Why Is My French Bulldog Farting? 13 Reasons And Remedies For Frenchie Farts (No Pegs Involved)

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Picture the scene if you will, it’s the end of a beautiful day. You and your cherished bundle of treasure, are enjoying a special moment together and having a cuddle. Suddenly you begin to hyperventilate and can’t breathe! Then, you jump up to open all the windows to breathe in some fresh air… and the moment is ruined! You love your pet…. but ‘for goodness sake, not that horrific smelly fart again!!’

Unfortunately, a common occurrence among French bulldogs is their breaking wind. And we hate to say it but it’s something their owners are going to have to get used to.

When you initially experience the first flush of love with your dog, it can be quite cute and make you laugh when it first happens. However, after a while, it can become quite a challenge when it seems to be happening all the time. As much as you love your pet, it’s natural to prefer to breathe in fresh, as opposed to polluted, air! 

The good news is that this is not usually a dangerous or life-threatening issue that your French Bulldog is experiencing. There is therefore absolutely no need to be overly concerned. More than anything, It’s just that it’s off-putting and not very pleasant to be around. 

What Causes French Bulldogs To Fart So Much?

It is completely reasonable to wonder why French Bulldogs fart so much more than any other dog breed, because the difference really is noticeable. Let’s look at some of the various reasons why they have this tendency.

Reasons Why Your French Bulldog Is Farting

1 – Hyper Sensitive Tummies

Surprisingly, something as simple as a switch in diet can make this issue worse. If their tummies are not used to something, then the result can be major farting sessions!

There is also the issue of the fact that sometimes the food they eat doesn’t digest properly, so it remains insufficiently processed in their tummies. Inevitably this causes them to pass wind in an attempt to get relief, from the uncomfortable feeling.  

You could try spacing out their meals and giving them smaller meals to eat. This will give their tummies the chance to cope better and digest food properly, as there is less of it to deal with at any one time.

2 – Squashed Flat Faces  

On top of that, French Bulldogs tend to have faces that are flat and squashed in appearance. Their nose and mouths are also shortened. This can cause this breed to grunt, splutter, and heave at the best of times, never mind when it’s time for a meal or a drink.  

3 – Super Fast Eaters

They are also known for eating their food far too quickly. So unfortunately this means that apart from their food, they end up swallowing a whole lot of air too, (a condition referred to as Aerophagia in medical terms). As the air has to go somewhere, it ends up in their digestive systems. As the saying goes, ‘better out than in,’ so inevitably the excess wind ends up coming out the other end –

Thankfully there are special bowls called ‘slow feed dog bowls,’ available to buy that can help. The way they are designed forces your pet to have to slow down the eating process because it has to work a little harder to get to the food. Using one of these could help reduce stomach aches, bloating, discomfort, and even possible vomiting. 

4 – Too Many Carbs

If your Bulldog has too many Carbs this can cause a problem. For instance when your dog has already eaten, but then you give it extra perhaps when you are eating. All of a sudden it has now consumed more than its body needs, so it becomes overloaded and its digestive tract finds it difficult to cope.

It is worth checking the labels of any dog food that you buy for your Frenchie. In the same way that processed foods are not the best for people, they cause a particular challenge for your furry friend, as they often contain an excess amount of Carbs. 

5 – Spicy Foods

As Frenchies find eating somewhat of an ordeal as it is, giving them spicy food is not helpful, because they are just not built to contend with these types of food. 

6 – Complex Fibre 

Fibre can be found in certain carbs like certain grains, corn or any kind of soya. As they take longer to process, they often ferment in the digestive tract producing gas. Their complex structure prevents them from being digested. As you can imagine this therefore, is another food group that a Frenchie would have major problems with. 

7 – Dairy Goods

Sometimes Frenchies are allergic to dairy foods including milk, yoghurt and cheese which can upset their tummies, give them gas, or even runny poop issues.

8 – Fermented Foods

These include vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, spinach, beans, peas, cauliflower, as well as sugar and starchy foods which would cause them to produce excess gas so should be avoided. 

9 – Excess Fatty Foods 

Bacon, sausage, burgers to name but a few should be avoided altogether. They are extremely fatty and given over a prolonged period can cause serious harm to your pet.

10 – Rotten Food

Please ensure your pet has no access to where ever you keep your rubbish. If they eat anything mouldy or food that has gone off, it can upset their delicate stomachs.

11 – Unhealthy Junk Food 

A diet consisting of low quality processed food is not advisable for humans. Bearing this in mind how much more does this apply also to your much loved furry friend. This type of food can play havoc with your pets’ stomach. 

When it comes to your pets’ food, try to stick to the ingredients you know are much easier for them to process and digest. In the long run, it will reduce gas and therefore discomfort for you and your bundle of joy.

12 – Overweight And Insufficient Exercise 

It is imperative to ensure that your beloved Frenchie gets plenty of exercise and maintains a healthy weight. The exercise encourages good and regular bowel movements. The healthier and more active your pet is, the less likely it will have excessive gassy episodes. At the same time keep it balanced, and try not to overdo any physical activity. You want to avoid your bundle of fun getting overheated. 

13 – Illness

Usually, when your Frenchie passes wind, there is nothing to worry about as we have established that they are prone to doing so. Occasionally, however, they may do so in a manner that is extreme even for them. As you get to know your pet, you will know if there is a noticeable difference from their usual pattern of the odd fart here and there. 

If you are concerned, it is well worth taking a trip to your vet as soon as possible. You want to be able to rule out any of the following conditions mentioned below, and get the right treatment as soon as possible:

• The presence of Parasites
• If your Frenchies bowel or intestines have become inflamed.
• Cushing’s disease where they produce too much cortisol hormone.
• When their Pancreas is not working as it should, it fails to release the enzymes that help with digestion.
• Neoplasia is a condition that causes the tissue structure in your French bull dog’s gut to become abnormal and overgrown. 

Classic signs of Flatulence:

• Indigestion
• Bloated tummies
• Passing wind
• Discomfort
• Upset and unsettled 
• Pacing
• Anxiety
• Noisy rumbling tummy

EXCESSIVELY FUNKY BLOW OFFS

The passing of wind is unpleasant and disgusting at the best of times. However, if they suddenly start stinking much more than normal, it could just be down to something that you fed your Frenchi. Try and trace back and work out if you changed your pet’s diet in any way. Perhaps you introduced something that their gut is struggling to process and cope with. Once you know what it is, you can cut out that particular food product.  

How To Stop French Bulldogs Farting So Much? 

Apart from carefully looking over their diet, you could also do a little research and think about introducing the following to lend your pet a helping hand:

• Probiotics specifically made for dogs. Making this a regular feature of your pets’ routine can help your Frenchie by aiding their digestive process, and keeping a check on harmful bacteria in their gut. This will hopefully reduce bloating, discomfort, and the excessive escape of gas.

• Supplements: It is a good idea to check with your vet which supplements he recommends for your pet. Here are a few things that may help:

• Peppermint: Fresh peppermint leaves can be boiled and when cooled, add to your pets’ food or drinking water.

• Chamomile: This has a soothing effect on your pets’ struggling tummy.

• Simethicone: This is often used to relieve trapped wind, bloating and excess gas.

• Zinc Acetate: Although this doesn’t lessen the passing of wind, it does help to make the smell more bearable. 

• Pepto-Bismol: This can be used to treat tummy discomfort. Discuss with your vet first, as it’s very important to get the dosage right to prevent making your dog’s issues worse.  

• Yucca schidigera: This is made from a plant and is good at helping to lessen wind and the very stinky smell.

• Anti-Fart Dog Cookies: Made specifically to help control your Frenchie fart, these are available fairly easily. They’re also really good for your pet as they’re jam-packed with nutrients.
• Carminative: This is a herb that helps to drive away gas and bloating and tummy issues. A good example of this herb type is Fennel, which has a very gentle impact on your dog. 

• Dry activated charcoal: Dry charcoal works by binding anything toxic including bacteria in your pet’s gut. You should use this in very small amounts and preferably after double-checking with your vet.

But it’s not a case of one size fits all, as every pet is different. Check with your vet before you give your furry friend anything. This is especially important when it comes to giving the correct dosage to your dog, taking into account it’s size. 

Final Thoughts

It’s worth testing and checking every single ingredient that goes into your pets’ food, keeping the meals simple. Remember high-quality food is the best way forward, as it will cut out so many tummy issues. Stick to foods that are gentle on your pets’ tummy.

Spend time looking at the routine that you and your pet follow. Is your pet getting enough exercise to help with normal digestive function? Try and work out when the problem started, when it seemed to get worse, as well as what the results are once you have used some of the different remedies mentioned. 

Actively involve your vet in your decision making, as their expertise will help you and your pet have a stress free journey as you work out what suits your dog the most. Make the necessary adjustments sooner rather than later. Keep in mind that as you work patiently with your beloved pet, you will soon be able to focus mostly on the precious moments you love to share with one another.  

If in doubt, remember lots of patience and endless love will work absolute wonders. These beautiful super cute dogs bring so much pleasure and comedy to the family, that irrespective of the challenges they bring, you will undoubtedly continue to do everything possible to help, as you can’t imagine life without them.