Gassy Boxers……..What to do?

[luwhoo]

My boxer boy seems to have a major gas problem with any of the dry foods that I have tried with him training to be a service dog and thus out in the public his gas will be very embarrassing. What I need to know is if I feed a home cooked diet does it END the gas issue and when you feed different foods do you go through the whole digestive thing again every time that a change is made to the diet?
Luwhoo, Elmo and Oliver

 

[Caney Creek]

I believe that in addition to the breed being prone to gas, certain individuals can be more affected than others But a raw or home-cooked diet will most definitely help. I believe it's the grains in kibble (or any grains at all, really) that tend to cause gas. In addition to switching his food, you can also give him a tablespoon of yogurt with his meals -- just be sure that it's plain yogurt, nothing sweetened or flavored. I buy plain Activia for my girls. Regular exercise will also help to work things out :p

 

[luwhoo]

Thanks for the reply. I am going to try the home cooked as soon as I can. But I also want to know if I say give him chicken one time and then give him beef or something other than the chicken the next time will he go through stomach gas and upset each time I try a different recipe?

 

[ELubas]

Thanks for the reply. I am going to try the home cooked as soon as I can. But I also want to know if I say give him chicken one time and then give him beef or something other than the chicken the next time will he go through stomach gas and upset each time I try a different recipe?

How varied is his diet now? Do you give him chicken, meat, etc? If so he should be fine. If he has never had "people" food then I might go a little slower. I also found a digestive enzyme took care of the gas

 

[SarahandAli]

Where do you get the digestive enzyme. I just started feeding my girl hoomecooked food and she has horrible gas- I bring her to work with me and she has gassed everyone out - they are wearing their shirts over their noses.

 

[kayboxer]

It sounds as if something in the food you are feeding is not agreeing with your dog. My Roxy had horrible gas when I fed Innova, great food, but just didn't agree with her. When I switched and got rid of the grain in the food, her gas improved greatly. Yes, she still will clear a room once in a while, but the majority of the time she is fine. If you homecook, I would eliminate grains, use sweet potatoes and other veggies along with the meat and see if that works. I cook beef and chicken together and never have had any problems. I don't think you would have problems rotating unless there is an allergy to one.

 

[ELubas]

You can get digestive enzymes in a health food store or even some pet stores. They really seem to help. I also think the gassiness calms down after they adjust to home cooked. Mine still can clear a room though. And my boy is grainless

 

[Louise501]

I don't feed my dogs a home cooked diet but the spoonful of natural yogurt really does help

 

[DiverDiva]

Grain free kibble (Innova EVO, Orijen, Blue Wilderness) and a spoonful of plain yogurt each day helped reduce Boxer gas in this household.

 

[Murp.mm]

I put Ms. Ali on Canidae and it did wonders for her gas.