Dogs can’t always eat anything, although sometimes they do try to! Just like humans, dogs can have allergies and intolerances to certain foods, and they can have sensitive stomachs too. If this is the case for your dog, then it may be time to take them to the veterinarian.
The veterinarian can suggest medication or diagnose health problems within your dog, so that you can relax, and your dog can lead a happy and healthy life.
What some veterinarians and health professionals may suggest is that you switch over to a different type of dog food. There are hundreds of dog foods available on the market, but this does not mean that they may be right for your dog!
Some dogs need special food for sensitive stomachs, so that they can digest it easier. Luckily, we have gathered all of the best dog food for sensitive stomachs, so that your dog can be happier and healthier.
Our Best Pick
We know how important your dog is to you. Dogs aren’t just pets, they become part of the family, so we understand that you will want only the best for your furry friend.
If that’s the case, then why not try Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach dog food? This dog is packed with vitamins and minerals like Omega 3 fatty acids for joint mobility and strength, and Omega 6 for a glossy coat and healthy skin.
In addition, salmon is the first ingredient, giving your dog lots of protein, and fish is not often an allergen, so it will not upset the stomach! This dog food is also made with oat meal which is easily digestible and gentle on the digestive system.
With no artificial ingredients or flavors, you can rely on this dog food to be sensitive, and perfect for your dog.
Contents
Best Dog Foods For Sensitive Stomach Reviews
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach
Our top pick is the Purina Pro Plan dog food for sensitive stomachs. This dog food is fortified with live probiotics to improve digestive and immune health. It is also rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to improve the skin and coat, whilst also boosting your dog’s joint and muscle health.
With salmon as the number one ingredient, you can limit the allergens in your dog’s diet, whilst also providing lots of healthy protein for your dog.
In addition to this, Purina Pro Plan for Sensitive Stomachs is made with oat meal which is easily digestible and gentle on the digestive system, which is perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
With no artificial colors or flavors and plenty of vitamins and minerals, this dog food is the perfect choice to keep your dog healthy and happy.
Pros:
- Designed for sensitive stomach
- Salmon is first ingredient
- Easily digestible
- Fortified with probiotics for digestive health
- Rich in omega 6 fatty acids
- Improves skin and coat
- High protein formula
- No artificial colors or flavors
Cons:
- More expensive
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
If you want to give your dog something veterinarian recommended, then look no further than the Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food.
This dog food is formulated for all breeds and sizes of dog, and is perfect for those with a sensitive stomach and skin. As a result, it is gentle on the stomach, and aids digestive health.
This dog food is made with prebiotic fibers to balance the gut and aid the digestive system. In addition, it is packed with natural ingredients and loaded with nutrients such as vitamin E and Omega 6 fatty acids to improve the skin and coat. The kibble is small and easy to eat, and is reinforced by a name that you can trust.
Pros:
- Suitable for all breeds and sizes
- Aids digestive health
- Nourishes skin
- Prebiotic fibers to balance gut microbiome
- Packed with vitamin E and Omega 6 fatty acids
- Improves coat and skin
- Made with natural ingredients
- Veterinarian recommended
Cons:
- Chicken is main ingredient- can be an allergen
Nature’s Recipe Grain Free Easy To Digest Food
Nature’s Recipe is a brand built upon its transparency and promise to provide only the healthiest and most natural ingredients in their foods. The Grain Free Easy To Digest dog food is no different. This dog food comes in a variety of flavors, but this product is made with salmon as the main ingredient along with sweet potato and pumpkin!
With only real meat, easy to digest kibbles, and nutrient dense ingredients, this food is perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs. In addition, there is no corn, wheat, artificial colors or flavors, instead there are plenty of added vitamins, minerals and healthy vegetables to keep your dog healthy and thriving.
Pros:
- Multiple flavors to choose from
- Real salmon is number 1 ingredient
- Easy to digest recipe
- Filled with nutrients and healthy vegetables
- Formulated for all breeds and ages
- No corn, grain, wheat or artificial ingredients
- Fiber for natural digestion
- Filled with protein for healthy bones and muscles
- Includes Omega 3 and 6 for healthy skin and coat
Cons:
- Strong fishy scent
- Small kibble size
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
This dog food from Blue Buffalo is designed for a ‘blissful belly’, and is a mix of both wet and dry dog food. It is suitable for all breeds of dogs and sizes, and is full of prebiotic fiber to support digestive health and remains gentle on the stomach.
With natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals, the Blue Buffalo Blissful Belly dog food is formulated with wholesome ingredients of fruits and vegetables, and is chicken flavored.
It has no chicken or poultry by product meals, along with no corn, wheat, soy or artificial flavors and preservatives. Your dog will love this sensitive dog food, and will enjoy the aroma of this high quality dog food!
Pros:
- Suitable for all breeds and sizes
- Specifically formulated for sensitive stomachs
- Highly digestible
- Includes prebiotic fibers to support digestive health
- Natural ingredients recommended by veterinarians
- Enhanced with vitamins and minerals
- High quality chicken is main ingredient
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons:
- Chicken can be allergen
- Has a strong scent
Purina One Sensitive Systems Dog Food
If you want a dog food that is suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs, then you can try the Purina One Sensitive Systems Dog Food. This food is made with salmon for an easily digestible and tasty recipe. With vitamin E and Omega 6 fatty acids, this dog food promotes healthy skin and coats, and is veterinarian recommended.
Pros:
- Made for sensitive tummies
- Suitable for all breed sizes
- Real salmon is number 1 ingredient
- Rich with Omega 6 fatty acids and Vitamin E
- Promotes good skin and coat health
- Veterinarian recommended
- Provides strong immune system
Cons:
- Contains chicken by-product meal
Buyer’s Guide
Things to consider when purchasing dog food for a sensitive stomach
When purchasing new dog food for a sensitive stomach, there are a few things that you will want to consider. For instance, you will want to get the best quality dog food that you can.
This will ensure that your dog is fed only the finest and healthiest ingredients, with real meat and vegetables that make for a balanced and nutritious diet.
Cheaper brands of dog food tend to include additives, preservatives, food colorings, fillers and chemicals that can be unhealthy for your dog, and may upset their stomach. The best dog foods will have lots of vitamins and minerals for healthy teeth, bones and muscles, along with real protein to keep them strong.
Dogs with sensitive stomachs can also struggle with foods that are high in fat, therefore, it can be beneficial to give your dog foods with a low fat content, and ones that are easily digestible.
You may also want to consider changing the main type of protein that your dog eats. For instance, if your dog is currently on chicken based food, then this could be what is causing the problem.
You can change your dog’s food to something that is beef based, or is made from fish. Fish is often a great alternative to meat for dogs with intolerances, as it is full of omega-3 fatty acids, which can decrease inflammation and stomach problems.
Another important thing to look for when purchasing dog food is which ingredient is the first ingredient. This will be the main ingredient in the food.
All of the best dog foods will have animal protein such as chicken, fish or beef as the main ingredient, rather than vegetables or rice.
You also do not want to buy foods that use meat meals or animal byproducts as these do more harm than good to your dog’s stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any more questions regarding dog food for a sensitive stomach, then check out our handy frequently asked questions section here!
How can I tell if my dog has a sensitive stomach?
Dogs are just like us, and they can get sensitive stomachs and some things can cause them to feel unwell, uncomfortable or they can even get allergic reactions. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, then there are a few symptoms that you can pick up on.
Dogs with sensitive stomachs may refuse to eat, or suffer from a loss of appetite. If something in their food is making them sick then they simply will go off their food and they will not eat it. In other cases, dogs can even vomit the food back up, or suffer from frequent vomiting and diarrhea.
In addition to this, your dog may be more lethargic, or you may notice a decrease in activity and interest. They may not feel like playing or going out for walks, as they may feel bloated or gassy instead.
You should also look for signs that your dog could be in some sort of pain, and this typically extends from the stomach. You may also be able to hear gurgling noises coming from the stomach, which may be a sign that your dog’s stomach is unsettled.
If your dog shows any or all of these signs, then they may have a sensitive stomach, an intolerance or an allergy.
In any case, you should take them to the veterinarian to be checked over. Your veterinarian can then suggest a diet tailored to your dog, or will advise that you switch to food that is best for a sensitive stomach.
Which type of dog food is best for a sensitive stomach?
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, then it is best to give them foods that are not made with extensive ingredients. With limited ingredient dog food, you can restrict the amount of filler ingredients and additives that could be upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Some dog foods use bone meal, wheat, grain and other ingredients as additives to fill out the dog kibble. These offer no nutritional value and can sometimes be harmful to your dog. By limiting the amount of ingredients in your dog’s food, you can ensure that their stomach is not as sensitive or harmed.
You will also want to ensure that the dog food is made with real protein, and not full of ingredients that you are not aware of. You should also look for hypoallergenic dog food if your dog is very sensitive, and purchase dog foods with probiotics to aid digestion.
What ingredients should I avoid in dog food?
You will not want to feed your sensitive dog some certain ingredients. These can only aggravate the problem, or make your dog unwell and sick.
If you stick to high quality dog food, most of the time, they are made from real meats and vegetables, and do not have any filler or preservatives in the food. These are best for your dog.
The ingredients that you want to look out for are meat meals. Whilst some are made from nutritious, natural proteins, some cheaper dog foods use meat meals that are made up of waste materials such as the bones, hooves, and heads of the animals, which are not good or healthy for your dog and can cause digestive problems.
You also want to watch out for artificial flavorings, colors, preservatives and additives as these are not healthy for your dog.
Some dog food brands also use filler ingredients such as corn bran, grain, soybean hulls, wheat mill run and others to fill the kibbles, which is not nutritious for your dog.
You want to feed them products that are as natural as possible, as you know there are no harmful chemicals, additives and ingredients involved.
What is hypoallergenic dog food?
Hypoallergenic dog food is perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. This type of dog food is designed to eliminate the risk of your dog developing an allergic reaction or becoming intolerant to the food.
This is done as the food is made up of unique proteins that will not be recognized by your dog’s antibodies, so it will not cause a reaction.
This food is made up of proteins that are chemically split into basic amino acids, which makes the ingredients in the food basically unrecognizable to your dog’s immune system, meaning that they are much less likely to have an allergic reaction to the food.
The most common allergenic ingredients in dog food are dairy products, wheat, soy, beef and chicken. Many dogs suffer from wheat and dairy intolerances, so it is important that you work out which foods your dog doesn’t like to eat to limit the risk of having an allergic reaction.
How do I switch my dog to new dog food if they have a sensitive stomach?
To switch your dog to another type of dog food, you have to do this delicately. You cannot just change their diet drastically as this can cause vomiting and diarrhea or an upset stomach.
As your dog is already prone to a sensitive stomach, changing the food quickly will only aggravate the problem. You have to make the change slowly and gradually.
In order to switch to a new dog food, you will have to gradually change your dog’s food over the space of about 7-10 days. This way, you can monitor your pet, and make sure that you are not overloading the stomach with new food that they are not used to.
To change the food, you will need to start with about 75% of the old food, and 25% of the new food mixed together. Feed this to your dog for the first three days and see how they go. For days 4-6, you can start mixing 50% old food and 50% new food and offering it to your dog.
Then, for the days 7-10, as long as your dog seems to take to the food without any adverse reactions, you can try 75% new food, and 25% old food.
Finally, once the ten days have passed, you can give your dog 100% new dog food, and they should be completely weaned off the old food that they were used to. This method can help limit any stomach problems or sensitivity to the new food.
