Help! My 3 year old lab bitch has developed a shocking wind problem and it's totally impossible to live with. She's been on Iams light since she was speyed without an abnormal amount of smell and normal bowel motions twice a day. Tried her on Burns and that was a nightmare...gas and the runs which just did not settle. Went back to Iams light which seemed  to resolve the problem but now it's disappeared off the shelves. Put her onto regular Iams only smaller quantities and then the problems began again. She seems well but huge soft bowel motions and the worst smelling wind ever...she's not getting too much food either. Anyone able to recommend a low gas dried food please?

Hi

I have a labrador bitch, 10 months old. She was fed Eukanuba (the same as Iams), adn she also had really bad wind. Now she is fed Hills Natures Best Large Breed. Its good, lots of veggies and she is doing fine on this food. No wind, firm and few stools (only twice a day!). I know this, because I pick it up everytime. I live in an area, where kids play.

So I would suggest you try Hills Natures Best. I know they test on animals, and so does Eukanuba. But in Denmark, we donn't really have that many choices! Remember to change gradually over 7-10 days, that should prevent a runny tummy!

Good luck

Jeanette

Soya is the worst offender for gas production followed by all grains (all commercial dog food is a minimum of 50% cereal) and you should steer away from anything with brewers yeast.  Serious gas can be caused by a food intolerance and therefore it may well be that your dog is intolerant/allergic to one or more constituents of your food.

My Shiba often lets off "leather heels" and is on Royal Canin. Was considering that stuff you spray on the food as it's supposed to be natural and guarenteed to work - yeah right! ;)

Hi

I'm not sure I know what you mean with "that stuff you spray on the food as it's supposed to be natural and guarenteed to work".

I put Salmon oil on the food, but thats about it. Do you put something else on?

Jeanette

THe addition of digestive enzymes can help in preventing flatulence as they are designed to breakdown the various constituents such as fat, sugars, carbs, etc in various parts of the digestive tract.  Unfortunately cooked food is almost completely deficient in enzymes because they are destroyed during processing.  This leads foods to be broken down insufficiently and result in fermentation and the resulting gas.  Dogs digest raw food in 4 - 5 hours, it takes around 15 hours for dogs to digest complete dry.  If you supplement with enzymes the amount of time required to digest food is reduced; better still feed raw :D

Hi
Have cured my labs gas leak. Definitely food-related. James Wellbeloved has worked a treat and at last apart from the odd odour she's a sweet-smelling girl once more. Thank goodness! Had visions of her turning into one of these farty old labs that noone wants to sit near and everyone is always saying "OH .....!" to. She's such a cuddly girl that I'd hate not to want her near me.

Thanks all
Gill

I would suggest you contact burns on www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk and tell them about about your problems and experience with their food they will email you back with advice very quickly. I found them to be extremely helpful.

I will let them know but our local pet shop who are Burns stockists and think its wonderful say that I'm not the first to mention a major wind problem with Burns particularly where it is a breed which is more prone to digestive upsets. I moved my 2 Bichons who were a bit prone to tummy upsets onto the James Wellbeloved too with great success. I wouldn't swap again unless we began to have problems. I suppose it's a bit like humans...different things react with each individual in their own way. Besides I may be wrong but I believe that James Wellbeloved is every bit as good as Burns in terms of quality. Anyway we'll keep on just now.
Thanks
Gill