If you have been a Rottie’s owner for a longer period of time, I am sure you have encountered some of its not so flattering behaviors. One of them might be farting. Why do Rottweilers fart so much?
Rottweilers are such wonderful dogs; they are loyal, calm, confident, and intelligent. Although this dog might seem intimidating at a first glance, this is actually one of the most affectionate family pets you can imagine.
If your Rottie is healthy in general you might be surprised when you notice something unusual happening with him. Your Rottie used to fart occasionally, but now it seems that it is farting all the time! What is going on? Is my Rottie having a health problem?
Farting is completely normal – both in humans and in dogs – and usually does not represent any health problem. In the intestines of every dog there is air that it swallows during the day. Also, there is gas in the dog’s intestines that has to get out somewhere – here is where farts come from.
If your Rottweiler farts occasionally, this is nothing strange. But when he starts farting very often, and his fart is also very smelly, this usually represents a certain alarm.
There are several reasons for Rottweiler’s excess farting. Let’s look at all of them.
Why Do Rottweilers Fart So Much?
Every Rottweiler occasionally farts, that is, releases gas from the intestines. If this does not occur too often, you can consider dog farting as completely normal and you do not need to worry. Gas formation is a normal physiological process and indicates that your Rottie is digesting food.
However, if you notice that your Rottweiler suddenly farts a lot, and the fart is accompanied by a strong stench, this does not happen without a concrete reason.
There is always a reason for sudden frequent farting in a dog. Let’s see what are the causes of excessive farting in Rottweilers.
1. Dog Food
Dog food is probably the most common cause of bloating, flatulence, and frequent farting issue in your Rottweiler.
Have you recently introduced a new food to your dog’s diet? This might be the reason why your Rottie suddenly farts so much. Maybe the new food is not the best option for your pooch.
Also, your dog might not be tolerating certain food well. For example, lactose intolerance is a frequent problem with many dogs. Also, soybeans, spicy food, by-products, and food containing artificial ingredients might also cause excessive farting in your Rottie.
Your Rottweiler should eat digestible food – if the food you give him is hard to digest, this might be causing those farts with such horrible smell.
When you choose dog food for your Rottie, this should be food that will not cause any gastrointestinal issues for your dog. You can find some useful advice in our article on the Rottweiler feeding chart.
2. Rottie Eating Too Much
You may not have thought about this, but one of the reasons why your dog might have a problem with excessive farting could be his overeating.
According to the Rottweiler growth chart, these dogs should be 24 to 27 inches tall and weigh 80 to 130 pounds. If you notice that your dog weighs significantly more than these recommended frames, this clearly shows that your dog has become obese.
Rottweilers are dogs that should be slim and muscular, and not obese. When they eat more meals a day than they should, or when their meals are too large, this can cause bloating and gas in the dog.
It gets even worse if your dog does not have enough exercise on a daily basis.
Therefore, it is very important that owners make sure their dogs are at the optimal weight. In this way, various health problems can be avoided.
3. Food Allergies
In addition to your Rottweiler not digesting food you are currently feeding him well, it is also possible that your dog is actually allergic to a certain ingredient in the food. Food allergies are one of the most common allergies a dog can suffer from.
Some of the signs of food allergies can be digestive disorders such as farting or diarrhea, and itchy skin, ears, and paws in a dog. The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins that can be found in various products, such as dairy products, chicken, beef, or chicken eggs.
However, it is not only dog food that can cause an allergy in your Rottweiler. Surely all dog lovers love sharing table scraps with their pets.
You should be careful that this does not become a regular routine. We have to understand that dogs don’t have a digestive system like humans and we just shouldn’t eat the same type of food.
You definitely shouldn’t be feeding your Rottweiler human food on a regular basis, as you will be doing more harm than good.
4. Intestinal Parasites
Excessive farting in your Rottweiler can in some cases also indicate some health problems, such as intestinal parasites. These parasites live in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, and they often occur in younger dogs.
Indicators of intestinal parasites in Rottweilers are frequent farting, vomiting, and bloating of the dog’s stomach. You may also notice white specks in the dog’s poop.
Intestinal parasites can be transmitted in various ways, such as if your Rottweiler comes into contact with the feces of an infected dog, if the dog shares bowls of food and water with an infected dog, or even through mother’s milk from an infected dog to a puppy.
5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease in dogs is a disease in the mucous membrane of the dog’s stomach and intestines. This disease occurs equally in both male and female dogs, and most often occurs in dogs of about 6 years of age.
The symptoms of this disease are quite similar to other medical problems in dogs, such as fungal and bacterial infections, parasites, etc.
Inflammatory bowel disease is manifested by frequent farting, vomiting, and frequent pooping in dogs. If the disease is advanced, you may also notice abdominal pain, weight loss, and lethargy in your Rottweiler.
Treatment of this disease implies a change in diet, as well as the use of immunosuppressive drugs. The food that dogs suffering from Inflammatory bowel disease should eat is easily digestible food that will reduce the strain on the dog’s intestines.
6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Frequent farting might also be a sign of the Irritable bowel syndrome in your Rottweiler.
Additional symptoms that most often occur with this disease are stool disorders and abdominal pain in dogs. It is not exactly known why IBS occurs in dogs, but it is believed to be related to a low-fiber diet, food allergies, and food intolerance.
Some dogs with this disease also experience nausea, flatulence, and vomiting. Therapy includes giving the dog easily digestible food, as well as certain medicines that will reduce problems with diarrhea and farting in the dog.
7. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus)
If your Rottweiler suddenly develops stomach problems such as frequent farting, this could also mean that the dog is suffering from bloat, or Gastric dilatation-volvulus.
This condition presents a dilated stomach in dogs, which in some cases might even have a fatal outcome, if it is not treated on time.
Smell farts, dog being lethargic and scared, and dog’s attempts to vomit, but without success, are all signs of possible bloat in your Rottweiler.
Certain dog breeds, such as Dobermans, Rottweilers, Great Danes, and Saint Bernards are more prone to developing this health problem.
If you think your Rottweiler might be having bloat, you need to go to the vet’s immediately.
8. Parvovirus
If you have just recently become a Rottweiler puppy parent, everything is probably new to you. If you notice your puppy is farting too often, this might be a sign of food intolerance, but it also could be a sign of parvovirus, which most often occurs in young puppies.
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause various complications in dogs. If not treated in time, this virus can even be fatal.
The symptoms of this virus in dogs are vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, diarrhea, frequent farting, and the most obvious sign by which you will know that your dog has the parvo virus is the specific parvo poop smell.
To prevent this virus in your Rottweiler, it is very important that you vaccinate your dog according to the veterinarian’s instructions, and that you do it at the right age.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Fart A Lot?
All dogs fart at least sometimes, but some dog breeds are more susceptible to gas problems due to their constitution.
For example, brachycephalic breeds such as Boxers, Pugs, and Bulldogs swallow air while eating, which causes excess gas in the dog’s digestive tract.
In any case, it is not good for a dog to fart too much – this is always a sign that something unusual is happening with his diet. If you have taken steps that you thought would help him, but it was unsuccessful, it is time to consult a veterinarian.
What Can I Do About My Rottweiler’s Gas?
So, If your Rottie sometimes farts, and does not seem to have any other symptoms that could imply something is wrong with its health, there is no reason for you to worry.
However, if your Rottweiler farts too often, and that farts comes with a horrible smell, it is clear that you must do something.
Let’s see what Rottweiler owners can do to reduce the amount of the gasses their dogs produce.
1. High-quality Food
Since improper nutrition is a very common cause of gas in dogs, it is most important that you give your Rottweiler only high-quality food. You can find great options in our article on the best food for Rottweilers.
The food you give your Rottweiler puppy should be food that digests quickly. Additionally, you can give your dog probiotics and prebiotics, but you shouldn’t do this without first consulting your vet.
You can also add a little water to your dog’s food so that he eats it more slowly, and therefore takes less air into his organism.
Meat is the number one ingredient that should be a part of your Rottie’s diet. You should also give him some grains like oats which are easy to digest.
Dog treats are probably something your Rottie adores; you also like them since you can use it for dog training. However, you should also be careful not to exaggerate with giving these treats to your dog.
Treats should never be used as a replacement for regular dog food, and too many treats can also have a bad impact on a dog’s digestive system.
2. See A Vet
As soon as you notice any changes in the behavior or appearance of your Rottweiler, you should visit the vet. If your dog has been farting for some time and nothing seems to be helping him, you should definitely not ignore this.
The vet will run a series of tests on your Rottweiler, and it would be best if you bring him a fresh sample of your dog’s stool.
It is also important that you know how to explain to the veterinarian in detail what your Rottweiler eats, how many meals a day it has, and whether it has changed its diet recently.
The veterinarian will perform a detailed rectal examination, and will analyze the dog’s blood and check for parasites.
The vet will make a diagnosis depending on what the test results show. It may be necessary to correct the diet of your Rottweiler, have him cleaned of internal parasites, or to give the dog certain medications.
Also, it is very useful for the dog to be as physically active as possible in order to expel gas while outside in nature.
3. Exercise Is Also Essential
Regular exercise will be a great natural way for the dog to expel accumulated gasses from the body. If you definitely exercise regularly with your Rottweiler, you can additionally extend your daily walks, play fetch with him, and allow your dog to run as much as he needs.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Rottweilers are athletic and energetic dogs that will love to be a part of all kinds of activities with their owners, such as walking, running, or swimming.
All Rottweiler owners should be aware that regular exercise, together with high-quality food, is the best way to keep their dog’s body and organism in perfect shape.
4. Keep Your Rottie Away From The Trash
You must have seen your Rottweiler sniffing the garbage or even digging in it at least once. This is not an uncommon behavior for any dog, but it is definitely something you should prevent.
Since your Rottweiler is probably very curious, he will want to find out what is in the garbage, and if he finds some leftover food or anything else that he likes the smell of, there is a high possibility that he will ingest it.
In this way, the dog can develop various problems with the digestive system, including bloating and farting.
For this reason, you should always keep the litter in a place where your Rottie will not be able to reach it. Also, make sure that your dog does not sniff garbage on the street during the walk. Always keep him on a leash and be ready to pull him hard if he starts sniffing the trash.
Final Words
We hope you found your answer to the question: Why do Rottweilers fart so much?
There are various causes of this phenomenon in dogs, and they can be related to the dog’s diet, food allergies, or a specific health problem.
When a dog farts very often, and the fart smells unbearably, it is very likely that the dog is struggling with some disease. If you notice this in your Rottweiler, you should also pay attention to whether there are additional symptoms in the dog.
If the veterinarian does not determine the existence of the disease in the dog, you will be able to bring your Rottweiler‘s farting under control by introducing a new diet, with regular exercise, or by adding probiotics or prebiotics to the dog’s diet.
The dog’s health is what should be our first priority, therefore, we advise you to carefully choose the dog food you give your Rottweiler. Here, you should not look at the price, but at the quality of the food, and evaluate how your dog reacts to a certain food.
And don’t forget that every dog is different; something that works for one dog may not work for another, even if it’s the same breed of dog.
We wish you many beautiful moments without unpleasant smelly farts with your Rottie!
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