61% of pet owners blame flatulence on the dog

Of course, in some instances it actually is the dog and flatulence can be just one side effect of a bad diet, with other key symptoms including an upset tummy and runny stools.

There’s never a good time for your pet to get poorly, but some occasions can be worse than others. More than a quarter of those surveyed (29%) revealed they’ve had an embarrassing moment caused by their furry friends having an accident at a bad time, including during a first date and meeting the in-laws for the first time, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for any sign that your pet is feeling under the weather.

The research aims to make pet owners aware of the signs of digestive discomfort and, in turn, highlight the ‘back-end’ benefits of a complete raw diet for dogs. So there will be a lot less pet parents getting the blame for their pooches untimely wind.

Another key finding from the research is that almost two thirds of pet owners (63%) weren’t aware of what a ‘healthy’ poo should look like, with the same number also not associating poor nutrition with ill health.

Although inspecting your pet’s poo may not sound like the most appealing task, there are some key signs that you should look out for, including:

Soft/ watery or overly hard faeces
Excessive flatulence
Sticky or crumbly poo
Misshapen faeces (not the traditional log shape)
Discoloured or foul-smelling poo
Blood spots
Black coloured faeces

If you notice that your pet isn’t feeling 100%, or if you’ve spotted any of the above symptoms, it may be worth considering a change of diet for your pet.

Nutritionally balanced, complete raw feeding aims to give dogs a diet as close as possible to what they might have eaten in the wild and can be gentler on their digestive system than other pet food alternatives. It has been shown on countless occasions by experienced vets, nurses and owners to make an extraordinary difference to a pet’s health and wellbeing.

Natures Menu veterinary nurse, Melanie Sainsbury, said “It’s not the most glamourous task but inspecting our pets poo regularly can ensure they don’t have any problems. Of course, they don’t always have perfect poo’s, but if there is a change it can be down to factors including diet, stress or even worms, so it’s worthwhile keeping an eye out for any symptoms.

“What’s ‘normal’ varies from dog to dog and can depend on what diet they are on. Generally, ‘normal’ poo should be a medium brown colour, not too soft or watery but also not hard. They should be of a size relative to their breed, so smaller dogs will have smaller poos and vice versa, and be the traditional log shape. When you pick it up, it should not break apart too easily or stick to grass, and ideally, our pets shouldn’t be going to the bathroom any more than a few times per day.

“Consistency in diet is very important so if you do decide to make a change, pick the highest quality dog food suitable for you and your dog and stick with the same brand. Don’t keep changing brands or adding in human food as this can lead to problems with digestion and cause further harm. Try and stop your dog from rummaging in bins, picking up scraps, eating mushrooms and plants, or anything else they shouldn’t too.

“If you are worried about your dog’s poo, it’s always worth popping to your local veterinary practice and speaking to one of the friendly staff for advice. They are there to help you and ensure your pet is as healthy and happy as they should be.”

For further information about feeding your pet a nutritionally balanced raw diet, visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk