Humans and dogs both experience flatulence due to a build-up of gas in the intestinal tract and colon – and an occasional fart is perfectly normal. Several factors can cause gas to form in your dog’s digestive system: he might eat too fast and swallow air, or he might be eating the wrong kind of food. Bread, beans, lactose in milk, and certain thickeners in pet food (often made from soya) can all cause dogs to cough or pass wind.

A dog’s diet is usually the cause of excessive flatulence. It isn’t necessarily due to a problem with the quality of the ingredients he’s eating (although eating rotten or low-quality food may worsen it), but more likely due to a food intolerance.

This happens when your dog’s body simply can’t cope with a certain ingredient, and so his intestinal tract can’t absorb and ‘package’ it quite as well as it should – creating large amounts of gas in the process. If this is the case, you’ll probably also notice that your dog has slightly sloppier poo. Speak to your vet as soon as possible if you suspect that your dog has a food intolerance. Often vets will recommend pinpointing the cause by a process of elimination, and you might have to remove, and then slowly reintroduce, some ingredients from your pet’s diet. There are also specially formulated foods that can help, and your vet will be able to advise on the benefits of these.

If your dog has a lot of wind to pass he might feel a colicky sensation – including stomach cramps and discomfort. But as owners, it can be difficult to know for sure, and discomfort might show up in behavioural issues instead. For example, your dog might have a sudden tendency to eat strange things or to chew excessively on objects. Keep an eye on him for any unusual behaviours and, if his actions seem out of the ordinary and he also has some extra gassiness, contact your vet straight away.

Each dog is different, so you’ll need to determine what works best for your pet through trial and error. You can slow him down if he is eating too quickly and swallowing air is at the root of his gassiness. One is to place a small bowl upside down, inside a larger food bowl, and arrange the food around it. The narrower space will ensure your dog has to slow down and take smaller bites. Or, if time isn’t an issue, try feeding small meals throughout the day, so that large amounts can’t be consumed all at once.

For those who believe their diet is to blame, I recommend using a commercial diet that’s based on ‘light and white’ ingredients. For example, lighter forms of protein such as chicken and white carbohydrates like rice. These ingredients are easier for dogs to tolerate than red meat, wheat, and corn. And cut down on the treats! They can easily upset your dog’s dietary balance.

Don’t automatically assume that a food labelled ‘hypoallergenic’ will work for all pets – your dog could still be intolerant to some of the ingredients. I also wouldn’t recommend buying dietary supplements. It’s far better to ask your vet for a thorough check-up to find, and then treat, the cause of the problem.