Dr. Dan Christian specializes in small animal medicine, with special interests in behavior and nutrition. He has been instrumental in establishing animal behavior residencies for veterinarians at leading veterinary schools and developing innovative programs with veterinary organizations in the United States. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. During his professional career, Dr. Christian earned the American Association of Feline Practitioners Award. He has also appeared as a guest on television and radio pet health programs nationwide, and to has authored numerous articles for pet health magazines.

Q: My kitten has a lot of gas. What can I do to solve that problem?

A: Your question is asked very frequently, as kittens often have gas (technically called flatulence) in their first few months. I find that this is largely due to their owners feeding them milk or other dairy products. New cat owners may think milk is required nutrition for their kitten, but it is not. In fact, cats are not able to digest the lactose in milk products because they lack the enzyme lactase. The results are often gas and even loose stools. So to begin with, don't offer dairy products to your kitten.

If you are not feeding your kitten any dairy products and she still has gas, you may want to consider changing the kitten food you're currently using. Your kitten may have a food intolerance to certain ingredients, and switching to another to another complete and balanced wet and dry food made for kittens may eliminate the problem on the spot. Also, make sure to make an appointment with your veterinarian for a good physical examination, including a fecal check for parasites, as this may be a contributing factor that can be eliminated with the right medication.