If your dog is suffering from frequent gastric problems, you might wonder if your old favorite Beano would work on him. But can you give a dog Beano? Will it be safe? Will it work? We answer all such questions below.
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Pet parents whose dogs often display symptoms of gastric distress such as vomiting and diarrhea worry and want to proactively solve this problem through supplements. However, in most cases, these supplements are just marketing gimmicks unlikely to help anyone, including humans.
Beano is made for humans. it is unlikely to have many benefits for dogs, it might even cause harm. In an emergency, Beano will not help because it is anyway not a medicine for gas, it is a supplement. Beano is a digestive enzyme that can not benefit your dog.
Many pet parents think that since the medicine works for them, it will also help their dog. But that is not the case. Let us understand the working of beano and whether or not you should give your dog beano.
Can You Give Dogs Beano?
Well, Beano is not toxic. But it is unlikely to help your dog.
Beano is a digestive enzyme. It is a medication meant to avoid gas formation in the human body. Several drugs like Beano are specifically made for dogs as well.
You can consult a vet and ask them to prescribe some for your dog if he has gas problems. However, as per our research, digestive enzymes have almost no benefits in dogs.
Secondly, if your dog already has gas, there is no point in giving them Beano as it is a supplement, not a medicine. It may help (though there are scientific studies that disprove even that claim) prevent gas formation in the human body by actively breaking down complex carbohydrates found in food items to make them digest easily.
Can I Give My Dog Beano?
It is not likely to do him any good.
Beano doesn’t cause any harm to a dog. It contains natural enzymes which are safe for dogs. So yes, you can give your dog a Beano if you like, but as we stated above, there is no scientific evidence that digestive enzyme supplements work in dogs.
It is better to get a medication made specifically for dogs as it would have a better chance of resolving any digestive issues your dog might have. Talk to your vet, they will be able to give you better advice.
What Causes Gas In Dogs?
Occasional farting for dogs is common, but if it happens excessively, there might be some underlying cause. A change in diet or lifestyle can cause a dog to suffer from digestive issues, resulting in gas or flatulence.
Now, this is not something any pet parents want to deal with, as not only is it embarrassing, but it also means that your pet might be in pain.
You might have your dog trying out a new diet, or they accidentally ate something they were not meant to. It can cause gas buildup in your dog’s colon and intestinal tract.
What Can Help With Flatulence In Dogs?
Let us start with understanding the cause of gas in your dogs. There can be two possible causes. One is air ingestion, and the other is gas production inside the dog’s body.
Air ingestion can be caused if your dog devours his meals or chews specific toys. Gas production inside the digestive tract of a dog can happen due to food allergies or if you have your dog trying out a new diet.
If your dog has a severe case of flatulence, then it is better to have them checked by a vet. They can run tests like stool checks, X-rays, blood work, ultrasound, endoscopy, or CT-scan to get to the cause of the gas.
There are tips that you can try to help your dog with the gas issue.
Feeding Smaller Meals
Instead of two heavy meals, you can try feeding three or four smaller meals to your dogs. It will help them digest the food better.
Change in diet
Dogs can be intolerant or sensitive to some food items, just as humans do. Changing the diet of your dog might help with their gas problem. Make sure that you incorporate the change in their diet slowly by mixing a smaller amount of new dog food with the old one and gradually reducing the older one over a week.
Probiotics
While simple yogurt can solve some mild gas problems, however, there are commercially available probiotics meant to improve your dog’s gut health.
Genetic sensitivity
Some dog breeds are more sensitive to carbohydrates or proteins. Ensure that you are feeding your dog an appropriate diet according to their breed.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are similar to probiotics and improve gut health. Give them a try. Some dog foods include prebiotics in them.
Simethicone
A type of medication that is known to help with gas issues. However, make sure to consult your vet for proper doses before starting the medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Give A Dog Beano?
Yes, you can give a dog beano. It won’t hurt them
Beano is a medication that is supposed to help digest complex carbohydrates. However, there is no scientific evidence that such supplementation does any good in dogs.
Will Beano hurt my dogs?
Beano will not hurt your dogs.
It doesn’t include any toxic ingredients for dogs. Also, there are not any known side effects of using this medication on your dog. However, since this medicine is meant for humans, it is better to consult your veterinarian before giving it to your dog.
What can I give my dog for gas?
You can give any medication like antacid or simethicone prescribed by your vet to your dog for gas.
However, it is essential that before starting with any medication, you get your dog checked by a vet to rule out any serious dietary or medical cause for your dog’s gas problem.
How many Beano can I give my dog?
You can give your dog one tablet of the chewable version of beano, but it won’t help.
If your dog is a large breed dog, even then, you can give two tablets of beano at most, and in the case of a small breed dog, stick to one tablet.
Beano supposedly breaks down the complex carbohydrates found in beans, grains, and nuts but dogs usually have a diet that mainly contains calcium, protein, and fats. But the scientific evidence that this helps dogs in any way is thin.
A Few Final Words
Beano is a proactive medication that helps relieve any digestive issues in humans. Many pet owners wonder whether or not they can give beano to their dogs.
While beano is not toxic for dogs, whether or not it relieves them from gas can not be said. You should not provide beano to dogs in general, but even after consulting your vet, you have to do it.
We thank you for reading the article and hope we answered your queries about gastric trouble in dogs. If we left out something, please let us know and we will be happy to add it to our list.
We have written about other medicines for your dog including Frontline, Bactine, and Heartworm Preventives. Do read them to keep your dog safe!