Skip to Content

Do Akitas Fart?

Do Akitas Fart?

One of the things that few dog owners want to think about is their dog’s bowels and the processes that go on in there, but it’s important to be aware of the health of your dog’s digestive system. Sudden changes can indicate a problem, and whether or not your dog is farting regularly makes a difference. If you’ve started to notice a bad smell occurring, you might be wondering about the source of it and whether you should be concerned or not. While it may not be the nicest topic to consider, it’s worth reading up on and finding out the truth!

So, do Akitas fart? Yes, Akitas do fart, but they aren’t infamous for doing so, and they aren’t known as a particularly gassy breed of dog. On the whole, you are unlikely to notice this occurring unless there is something wrong – possibly a dietary complaint or a stomach problem.

It’s worth understanding as much as you can about your dog’s digestive system and how it works. Not many people want to discuss farting, especially dogs farting, but it’s what we are going to cover today because it matters to your dog’s health and it’s important. We are going to look at whether Akitas fart and why they might do this, as well as what a lot of farting, could mean. We’re also going to cover some great tips for reducing how often your dog farts, and look at the top farting culprits of the canine world! Which breeds are the gassiest?

Do Akitas Fart?

Yes, like any dog, an Akita will fart from time to time. This is a means of the dog releasing excess gas from its system and while it might smell bad, it’s an important part of the digestive process. When the dog eats, bacteria in its digestive system will start breaking the food down so that the nutrients become accessible.

This process, when done with certain foods, releases hydrogen sulfide, which smells pretty bad. The hydrogen sulfide is trapped in your dog’s system, because it has nowhere else to go, and the only way your dog can get rid of it is to fart it out.

This is added to by air that the dog swallows when it is eating and drinking. If your dog is a quick eater, it is more likely to swallow a lot of air, and this will enter the dog’s system – and then needs to exit it on the other end!

Akitas are a long-nosed breed, which means that they do not tend to swallow as much air as short-nosed breeds (e.g. Pugs), but they will still swallow some. Just like with people, dogs need to get rid of this extra air or it can become uncomfortable.

An Akita will fart from time to time, therefore, especially after digesting a meal. This is the point at which it is most likely to have gas in its system and feel the need to release it. You might even notice your Akita lifts its tail a bit to do this, although as their tails are curled, this may be quite subtle.

Don’t be too grossed out – this is a normal and necessary part of digestion! Your dog won’t be comfortable if its digestive system gets filled with air and gas that it cannot get rid of easily.

Why Do Akitas Fart? Is It Healthy?

Akitas fart as a means of passing excess air and gas out of their digestive systems. Some air may come back up in the form of a burp after a meal, but anything that passes beyond the easy “come up” point will need to be released back out of the body in the form of a fart.

Up to a point, farting is not a sign of an issue. A healthy dog’s digestive system needs to get rid of air in some way, and this is the only option. However, if you notice that your Akita is farting a lot or its farts smell particularly bad, it could be an indication that something is wrong.

Issues in your pet’s digestive system may show themselves through especially strong smells, and it is worth taking note if your dog suddenly starts farting a lot more.

Usually, it will be a result of the dog eating something that disagrees with it. The bacteria in its digestive system will have to work harder and may produce other gasses as they attempt to deal with the challenging food, and this can lead to an increase in farts or a worse stench.

If your dog has recently got into the garbage can or been eating suspect food on walks, it’s probably nothing to worry about, but if it doesn’t clear up within a few days, raise the issue with your vet. You may want to get your dog checked over in case the farting is indicative of a bigger problem.

Don’t assume it’s nothing just because all dogs fart occasionally. Excessive or very unpleasant smelling farts show that something is amiss in the digestive system, and whether that’s just bad food or the result of a disease, you should pay attention.

How To Reduce Your Dog’s Farting

If your dog seems to be passing gas a lot, you might be wondering what you can do about it. After all, this tends to be pretty unpleasant, especially if your dog likes to be in the same room as you, or if you have guests over. So, what can you do about it? There are quite a few things you can try!

First, check the food you are giving your dog. If it is a low-quality brand, it’s possible that the ingredients have been changed (it may not make this clear if the ingredients list is vague) and something in the food is disagreeing with the dog.

Equally, if you are switching your dog onto a new kind of food, you should expect some gassiness as its system adjusts. After a few days, this should go away.

If you are still having problems, you should make sure you aren’t giving your dog table scraps, and it isn’t getting into the garbage can. Things like dairy can set off farting, as can vegetables like broccoli and sprouts. These are good for the dog, but not good for the air quality in your home!

Making sure that your dog has plenty of exercises can help to reduce the farts, as it should make your dog’s digestive system work more effectively. Overweight dogs are also more prone to flatulence, so lots of exercises should help in the long term, too.

Don’t let your dog eat strange foods, and keep it mostly on its standard dog food – this should usually curb excessive farting.

What Breed Of Dogs Fart The Most?

While no scientific studies have been done on this, there is a general consensus that some dog breeds are gassier than others – so which are these?

The top contenders seem to be English Bulldogs, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, and Golden Retrievers. Pugs are another particularly smelly breed.

For some, there is a clear explanation. Brachycephalic breeds (those with short noses and squashed faces) are more likely to swallow air because they have difficulty breathing effectively. Their tendency to snort means that they are much more likely to gulp down air, and this gets into the system and needs to be passed through it. Many brachycephalic breeds are known for being prone to farts.

However, you will note that not all the dogs on the list are brachycephalic – and it isn’t clear why they might be more prone to gas than other breeds. It is possible that some of this is down to reporting biases.

Golden Retrievers, for example, are a particularly popular dog, so with more people owning one, they may be gaining a bad name simply due to increased sample size. However, there is no doubt that some dogs fart more than others, even if we don’t yet know why.

Conclusion

So, do Akitas fart? Yes, they do, but probably more rarely than some breeds. It is somewhat down to the individual, however; you may find that you have got unlucky. If your white Akita seems to be farting a lot, you should try examining its diet. See if it benefits from being switched to a different brand of food, and cut back on any table scraps that you feed it.