Flatulence

Flatulence is the release of gas from the digestive tract, resulting partly from air swallowed during the meal and mainly from the fermentation of certain foods by the [gut microbiota](/glossary/gut-microbiota). Occasional flatulence is normal, but abundant or foul-smelling flatulence can reflect an unsuitable diet, difficult digestion or a flora imbalance, and it may be worsened by fermentable ingredients, abrupt food changes, eating too fast or an intolerance (veterinary nutrition literature). Brachycephalic breeds, which swallow more air, are sometimes more prone to it, a small but telling detail. To limit the problem, one can slow eating with a suitable bowl, ensure gradual food transitions, adjust the recipe and favour good digestibility. When flatulence combines with other signs such as diarrhoea, weight loss or abdominal pain, it warrants veterinary advice, because it can accompany a digestive disorder such as [inflammatory bowel disease](/glossary/ibd-inflammatory-bowel-disease). When isolated and mild, it is mainly a matter of dietary management and choosing a food well tolerated by the individual animal, sometimes found through patient trial. The marker: flatulence is usually a benign digestion-and-diet issue, but its company matters, so accompanying signs are the cue to seek advice. It links to [fecal score](/glossary/fecal-score) tracking and gradual-transition principles in the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

Petipedia · Editorial team

General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.