Why do Frenchies fart so much and what can you do about it

There are many great things about owning a French bulldog. They’re real energy bombs who can cheer us up at any time. They are highly adaptable and love children. Yet life isn’t all fun and games – sometimes they can bring tears to our eyes. Not because they hurt us! God forbid. The tears come from their stench. Here’s the truth: French bulldogs fart. They fart a lot and it smells bad. In this article, we’ll look at the causes of gas production, what foods make things worse and what can improve the situation. Keep reading to find some life saving tips!

If you own a French bulldog, you are already familiar with the following scene: you lay on your comfy couch with your pup on your lap, and you have a pleasant evening. Suddenly you smell something horrible… it smells like garbage, spoiled food, and sewer odor all at once. But it’s none of them. It’s your lovely angel’s fart. She also farts in front of guests or while you eat your delicious meal. And I’m sure you’ve been wondering, what can you do about it? Well, we have some good news! You can reduce the amount AND the smell of Frenchie farts by following some easy rules.

Reasons why French bulldogs fart so much

1. Frenchies have an extremely sensitive digestive system

Although Frenchies would eat anything you put in front of them, this is not recommended as they have a particularly sensitive stomach. A new type of dog food or a new kind of vegetable can lead to sudden gassiness. Table scraps should also be avoided at all times, as human food is rarely good for a sensitive Frenchie stomach.

2. Frenchies swallow lots of air while feeding due to their face structure

French bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed which means they have flat, smushed faces. When they eat, they also swallow lots of air, and what goes in, must come out. It can get even worse when they gobble as less chewing and more swallowing means more air can be swallowed too.

3. Excessive carbohydrate and fiber intake can cause flatulence in Frenchies

Some processed dog food contains too much carbs. It not only can lead to bloating but also obesity. But what about fibers? You might be asking now: Aren’t plants, grains, vegetables, and fruits supposed to be healthy?! Indeed they are, but some of them are highly fermentable, like beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, and broccoli. Give any of these to your four-legged friend, and I can guarantee that you will want to spend the night in a separate building!

4. Low-quality and spoiled dog food are no-gos for French bulldogs!

The same as you wouldn’t feed your body with junk food, nor should you do that to your Frenchie. Low-quality dog foods are high in carbs and other artificial substances that are not good for the digestive system. Also, if you find a bag of dog food in your pantry that’s been sitting there for a while, always check if it’s expired, and take the expiration dates seriously!

5. Obesity and lack of exercise can cause excessive gas at Frenchies

Can laziness cause gassiness? Hell, yeah! Lying all day slows down bowel movements too. This means that it takes longer to process a portion of food. The longer a food is inside, the more time it has to ferment and produce gas.

How to prevent a Frenchie from excessive farting?

Things to try if you want to reduce gas

First of all, you need to feed your baby with high-quality dog food. If you are unsure of which brand would work well for your puppy, you can join our Facebook group where other Frenchie owners share their experiences. We also recommend trying the B.A.R.F. diet! 

Using a slow feeder is a nice hack to stop your puppy from gobbling. These specially designed bowls make it difficult to grip the food, thus slowing down the mealtime.

You can also try some anti-fart supplements and dog probiotics from a trusted source. If you decide to give these a try, always consult your vet first, who might give you some advice on the locally available food supplement brands. Spoiler alert: you will find a homemade gas buster cookie recipe at the bottom of this article!

Taking your beloved Frenchie for a walk a few times a day not only saves him from becoming overweight but also speeds up the digestion process.

Things to avoid if you want to reduce gas

Most of the time excessive gas is caused by swallowing too much air and by a change in diet. Therefore, we highly recommend avoiding low-quality and spoiled dog food, table scraps and also avoiding highly-fermentable foods, like beans, broccoli, peas, cauliflower, soy, or dairy products.

What if you tried everything and the situation hasn’t changed a bit?

In rare cases, excessive farting is caused by a more serious issue. If you really tried all the advice we have given you, and you don’t smell the difference, it’s time to check in to your vet. The symptoms of inflamed bowels, neoplasia, or worms include flatulence too.

EXTRA: Try these homemade gas buster cookies!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons dry baking yeast
• 2 tablespoons  fenugreek seeds (soaked in water to soften them)
• 1 tablespoon anise seeds (crushed or powder)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon water

Directions

The directions for this gas treat are easy. We used the bread machine to simplify the process. However, you can also use your heavy-duty mixer, with a dough hook.

1. Simply put everything into the bread machine in the order that your manufacturer suggests.
2. Use the “dough” setting. When your bell rings to tell you that the dough is done, remove the dough and divide it into 3 equal parts to make it easy to roll.
3. You will need to spread flour on the cutting board before rolling the dough, and you should sprinkle flour onto the rolling pin to keep it from sticking.
4. Roll each ball into a sheet that is about ¼” thick. For these treats, I use a cookie cutter that is a little longer than an inch. It’s a good size for most dogs.
5. Keep a bowl of flour nearby, and dip the cookie cutter into the flour each time you cut a cookie—to keep it from sticking.
6. Optional – It does take time to cut each cookie, so if you are pressed for time, just use a pizza cutter and cut the sheets of dough into 1” squares.
7. Place the cookies on a greased cookie sheet. Cover them with a clean towel and let them rise (in a warm place) for 30-60 minutes–until they get to be as big as you want them to be.
8. Bake at 275 degrees F for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cookies sit in the oven for several hours or overnight to finish drying. When they are done, they will be hard and very crisp.

Click here to read more recipes!

If you’d like to learn more about Frenchies, join our Facebook group called TomKings Frenchie Family to read our Frenchie parents’ experiences.

The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.