Last Updated on February 26, 2023
Does your dog suffer from excessive gas or a sensitive stomach? There aren’t many things worse than the smell of dog farts, but this needn’t be something you learn to live with.
Changing up your pooch’s diet can help to support healthy digestion and relieve these issues.
We’ve done the research to determine precisely what the best dog food is to prevent gas, and here are our top picks:
Top 5 Picks for Best Dog Food to Prevent Gas
| Dog Food Recipes | Our Rating | |
|
Best Overall Dog Food to Prevent Gas |
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dog Food for Flatulence
|
5 |
| Best Budget Dog Food to Prevent Gas | Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
|
4.5 |
|
Best Puppy Food to Prevent Gas |
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Potato Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food
|
4.5 |
|
Best Adult Dog Food to Prevent Gas |
Canidae Grain-Free PURE LID Adult Dry Dog Food
|
4.5 |
|
Best Senior Dog Food to Prevent Gas |
Canidae Grain-Free PURE Senior Recipe Dry Food
|
4.5 |
Best Dog Food to Prevent Gas (by Life Stage)
If you’re fed up with your dog stinking up your house, then it may be time to change his diet. Keep reading to discover our top pet food choices to prevent puppy flatulence.
Best Puppy Food to Prevent Gas
To support the first stage of your dog’s growing life, some limited ingredient diets have been designed, especially with growing puppies in mind.
1. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited-Ingredient Diet Puppy Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Oatmeal
Type: Dry
Delicious, limited-ingredient diet specially made for growing puppies with food sensitivities.
Featuring a single animal protein from turkey this dog food also contains easily digestible carbohydrates like pumpkin, potatoes, and peas.
Made in the USA, the recipe is free from chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs.
Pros:
- DHA and ARA helps support your puppy’s development
- LifeSource Bits supplies your pup with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins
Cons:
- Some dogs had loose stools and drooled a lot on this food
Best Adult Dog Food to Prevent Gas
While you may never cure your dog of bad gas, the below foods can certainly help to reduce it.
1. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dog Food for Flatulence
Rating: 5
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes
Type: Dry
Nutrient-rich dog food featuring salmon and fish meal as the first two ingredients and protein source. Naturally rich in omega fatty acids, this food is designed to support your dog’s overall health.
Featuring low fiber content with gentle carbs, prebiotics from chicory root, and plenty of antioxidants from superfoods like blueberries and raspberries, this food caters to the needs of gassy dogs.
Pros:
- Preserved naturally using Lactobacillus acidophilus, so there are no nasty additives
- To optimize the absorption of the amino acids, they have been chelated with essential minerals
Cons:
- Some dogs just refused to eat this food
2. Blue Buffalo Basic Dog Food for Flatulence
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Potatoes, Turkey Meal
Type: Dry
Limited ingredient recipe focussing around turkey and potatoes for dogs with food sensitivities and excess gas.
This dry dog food is designed to still provide your best friend with plenty of nutrients while being easy to digest.
It includes BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits, a unique blend of vet-chosen antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins for your dog’s overall health and wellness.
Pros:
- The recipe is free from chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, poultry by-product meals, artificial flavors, or preservatives
- It has been designed to increase mobility and support the immune system with additives like calcium, glucosamine, and phosphorus
Cons:
- This food made one reviewer’s dog swell up
3. Wellness Simple Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Potatoes
Type: Dry
Limited ingredient grain-free dog food specifically designed for adult dogs with sensitive stomachs.
The shortlist of only five ingredients is designed to aid digestion while providing plenty of nourishment to your pup, including a single source of quality protein and wholesome carbohydrates.
Pros:
- This dog food features natural probiotics, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and taurine for your pup’s overall health
- Made in the USA using only natural ingredients
Cons:
- Some dogs lost a lot of weight on this food
4. Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Peas
Type: Dry
For picky pups, this single protein food includes a combination of probiotics, antioxidants, and healthy fiber to aid your dog’s digestion.
It provides omega-three fatty acids for boosting a gorgeous skin and coat, while antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, and taurine are all heart-healthy.
Pros:
- Made in the USA with a limited ingredient, the natural recipe of quality ingredients for optimal nutrient absorption
- Pumpkin and beet bulb provide gentle sources of fiber to your pet
Cons:
- Some pet owners complained that the kibble size of this food was too small
5. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal
Type: Dry
Protein-packed kibble loaded with real animal protein from water buffalo, lamb, chicken, boar, salmon, and wildfowl.
With a high protein to fat ratio, this food is loaded with amino acids and is rich in nutrients.
The grain-free recipe also contains lots of delicious veggies like peas and sweet potatoes to boost your pup’s overall health.
Pros:
- It includes dried chicory root for prebiotic support and healthy digestion
- The essential minerals in this food are chelated with amino acids to optimize absorption
Cons:
- One pet owner complained his dog started eating his own feces on this diet
6. American Journey Limited-Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Peas
Type: Dry
Grain-free limited-ingredient diet focussed around salmon, peas, and sweet potatoes to provide your dog with food that is easy to digest.
Ideal for pups with food sensitivities, this food contains no corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-product meals or artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.
Made to help your pup maintain lean muscles, this food features 25% protein.
Pros:
- This food includes flaxseed for omega-3 fatty acids and sunflower oil for omega-6 fatty acids, which help nourish the skin and coat
Cons:
- With deboned salmon as the main ingredient, this food has a strong odor some pet owners don’t like
- Some dogs had soft, runny stools on this diet
7. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited-Ingredient Diet Formula
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Lamb, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal
Type: Dry
High-quality dog food with delicious lamb as the primary ingredient. Designed with sensitive dogs in mind, this food is rich in essential amino acids to support your pup’s digestion.
Grain inclusive yet gluten-free, this recipe also provides your dog with plenty of fiber for good gut health.
Pros:
- It includes added essential vitamins and minerals for the balanced diet of adult dogs
- The formula contains balanced levels of omega-3 and six fatty acids for maintaining healthy skin and coat
Cons:
- Some dogs threw up consistently on this diet
8. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal
Type: Dry
Healthy dry dog food is made from salmon and fish proteins specifically for dogs with digestive issues.
The limited ingredient recipe contains no fillers or artificial ingredients and only eight ingredients included.
This is an excellent choice for pets with possible food allergies and intolerances.
Pros:
- Fortified with a blend of probiotics, antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals for good overall health
- Grain-free and yeast free and free of soy, wheat, corn, and other fillers
Cons:
- Some dog owners complained this food had a powerful smell
9. Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Barley, Rice
Type: Dry
Featuring Salmon as the number one ingredient, this highly digestible dry dog food has been designed to provide your dog with plenty of protein and fiber.
The recipe is also free from common pet allergens such as soy, corn, or wheat.
With fish as the primary protein, this food is also a natural source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for joint mobility and healthy skin and coat.
Pros:
- The highly digestible recipe features great, wholesome carbohydrates like rice, barley, and oatmeal
- Fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber for digestive and immune health
Cons:
- Some pet owners complained their pups no longer like this food after the recipe changed recently
10. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal
Type: Dry
Designed for dogs with excessive flatulence and stomach issues, this pet food is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
With chicken as the first ingredient and primary protein, this formula also promotes lean muscle mass.
The prebiotic fiber in the beet pulp ingredient of this recipe helps to support a balanced microbiome for healthy digestion.
Pros:
- A great source of vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for supporting the immune system
Cons:
- The kibble size is quite large, so it may not be well suited to tiny dogs
11. Nutro Limited-Ingredient Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
Rating: 5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas
Type: Dry
Grain-free limited ingredient diet with lamb as the main ingredient. With a larger kibble size, this food is made specifically for large dog breeds.
It has been fortified with vitamins and minerals and offers your pup plenty of omega fatty acids through the addition of canola oil. It is made in the USA using non-GMO ingredients.
Pros:
- Supports the bones and joints of large breed dogs with added glucosamine and chondroitin
- Infused with optimal levels of zinc and Vitamin B to support your dog’s skin and coat
Cons:
- It caused one dog’s anal glands to act up, causing a horrible smell
Best Senior Dog Food to Prevent Gas
Senior dogs are more prone to being gassy as their digestive system deteriorates. Fortunately, some foods have been specifically designed for our old best friends.
1. Canidae Grain-Free PURE Senior Recipe Dry Food
Rating: 5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Dry
Made especially for older dogs, this grain-free food is formulated with just nine ingredients.
Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient to build lean muscle mass, while wholesome vegetables provide your dog with all the nutrients he needs.
Plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids keep your old dog looking and feeling young.
Pros:
- Contains no corn, soy, wheat, grain, or artificial ingredients
- Includes probiotics for digestive health and antioxidants for good immunity
Cons:
- This food gave some dogs runny stools
Why do dogs get gas or flatulence?
Despite stinking out of your house with their excessive gas, your dog can also be in pain from all that air accumulating in their stomach.
What are the main reasons for flatulence in dogs?
While all dogs fart a bit, an increase in gas or excessive flatulence could signal an underlying health issue, like Small Intestinal Bacterial Growth (SIBO) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Just like in humans, too much gas is usually linked to diet or gastrointestinal problems.
However, if there’s something more serious at play with your dog’s stomach, this flatulence can affect his eating habits or be the first warning symptom for a more severe ailment.
It can also be due to a lousy diet, obesity, too much protein in their food, eating spoiled food, or a sudden change of diet.
Your pooch could’ve swallowed too much air from eating or drinking too fast, which is known as aerophagia.
Your pet may also be lactose intolerant, so any dairy products can cause your dog’s gas.
Other Factors that can cause gas in dogs
If you feel something else is up, have a vet check on your pet against other diseases such as Neoplasia, Pancreatitis, or infection of the GI tract.
Alongside an increase in gas, these diseases could also present other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, a change in appetite, lethargy, and weight loss.
A healthy gut will lead to a healthy dog, so it is vitally important to find the proper diet for your dog.
What breed of dogs fart the most?
Some dogs are more prone to gas, particularly flat-faced Brachycephalic breeds like Pugs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs.
They tend to swallow a lot of air when they eat and tend to breathe faster and heavier than dogs with longer snouts.
Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best Dog Food to Prevent Gas
The best dog food to prevent gas should be made with high-quality, natural ingredients.
The ingredients used in the recipe should be easy to digest in their whole form and should be low in fat and fiber, which are more challenging for the body to digest.
What to Look for in a Dog Food for Flatulence: What Should Gassy Dogs Eat?
Some dogs with sensitive stomachs or food intolerances will struggle to digest certain ingredients.
Some of the most common culprits for food allergies include low-quality grains and fillers, dairy, and some proteins, such as chicken.
In addition, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors can also damage your dog’s digestive system.
Ingredients you particularly want to avoid include butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and ethoxyquin.
As the sulfur in protein can cause terrible gas, try to avoid red meats like beef or lamb.
Poultry or fish-based diets would be a better option for your pet, while your dog’s kibble shouldn’t exceed a protein content of around 25%.
In addition, fish is a great natural source of omega fatty acids, which help to nourish the skin and coat and improve mobility.
Flaxseed, canola oil, and linoleic acid, which are found in Chicken fat and meat meals, are also good sources of omega fatty acids.
Your dog’s food, even if a limited ingredient diet, should be fortified with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to support your dog’s digestive tract and boost overall health.
Healthy fruits and vegetables like pumpkin and sweet potatoes will also help support your dog’s digestive system.
Foods made for dogs with sensitive stomachs are also often fortified with prebiotic fibers, probiotics, and live cultures for easy digestion.
Probiotics such as lactobacillus casei or lactobacillus acidophilus help support your dog’s digestive system, while chicory root is an excellent source of prebiotic fiber.
To Grain or Not to Grain: Do Dogs Need Grain-free Food for Gas?
While carbohydrates can be included in your dog’s diet, try and avoid high-fiber diets or recipes that contain wheat and corn.
A low-glycemic option is the best choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The fiber content should sit between 3 and 5%, with many dogs finding it difficult to process high fiber diets.
Good grain options for your pet include oatmeal and brown rice, whole wheat and corn should be avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you give homemade food for gas to your dog?
While it is challenging to create homemade food that meets the exact nutritional needs of your pet, there are some natural remedies you can give to a gassy dog.
Yogurt, ginger, and peppermint oil are natural digestives that can help to assist your pet.
Gas Preventing Dog Food Tips: How to decrease flatulence in dogs?
To get a handle on your dog’s gas problems, you need to know what is causing the excessive flatulence in the first place.
Diagnosing the issue at hand will stand you in better stead for solving the problem altogether.
Alongside changing your dog’s diet to one of the above-mentioned dog foods, you could also try to do the following to prevent gas:
- Reduce the fat content of your dog’s diet
- Reduce the amount of fiber and carbohydrates your dog eats
- Readjust the size of your dog’s meals
- Consider vet recommended supplements
- Avoid giving your dog any table scraps or high protein treats
- Use a slow feed bowl to try and ensure your dog doesn’t swallow too much air
What’s the best way to treat your gassy dog?
To determine exactly what causes flatulence in your dog, you may want to try him or her on a limited ingredient diet so that you can use a process of elimination to see what is causing your dog issues.
The best choice would be a diet that features just one novel source of protein and only a couple of carbohydrates.
When is it time to see the vet when your dog is experiencing flatulence?
Having a gassy dog isn’t particularly harmful, except perhaps to your smell!
However, suppose your dog suddenly becomes extremely flatulent or exhibits other symptoms like loose stools, vomiting, diarrhea, or itchy skin.
In that case, it may be time to see the vet to determine if there are any health problems.
If your dog suddenly starts to eat grass, then it might also be a good idea to chat with your vet as this could be a symptom of a disease.
Talk to your vet before choosing any new food for your dog to prevent gas
No food will solve all your problems, so it may take some trial and error to find the best solution for your pup.
Introducing any new food for your pet may at first cause a little bit of gas, so you’ll also need to exercise patience when making a change to your pet’s diet.
Every dog is different, so it’s always advisable to chat to your vet before switching your pet’s diet.
Your vet will be able to help determine any food allergies or intolerances and advise what ingredients are best for your pup’s life stage, breed and size.
Hopefully, your home will be smell-free soon when you choose food from the above list. Do you have dog food that you have found to reduce flatulence in your pet? Let us know in the comments below.
Further Reading: The best foods for your best friend
Cess has more than 10 years of digital marketing experience for a wide range of companies and industries. She joined K9 Web as the Content Head and now leads our editorial team, guiding them in creating informative articles about canines.