What’s the best dog food for sensitive stomachs?
Seriously how do you deal with pups with sensitive stomachs?
My ever-lively pooch-Meg was suddenly dull and quite unhappy. She was also vomiting, and his stool was watery. Clearly, she had an upset stomach.
What exactly was ailing her? A visit to my vet disclosed that Meg has a sensitive stomach. Phew? But how? I give her nice food.
A troubling thought, isn’t it?
The trick is to switch food.
Here’s how it works, plus a review of the 10 best dog food for sensitive stomachs.
Let’s dive right in.
10 Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin
This delicious recipe is formulated with highly digestible ingredients, including chicken, brown rice, and soybean oil to support maximum nutrient absorption.
Prebiotic fiber is added to promote gut flora and support solid digestive health. It also contains omega fatty acids and vitamin E for healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken
- Brewers Rice
- Chicken Meal
- Yellow Peas
- Cracked Pearled Barley
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Has prebiotic fiber to promote microbiome health and power beneficial gut bacteria -Highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption -Contains omega fatty acids and Vitamin E to support skin and coat health | -Adult Dogs | $40 |
Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Formula
This is an easy-to-digest combination of real salmon, rice, and oatmeal that promotes muscle development and replenishes your dog’s energy reserves.
The formula includes antioxidants, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate to support immune and joint health. Besides, it has omega fatty acids and vitamin E for soft skin and lustrous fur.
Key Ingredients
- Salmon
- Rice Flour
- Pearled Barley
- Oat Meal
- Corn Gluten Meal
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients provide completely balanced nutrition for overall health -Omega fatty acids and vitamin E support skin and coat health -Has highly digestible ingredients for maximum absorption | Adult dogs | $25 |
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Canned Dog Food
This is a gut-friendly wet food that uses a low-fat formula containing Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, and DHA to soothe the gastrointestinal tract. It’s specially designed for dogs who have difficulties digesting fats with a palatable texture.
The food is made with easily digestible proteins and fortified with prebiotics to foster optimal gut health.
Key Ingredients
- Water for processing
- Pork By-products
- Pork Liver
- Brewers Rice Flour
- Corn Grits
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Fully digestible proteins and prebiotics promotes digestive health -Contains DHA, EPA, and Omega-3 to support gut health -Minimal fat content is ideal for dogs with trouble digesting fats | -Adult dogs | $93.36 |
Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food Adult 7+
Formulated for senior dogs with sensitive guts, this recipe is made with high-quality chicken and barley to help sustain and develop your pup’s muscles.
A special antioxidant mix, omega-6 fatty acids, vegetable fibers, and essential vitamins and minerals are all included in this formula. These ingredients are carefully chosen to enhance digestion and support immunity.
Key Ingredients
- Water
- Chicken
- Cracked Pearled Barley
- Pork Liver
- Whole Grain Corn
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Made with high-quality protein to help build lean muscles and maintain ideal body weight -Precisely complete nutrition to support mobility -Contains easily digestible ingredient for maximum absorption | -Senior Dogs | $27.12 |
Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food Sensitive
This is high-quality targeted nutrition in the form of protein-dense kibble made with salmon as the primary ingredient plus rice for your dog’s sensitive stomach.
It includes a natural prebiotic fiber to nourish unique gut bacteria for digestive health and live probiotics to improve immune and digestive health. Omega-rich fish oil is added to support vision and brain development.
Key Ingredients
- Salmon
- Rice
- Barley
- Fish Meal
- Canola Meal
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -DHA from Omega-rich fish oils promotes brain and vision development .-Has rice to soothe sensitive stomachs -Omega-6 from sunflower oil supports skin and coat health | -Puppies | $42 |
Ollie’s Dog Food
If you are looking for fresh, high-quality, human-grade dog food for your furry pal, Ollie got your back. This dog food is made with limited ingredients, has no soy, wheat, or wheat, and is minimally processed.
The food comes customized to suit your dog’s specific needs. The recipes include chicken, Turkey, Beef, and lamb. The Chicken recipe is recommended for dogs with stomach sensitivity.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken
- Chicken Gizzard
- Carrots
- Peas
- Chicken Liver
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -100% natural hence completely health -Contains no soy, wheat, corn, or artificial additives hence suitable for sensitive stomachs -Vet approved as such quality is guaranteed | -All Dogs | $18.16 |
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
This formula is designed to provide a well-balanced, healthy diet while limiting allergy-inducing ingredients. Featuring real salmon as the first ingredient, the recipe contains a single protein and a variety of quickly digestible carbs for muscle nourishment and optimal energy level.
Added Lifesource Bits provide antioxidants and vitamins while pumpkin soothes sensitive stomachs in canines.
Key Ingredients
- Deboned Turkey
- Potatoes
- Turkey Meal
- Peas
- Canola Oil
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Antioxidant -packed LifeSource Bits supports immune health -Easily digestible carbohydrates to aid in proper digestion -Has omega-3 fatty acids to support skin and coat health | -Adult dogs | $57 |
Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Recipe
Formulated for canines with extremely sensitive digestive systems, this recipe is grain, gluten, corn, wheat, and soy-free and substitutes meat protein for egg protein.
It contains species-specific probiotics that promote gut flora and effective digestion to improve your dog’s digestive tract. It also includes vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids to promote hair and overall health.
Key Ingredients
- Potatoes
- Egg product
- Potato Protein
- Tomato Pomace
- Chicken Fat
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Canine-specific probiotics enhance gastrointestinal health -Provides complete and balanced nutrition with a mix of vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids. -Lone-source easy-to-digest protein to minimize allergens | -Adult dogs | $54.99 |
Solid Gold Grain-Free & Gluten-Free for Sensitive Stomachs
This nutrient-dense, grain-free recipe is made with simple ingredients like lean cold water salmon, chickpeas, lentils, peas, and chicken fat.
The food contains an exclusive combination of 20 easily digestible superfoods that have been carefully chosen to preserve your pet’s gut health. Omega-3s and Omega-6s are also included in the formula for good skin and lustrous coats.
Key Ingredients
- Salmon
- Ocean Fish Meal
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- peas
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Completely grain and gluten-free hence suitable for sensitive stomachs -Contains Omega-3 and 6 that promotes skin and coat health -Provides probiotic support for a healthy gut | -Adult dogs | $17 |
Diamond Skin & Coat Real Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food
Is Ideally formulated for dogs with food-related skin sensitivities; this hypoallergenic kibble presents complete and holistic nutrition for your pooch. The recipe is protein-rich featuring wild-caught salmon as the primary ingredient.
Included also are whole-food fruits and vegetables, including lentils, blueberries, peas, pumpkin, and papaya. It’s further packed with guaranteed probiotics to provide the best nutrition and promote the digestive
Key Ingredients
- Salmon
- Fish Meal
- Potatoes
- Lentils
- Peas
| Benefits | Best for | Price |
| -Provides a full and balanced diet with added vitamins, minerals, and whole-food fruits and vegetables. -With proprietory species-specific probiotics that support immune and digestive health. | -All dogs | $25 |
Dog with Sensitive Stomach: Buyers Guide
Some dogs, much like humans, have sensitive stomachs. While this is rarely fatal, the affected dogs have trouble digesting food and exhibit several distressing gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If you suspect that your pooch is suffering from a sensitive stomach, have him checked by a veterinarian to rule out any other ailments. Giving dog food for sensitive stomachs is helpful for such dogs.
What Causes Sensitive Stomach in Dogs
Some causes of stomach sensitivity include:
Food-related allergies: Some dogs are intolerant to some food ingredients. Consumption of food containing these ingredients results in digestive upsets.
Inability to digest specific proteins and fats: Some proteins, including table scraps and byproducts, are not easily digestible and may cause stomach upsets in some dogs. Other dogs may have problems digesting large amounts of fat.
Emotional distress: Digestive disturbances in dogs can result from stress or anxiety of some sort.
Indigestible treats: Dog treats may contain ingredients that some dogs may have difficulties digesting, causing stomach upsets.
Symptoms of sensitive stomach in dogs
Some of the most common signs that may suggest stomach sensitivity in dogs include:
- Vomiting as a result of gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Excessive gas: sudden or extreme flatulence may be an indication
- Soft stool/diarrhea: Regular runny stool may indicate sensitivity.
- Lack of appetite as shown by persistent refusal to eat
- Constipation resulting from dehydration
Dog breeds prone to sensitive stomachs.
Although food sensitivities may affect any breed, some breeds are more likely to develop gastrointestinal problems than others. These include
- Irish Setter: They are intolerant to gluten.
- Great Dane: These are predisposed to life-threatening bloat
- Labrador Retriever: Labs are prone to chronic food allergies
- German Shepherds: These dogs develop food allergies and have a high risk of bloating.
- Shar-Peis: They suffer from poor appetite, food allergies, bloating, among others.
- Miniature Schnauzer: Prone to pancreatitis.
- Yorkshire Terrier: They are susceptible to dehydration and pancreatitis
- Golden Retriever: These are prone to a deadly bloat
- Boxer: Likely to suffer from bloating and gastric torsion
Ingredient in dog food that causes stomach upset
Gluten: Some dogs are intolerant to gluten found in grains like rye, barley, or wheat. Therefore, it is advisable to go for grain-free food for such dogs to avoid inflammatory health issues that accompany these ingredients.
Dairy: Although dogs generally love milk and its by-products, some of them are lactose intolerant. As such, they have difficulties digesting dairy products. Avoid giving any food containing dairy to these dogs.
Fruits: Dogs with sensitive stomachs may find it hard to digest fruits that have high sugar content. This excess sugar can be irritating to their tummies resulting in digestive issues.
Read our article on Common Food Allergies for Dogs and How to Avoid Them
10 Tips For Dogs With Sensitive Stomach
The following tips help handle dogs with a sensitive stomach;
- Find out the root cause of sensitivity: If you suspect a food sensitivity in your dog, try to find out the specific ingredient causing it and eliminate it.
- Control what your dog consumes: If your fido has the habit of going through trash, try keeping the trash can lid always closed.
- Make gradual changes: Sudden changes to a dog’s diet can worsen sensitivity. As such, introduce any change slowly.
- Fasting: Before making a switch to a different diet, it’s essential to avoid giving your pooch food at least for a day to clear off his system
- Hydrate: Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. It’s therefore essential to give plenty of to keep your pal hydrated even when fasting.
- Feed specialized food: After fasting, introduce a diet with easily digestible limited food that’s easy on your pup’s stomach. Ensure that commercial foods are simple formulations containing carbohydrates and proteins easy on the stomach.
- Control the portions: Some dogs experience sensitivity due to fast eating. If your dog quickly gulps down his food, space his meals into smaller, more frequent servings.
- Wait: Be patient and take time to let your furry friend’s system adjust to the changed diet. Keep a keen eye on the reaction, and don’t be afraid to get back in case of any problems.
- Supplement: You can add probiotics or natural sources of fiber like pumpkin to enhance digestion.
- Avoid the treats: Do away with treats as they seem harmless but can have serious repercussions.
How We Reviewed
We considered several things in our review of the best dog food for a sensitive stomach we considered several things.
These include customer reviews and testimonies on various platforms, the quality and type of ingredients used, customer support, certifications, e.g.FDA and AAFCO, brand reputation, price, manufacturer’s history, veterinary approval, variety, and professional feedback.
Overall Pricing
There is no standard price for dog food for sensitive stomachs as the costs vary widely depending on various factors. These factors include brand name, number, type, and quality of ingredients used. However, the prices can be classified into high, average, or low prices with a general range of between $10-$100.
How can you cure a dog’s upset stomach?
These are some of the things you can do to alleviate your pup’s tummy woes;
Fasting
Not feeding your dog for at least 12hours will help him rid junk off the stomach and clear his system. However, some dogs can’t stand fasting, so consult your vet first.
Give ice cubes
It’s important to keep a dog with diarrhea or is vomiting properly hydrated. Too much water can, however, upset the tummy more. To encourage water intake, give ice cubes.
Canned pumpkins
Pure canned pumpkin has a low glycemic index which makes it helpful in fighting indigestion and soothing upset stomach in dogs.
Read our article on The Risk and Benefits of Pumpkins for Frenchies
When to see a vet
If your dog seems to be persistently uncomfortable or when the symptoms get worse, it’s necessary to consult your vet. Watch out for blood-stained stool and vomit, increasing discomfort, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, weakness or collapse, and foreign things in stool or vomit. These could indicate more severe conditions.
Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach: FAQs
Is an upset stomach in dogs a sign of food allergies?
An occasional stomach upset is normal in dogs. However, when this occurs frequently, it could indicate gastrointestinal tract issues. You should discuss the possibility of food allergies with a vet if this happens often.
Why do dogs throw up so often?
Dogs have a habit of eating just about anything, which can cause stomach upset. This makes them throw up. It can also be a sign of a sensitive stomach.
How do you know if your dog has a sensitive stomach?
If your dog has a watery stool, is vomiting, or appears uncomfortable after eating, he may be having a sensitive stomach. Check with your vet to rule out other ailments.
What is the easiest food for dogs to digest?
Kibble that contains lean meat, sweet potatoes, eggs, and white rice, is the digestible food for dogs. Avoid chicken and eggs if your dog is allergic to them.
How can I treat my dog’s upset stomach at home? If he has diarrhea.
Give him a lot of fluids, especially water, to keep him hydrated. Although this does not cure, it will help the dog feel better. You can also give bone broth.
Wrapping Up
There, you have it. Everything you need to know about stomach sensitivity in dogs.
Although addressing it can be quite challenging, being fully aware of the cause of a sensitive tummy for your dog can help you choose the right kind of food.
It’s essential to consult with your vet before making changes to your dog’s food to find out why your dog has tummy issues and how to address the issue. Nothing hurts more than seeing your beloved pet in pain and suffering, right?
Well, the right kind of dog food for sensitive stomachs can be of great help. Go ahead and make your choice.