Page 1083 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
65

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Flatulence

Philip Roudebush

Deborah J. Davenport
Rebecca L. Remillard

“He couldn’t ad-lib a fart after a baked-bean dinner.”
Johnny Carson

tory of dietary change or dietary indiscretion in association with
CLINICAL IMPORTANCE flatus. Occasionally, belching and flatus develop in conjunction
with other gastrointestinal (GI) signs including weight loss,
Flatulence is excessive formation of gases in the stomach or diarrhea and steatorrhea.This type of history is very suggestive
intestine, but the term is often used incorrectly. Excessive flat- of an underlying small intestinal disorder.
ulence is usually associated with noticeable flatus, belching, In most cases, physical examination findings are unremark-
borborygmus or a combination of these signs. Flatus, rather able in dogs and cats with flatulence, although abdominal dis-
than flatulence, is gas expelled through the anus. Belching is the tention is sometimes noted in cats. Intestinal gas can often be
noisy voiding of gas from the stomach through the mouth. detected during abdominal palpation; however, it is difficult to
Borborygmus is a rumbling noise caused by the propulsion of assess the quantity of gas by palpation alone. Animals having
gas through the intestines. poor body condition and objectionable flatus may have an
Excessive flatus is a chronic objectionable problem that underlying GI condition.
occurs often in dogs and less commonly in cats. Although Laboratory testing is usually not indicated. However, further
belching and borborygmus are rarely chief complaints of pet evaluation is in order if concomitant GI signs are present.
owners, routine questioning may elicit their presence. Flatus, Readers are referred to earlier chapters involving small and
belching and borborygmus occur in normal pets but often large bowel disorders for further information.
develop as a consequence of small intestinal or colonic disor-
ders. At times, flatus is the primary reason pet owners seek vet- Risk Factors
erinary advice. Excessive aerophagia is a risk factor for flatulence and is seen
with brachycephalic, working and sporting canine breeds and
pets with aggressive and competitive eating behaviors. Dietary
PATIENT ASSESSMENT indiscretion and ingestion of certain pet food ingredients may
be risk factors for certain individuals.
History and Physical Examination
Pet owners often describe an increase in frequency of belching, Etiopathogenesis
audible flatus or an objectionable odor associated with flatus Gas in the GI tract is normal and may be derived from three
(Jones et al, 1998). At times, it may be possible to elicit a his- sources: air swallowing, intraluminal gas production and diffu-