Similar to certain individuals, certain canines experience sensitivity in their stomachs. Although this is not typically a critical problem, these unfortunate pups frequently have difficulty digesting their food and encounter different unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms.
Having such dogs evaluated by a veterinarian is crucial so that one can ascertain whether they are experiencing a sensitive stomach or some other medical condition.
It is important to eliminate various severe health issues that may present identical symptoms. Nonetheless, specific dog foods formulated to improve their well-being could be advantageous for canines with delicate stomachs.
Symptoms of a Sensitive Stomach
Although each dog is unique, dogs with sensitive stomachs usually show similar symptoms. However, some dogs may display certain symptoms more frequently than others. Therefore, if your dog shows any of the following symptoms, she may have a sensitive stomach:
- Vomiting – While the occasional bout of vomiting is normal (dogs have an “eat first, barf later” mantra), repeated bouts of vomiting likely indicate that your dog either has a sensitive stomach or a serious health issue.
- Diarrhea – Loose or runny stools are another symptom that occasionally plague all dogs, but repeated occurrences indicate the presence of a sensitive stomach or a more serious problem.
- Gas – If your dog engages in chemical warfare on a regular basis, she is likely suffering from a sensitive stomach (and let’s be honest, you both suffer from this symptom). Gas-x can help treat symptoms, but ideally, you’ll want to resolve your dog’s tummy issues at the source.
Best Foods for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
Finding the perfect recipe for your pup’s sensitive stomach may require experimenting with a variety of foods. Calming down your dog’s delicate digestive system can be a challenging task.
Nonetheless, these five types of dog food are recommended for canines experiencing stomach sensitivities and have received favorable reviews from other proprietors who have fed them to their own dogs.
1. Ollie Dog Food
Human-grade dog food made with impressive ingredients
Get personalized, top-notch dog food that is selectively chosen for your furry friend!
Ollie is a dog food company providing high-quality, human-grade meals that are visually appealing to pet owners as well.
Ollie’s true benefit lies in their ability to personalize your dog’s diet according to its age, activity level, and allergies. These high-quality canine meals are free of corn, soy, wheat, preservatives, and artificial additives, making them a perfect option for dogs with sensitive stomachs who require a digestively healthy diet.
2. Sundays for Dogs
Easy-to-digest boutique-style kibble
Kibble that is high in prebiotics, features extra fiber and digestive aids, and has been air-dried in a gentle manner to minimize stomach discomfort!
Sundays for Dogs is an exclusive type of kibble that undergoes air-drying, featuring various components that enhance its digestibility for canines. The blends have been created by a group composed of PhD’s in animal nutrition, food scientists, and veterinarian nutritionists with board certification.
Sundays for Dogs contains a variety of wholesome components such as actual meat, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of cooking, the entire meal is air-dried. Additionally, the kibble that is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs has incorporated prebiotics, pumpkin, and ginger as digestive aids, along with an abundant supply of fiber and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
The dog food for sensitive stomachs boasts about its naturalness, as it does not contain any fake flavors, preservatives, or chemicals whatsoever. Additionally, it does not include any ingredients that originate from China, or have any gluten, legumes, potatoes, wheat, or soy.
3. CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food
Premium easy-to-digest dog food
This high-quality dog food is made with premium ingredients and does not contain corn, soy, or wheat, which promotes better digestion.
CANIDAE Life Stages Dog Food is an exclusive formula designed for sensitive stomachs, featuring high-quality ingredients and free from numerous problematic components commonly found in other dog foods.
CANIDAE Life Stages, designed by vets for effortless digestion, is an excellent option for dogs that have delicate stomachs.
This dry dog food is suitable for pit bulls or any other breed with susceptibility to joint problems and digestive issues. It contains omega fatty acids to promote joint health and probiotics, which along with other ingredients, make it gentle on the stomach. Therefore, we highly recommend it.
4. Natural Balanced LID Beef
Limited ingredient, high-protein kibble
The kibble is devoid of any fillers and contains beef as the only source of animal protein; neither corn, wheat, soy nor chicken are included.
Natural Balance LID Beef is a high-quality dog food made without several problematic ingredients commonly found in other dog foods. With beef as the primary ingredient (followed closely by beef meal), it boasts 32% protein.
It is an excellent option for dogs that have sensitive stomachs, as it does not contain chicken, potatoes, fillers, or grains.
5. Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Turkey Grain-Free
Single-protein kibble that’s GMO-free
A suitable choice for dogs with digestive problems and ideal for diets that aim to eliminate allergies, this formula features a singular source of animal protein.
The Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Turkey is a diet that is suitable for dogs experiencing digestion issues, and is both GMO-free and grain-free. It is designed to cater to sensitive stomach dogs, hence made with only a single-source animal protein – turkey – free from eggs, soy, wheat, and corn. This makes it an excellent selection for pet parents who aim to steer clear of typical allergens that affect canines.
6. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited-Ingredient Dog Food
Quality LID food that’s salmon-based
A diet consisting of salmon, oatmeal, and brown rice that is gentle on the stomach. It does not contain chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, eggs, or dairy.
The Blue Buffalo Basics Limited-Ingredient Salmon and Potato Dog Food is designed to offer a well-balanced and healthy meal for your furry friend, while avoiding any superfluous elements. This approach aims to ease the symptoms of food sensitivities and allergies.
7. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
Kibble for sensitive-stomachs
Designed to enhance healthy digestion, this kibble is easily digested.
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food is designed to provide balanced nutrition while also promoting easy digestion. The inclusion of several beneficial supplements helps to prevent any potential stomach discomfort in your furry friends.
8. Nutro Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato
Non-GMO lamb-based LID kibble
Formula with a limited number of ingredients that aids in reducing the occurrence of possible food sensitivities.
The Nutro Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato is created to minimize possible food sensitivities and promote smooth digestion for your dog. Its key components, namely lamb and sweet potato, are generally easy for dogs to digest, making it an ideal bland dry dog food.
You can select the appropriate size and special requirements for your furry friend as it is available in both small and large breed options.
9. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula
Budget-friendly salmon-based dog foood
The formula contains nutrient-rich salmon, barley, and rice, making it grain-inclusive.
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula is a well-balanced and highly digestible dog food that contains actual salmon, rice, and other components that are unlikely to cause stomach discomfort to your dog.
Furthermore, this dry dog food is an ideal choice for pet owners who are on a tight budget since it is relatively more economical than certain other dog foods that are easy on the stomach, as listed above.
BONUS: Should You Feed a Homemade Diet?
As product recalls and updates on commercial dog foods remain uncertain, an increasing number of dog owners prefer to create their own dog food at home. While dogs enjoy homemade food, producing canine cuisine is not comparable to cooking for oneself or human relatives. Adhering to certain guidelines is crucial to guarantee the well-being of your beloved pet.
The popularity of homemade diets is increasing due to the ability to regulate ingredients, eliminating concern about recalls of dog food. Moreover, many individuals are prioritizing healthier eating habits not just for themselves but for their pets as well. Some prefer homemade diets because they are made up of whole food ingredients that are deemed healthier than commercial dog food.
Before transitioning your dog to a homemade diet, it is important to take certain factors into account as homemade dog food may not be suitable for everyone.
- Be sure to find a dog food recipe that is complete and balanced. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to feed an incomplete or imbalanced diet to your dog.
- It takes time to measure ingredients and prepare the food correctly. Be sure you have a schedule that allows enough time to properly make your dog’s food on a regular basis.
- Make sure you can afford the ingredients to make your own dog food. Homemade food is typically less expensive than commercially prepared fresh or raw dog food, but it usually costs a little more than kibble.
- If you have a picky dog, you may need to source multiple recipes so you can change the diet periodically and keep your dog interested.
Proper Nutrition for Dogs
For dogs to thrive, their nutritional requirements must be fulfilled similar to humans. However, dogs’ nutritional needs vary from ours. Therefore, you cannot share your meal with your dog. Feeding an inadequate or unequal diet to dogs can cause vitamin and nutrient inadequacies.
To meet their energy needs, dogs require an adequate amount of calories which is determined by their activity level and life stage. Consult with your veterinarian to ascertain the precise amount of calories your dog requires daily.
For a well-rounded dog diet made at home, it is crucial to include a proportionate amount of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Additionally, the incorporation of essential vitamins and minerals is necessary to guarantee the food is both comprehensive and balanced.
- At least 10% protein , such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
- Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta , and potatoes (also provides some fiber)
- About 2.5-4.5% fiber , which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots
- At least 5.5% fat , usually in the form of vegetable oil
- Vitamin and mineral supplements (dog-specific; can be purchased from a reputable company like BalanceIT.com )
To commence preparing meals for your canine companion, it is essential to consult with your veterinarian as the initial step. Your veterinarian might provide you with some recipes to experiment with, or you may require a recommendation to a veterinary nutritionist or a vet who specializes in canine nutrition.
What to Watch for When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
When switching to homemade dog food, it is crucial to closely observe your dog’s behavior. Ensure that you communicate any positive or negative alterations to your vet. To achieve optimal results, maintain a record of your dog’s weight and physical condition throughout. Monitor your canine’s weight weekly and reach out to your veterinarian if there are any unanticipated shifts in weight. Your dog may encounter vomiting or diarrhea if they have an allergic reaction to certain components, so it is important to remain vigilant. Record any symptoms of illness or other irregularities and report them to your veterinarian.
How to Prepare Homemade Food for Dogs
It is crucial to stick to a well-rounded recipe while making your dog’s diet at home. After selecting the right recipe with your veterinarian, you can begin the process.
- Before you begin, it’s best if you have ready a food scale, food processor, pots and pans, and containers or bags for portioning the food.
- Purchase fresh, high-quality ingredients that are not canned, seasoned, or heavily processed.
- Set yourself up in a clean area of the kitchen that is free of foods that may be harmful to your dog .
- Measure out the ingredients. Use a food scale if possible for accuracy.
- Cook ingredients as directed on the recipe
- Mix food and supplements together well (ideally, use a food processor to blend ingredients).
- Place food in containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
- In general, refrigerated food will stay fresh for three to four days. Frozen dog food is best within about two months. Avoid feeding homemade dog food that has been in the freezer for more than six months.
To save time and money, numerous pet owners opt to prepare meals in large batches and store them in pre-measured containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Nonetheless, it may be preferable to start with smaller quantities to monitor how well your dog responds to the new diet.
