An ill wind

[JRobyn]

Due to a cross-country job change, my daughter/S-I-L/new grandson are living with us for a while while getting settled. Also included is her geriatric (14yo) chocolate lab. Even after plenty of time to get settled and relaxed, something is causing him to have unbelievably bad farts. These are every 5-10 minutes; rank enough to literally make your eyes water. We've tried several diet changes, including several high-quality dry and canned foods, and plain, homemade chicken and rice, all of which have had no effect. The vet (a good, trusted one) is no help. They did a full abdominal ultrasound to look for anything abnormal - all negative. He is old and stiff, but otherwise quite active. Eating and drinking normally. Fairly normal poop with occasional bouts of diarrhea during some of the dietary changes.

Is this just a characteristic of old dogs?

 

[Oldoak]

Sometimes the best Vets, just like MDs miss something. Have another Vet check him out. A rapid change in diets is not a good thing for any dog. That's not helping his digestive track.

 

[Soundguy]

too much change!

The dog moved.. that upset his gi tract.. he farted.. so you changed his food.. that upset his gi tract.. so he farted, so you changed his food again, that upset his gi tract, so he farted, so you changed his food again.. that upset his gi tract, so he farts.

See where this is going?

Quit making changes for the dog and let him settle down. Many animals, horses included, when you change their diet, it unsettles them for a bit, and takes them a while to find a 'normal'. On horses it can be even worse.. we transition their food gradually, starting to mix in a little new each day and slowly increase the % till they are on all new.

heck.. cound even be the water. did he go from city water to well water, or well water to city water? or well water in one area of the country, to well water in another? His body is possibly figuring out the new bacteria in the water, or in the case of treated water, he may not be adjusting well to chlorine or flouride, etc.. etc.

Id reccomend going back to the specific brand food he was eating before the move, and heck.. as a test, go for non mineralized water from a 1g or 2.5g jug and give him some time.

Your post listed a TON of changes.. and his time table for adjustment may not be the same as what you guys are expecting.

 

[riptides]

what Soundguy said, and just don't discount the old, in old dog.

 

[CalG]

Yup! Too much change.

It's an old dog, Have him eating basic kibble, (pick one and DON"T CHANGE) Crunching that stuff will give him something to do.

 

[airbiscuit]

Maybe a little investigation is in order. When odor arises, people are always quick to blame the dog!

 

[JRobyn]

I acknowledge that changes cause GI stress, especially in us OLD folks. But he has been on the exact same water, food, schedule, etc. for about 9 months now.

 

[nybirdman]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but my last two dogs showed this symptom when the were near there last.
14 years is a very good life span for any dog;my last went to 15.5.

 

[oosik]

The years I had a black lab - he was a real gas passer. From the time we got him as a pup, until he died. We should have called him - "tweee".

 

[Sigarms]

Heck, my wife tells me my "gas" has gotten a lost worse once I hit 50. My dad's can kill you and he's 85. I just say it comes with age.

Look on the bright side, you can always blame the dog

 

[oosik]

When I was a kid and somebody in the family broke wind - the old dog, over in front of the fireplace, would jump up and run in the bedroom and hide. He knew, from experience, somebody would be blaming him and be coming over to nudge him in the rump.

 

[KubotainNH]

You could try to give the old pooch probiotics. It comes in many forms, we used to give our old girl yogurt.

The 6 Best Probiotics For Dogs - Dogs Naturally Magazine

 

[airbiscuit]

Heck, my wife tells me my "gas" has gotten a lost worse once I hit 50. My dad's can kill you and he's 85. I just say it comes with age.

Look on the bright side, you can always blame the dog

My wife always blamed the dog - even years after the dog was gone. I never corrected her.

 

[jerrybob]

We have a lab/bear dog mix.........he can clear the room. Last night.......my wife and I were watching TV.......our dog got up and quickly left the room......soon our female cattle dog left the room........it was enough to gag a maggot. I think he smiled at me as he left the room.

 

[AlmostThere]

Hi JRobyn,

Labs are at greater risk for Laryngeal Paralysis that can make breathing more difficult. It is often noticed by an increased harshness to panting sounds. When breathing becomes more difficult they often swallow air that they must then pass out the hind end.

Otherwise I'd suggest trying some of the human over the counter meds such as Beano and/or a simethicone product to see if that reduces the gas. I'd also stop any any additional treats the dog may got for time being to see if those may contribute to the flatulence.

 

[Looking4new]

We have a lab/bear dog mix.........he can clear the room. Last night.......my wife and I were watching TV.......our dog got up and quickly left the room......soon our female cattle dog left the room........it was enough to gag a maggot. I think he smiled at me as he left the room.

Have you been feeding it beer and pickled eggs?

 

[randy41]

does the dog inhale his food? try to slow down his rate of consumption.

 

[riptides]

does the dog inhale his food? try to slow down his rate of consumption.

It's a dog, how do you propose that? Stand over it every meal and tell it to slow down, if it listens may work for a little while, but surely will get old. No pun intended.

 

[TheMan419]

It's a dog, how do you propose that? Stand over it every meal and tell it to slow down, if it listens may work for a little while, but surely will get old. No pun intended.

There are actually feed bowls designed specifically to do this. One way is to put a rock or other object in the bowl and spread the food around it. Makes the dog have to move the rock to get to the food.

 

[riptides]

There are actually feed bowls designed specifically to do this. One way is to put a rock or other object in the bowl and spread the food around it. Makes the dog have to move the rock to get to the food.

Interesting, thanks for the info.