shut down- to function much less efficiently permanently.

Old age is the most obvious reason for this. She never had diarrhea when anything went in one end of her fourteen-year-old golden retrievers stomach.

Currently this is not the case and her diet is more restricted to present-day “accidents”.

Taking your dog to the vet is necessary if they continue to have diarrhea and foul-smelling flatulence for more than a few days. 

Next I will describe what normal dog poop should look like. 

Furthermore I will discuss separately the issue of loose stool and the issue of bad dog gas in the remainder of the article.

What should normal dog poop look like?

In a typical dog stool the log is firm moist and log-shaped. Despite little differences depending on the breed of dog you have its diet and how it processes food your dogs poop is supposed to be firm enough to pick easily.

Occasionally however this isnot the case as a dogs stool becomes so loose that what normally takes you seconds to pick up and finish now takes you minutes to clean up.

Its purpose is to inform you of the causes of loose stools and smelly gas in dogs and what can be done to resolve them.

What are the main causes of loose stools in a dog?

Loose stools in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors. If your dog has one knowing what causes it is very important to know what to look out for in your dog and avoid unpleasant situations. 

It is common for dogs to experience diarrhea when they change their diet since they may need some time to get used to the new diet. Therefore you must gradually introduce a new diet to your dog to allow him to get used to the new proteins.

The digestive system of your dog may also be highly intolerant to an ingredient in its diet resulting in gastrointestinal upsets. Your dog may have diarrhea after eating dairy products or milk. Fat-rich foods should also be avoided when feeding your dog as they can also cause diarrhea and pancreatitis.

As dogs eat anything they see loose stools can also occur from your dog eating garbage or spoilt food ingesting poisonous substances or ingestion of foreign objects like plastic bags toys etc. Therefore it is also important to watch where your dog eats and goes to prevent them from ingesting harmful substances.

Loose stools in dogs can also be caused by parasites such as roundworms hookworms and bacterial infections such as Ecoli. By checking your dogs stool you can determine whether he has worms. There will be visible worms or eggs and there will likely be blood present.

Last but not least your dogs loose stool could be a reaction to medications your dog is taking at the time.

What are the main ways to fix loose stools?

A change in diet may be all it takes to cure loose stools in your dog. Because different breeds of dogs can react differently to different ingredients you must find out what works best for your dog.

It is also possible to fast your dog for a day to allow its gut to rest and repair itself. During fasting however you should make sure your dog has access to freshwater.

Small dogs puppies and old dogs however should not fast since they require constant nutrition. Once your dog has fasted you can introduce the food gradually.

Probiotic foods such as yogurt and cottage cheese white rice mixed with broth and canned pumpkin are also great choices. They work as binders for normalizing stool consistency.

When your dog has ingested a poisonous substance or a foreign object take your dog to the vet as soon as possible since any delay may cause further complications such as severe lacerations of the intestinal tract bacterial infections and even death.

Dog wormers are available that are effective against worms in your dog; however you can consult your veterinarian to determine which wormer is best for your dog. 

Nevertheless you should take your dog to the vet if he is suffering from a bacterial infection. A veterinarian can treat the bacterial infection with antibiotics but if the infection is severe dehydrated pets may need additional support such as fluids.

If your dog has loose stools you should consult your vet to determine if the medication or dose needs to be changed.

When does diarrhea become dangerous?

Sometimes diarrhea can stop on its own after administering some home remedies or previous medications that have worked before; however if your dog still has loose stools after the first few days of medication or if you notice symptoms such as dehydration fever vomiting weakness and pale gums a trip to the veterinarian is needed immediately.

Additionally if none of the above symptoms are present but it does not seem right to you trust your instincts and take your dog to the vet; your vet should know what to do to restore your dogs health.

What dogs are most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill with diarrhea?

Despite the fact that all dogs are prone to diarrhea some dogs are more susceptible than others. Diarrhea is also more common in dogs with liver kidney heart and endocrine diseases. As a result old dogs are more likely to develop these conditions. Small dogs are also more prone to infections which is why they tend to get diarrhea.

My puppy has loose stools and smelly gas

Its amazing how delicate puppies can be are not they?

Puppies are another type of dog that is very vulnerable if they have puppy farts and diarrhea.

Puppy stools contain a lot of water which is exactly what it needs since it is growing so fast.

Over the past ten weeks my eighteen-week-old golden retriever has tripled in weight.

Eight weeks after we brought her home she weighed just over six kilograms.

On the scales today she weighed 18 kilograms!

The risk of dehydration increases if they lose too much water as a result of diarrhea.

Puppy dogs are more likely to become sick if they have loose stools but they are also more likely to have bouts of flatulence and soft stools than adult dogs.

It is partly due to their lifestyle- they are very curious and want to eat or chew anything so they are more likely to eat something unsavory than other dogs.

An outbreak of diarrhea and smelly gas that lasts for a few hours should be fine for a puppy.

However if it continues for more than a day the little ones will need to see a vet due to the amount of water they are losing.

By providing clean water or chicken broth keep them hydrated.

For a few hours you can starve them or feed them a bland diet.

Human foods that might cause loose stools

You may be tempted to feed your dog from your plate especially when you run out of dog treats but you should know that a dogs body processes food differently. Not all human foods are safe for your dog; some might even be dangerous.

One such food is fatty foods. Fats are not easily digested by the dogs digestive system so you should not give them to your dog as it may cause diarrhea. Therefore the next time you consider giving your dog some cheese when it begs for it remember that you may be doing more harm than good.

In addition do not give your dog any treats containing a lot of sugar or salt as it pulls water in tonto itself through the gastrointestinal tract resulting in rinsing loose stools.

Uncooked eggs and raw meat are also harmful to your dog and can cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

What are the main causes of smelly gas in dogs?

In general smelly gas occurs when your dogs digestive system does not work properly. A change in diet or feeding your dog bad food can make it harder for it to digest the foods it consumes. This results in the food fermenting in the digestive tract. Gas is a result of this fermentation.

It is also possible for your dog to get bad gas by swallowing a lot of air while eating. Dogs that eat their food rapidly tend to fart a lot because they gobble it up instead of taking it bit by bit. Dogs taking their food in chunks in order to eat as much as they can in the little time they have can also be caused by competition between them for food.

In addition to intestinal diseases and parasites dogs can suffer from bad gas due to medical issues. It can sometimes be caused by obesity in dogs. A dog that is obese or does not exercise much is very likely to have bad gas than another dog. Therefore you should think twice before letting your lazy dog lie around all day as it may come back to haunt you.

What are the main ways to fix smelly gas?

The solution to smelling gas is as simple as addressing the cause. Make sure your dog eats high-quality foods not just fillers that are just there to make them feel full without providing any nutrition. A lot of these fillers trigger sensitivity in dogs causing their digestive systems to malfunction. Ensure that any change in diet is introduced slowly so that their digestive system can become accustomed to it.

Feed your dog in bits or serve their food in small bowls in order to prevent them from gulping down food all at once. They eat at a slower pace because of this and less air is swallowed with their food.

Dogs who do not have any exercise or are overweight should also be encouraged to exercise. There are also some health risks associated with obesity in dogs in addition to smelly gas. You might want to add dog walks to your daily routine. In the event you feel too busy to keep up with this activity you can hire a dog walker.

Human foods that might make your dog fart

When you are feeding your dogs steer clear of human foods just as you would with loose stools. The same applies to foods such as soybeans dairy products fatty foods peas and spicy foods which can make your dog bloated and fart a lot at home not to mention the fact that it is a great inconvenience to him.

Is smelly gas an indication that something is wrong with your dog?

My answer is no not necessarily. Occasionally smelly gas in your dog is caused by an underlying disease but most often its a natural occurrence that passes away once you address their diet and bad habits.

Even though I will tell you not to worry when your dog produces smelly gas you alone are the one who knows whats normal for your dog. Whenever you notice something that seems out of the ordinary for your dog see your vet as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In spite of the fact that loose stools and smelly gas are natural occurrences they can be avoided completely by following these tips and understanding what you need to avoid when it comes to your dogs diet health and lifestyle.

You can now enjoy sweet-smelling moments with your cute pet after you make the necessary changes.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.