Did you know that not all dogs are able to eat any type of food that you put in front of them? Believe it or not, some pups actually have a sensitive stomach. That means that they may not be able to eat some of the foods that you find on the market. It is important to choose the best dog food for sensitive stomach, to ensure that your pet gets optimal nutrition, without the ingredients that cause them to have stomach upset. First, you need to learn a bit more about sensitive stomach in dogs, then we will take a look at some of the top name brands of food on the market that are designed for dogs that have food allergies or stomach sensitivities.
What You Should Know About Sensitive Stomach in Dogs
Sensitive stomach in dogs is usually related to a food allergy. Foods that are made up of a lot of various ingredients may be harder for your dog to digest. Think about it like this: if you are lactose intolerant, and you drink milk or eat dairy, it upsets your stomach – right? It is much the same for dogs, but it isn’t always dairy that causes them to have their sensitivities. Often, it is grains, dairy, soy, corn, too much fat, or something else that results in stomach upset. One of the best things that you can do is cut out any extras in your dog’s diet so that you can determine what the issue is.
Symptoms to Look for
Generally, dogs have good digestive health if they are getting the proper nutrients and have no underlying conditions. Some of the red flags that you should look for that may indicate poor digestion or sensitive stomach include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Flatulence, aka – gas
Dogs that eat certain foods and have these issues are actually causing their digestive systems to work harder than they should. If sensitive stomach is their ruling, there are several things that you can do.
Reviews of the Top 10 Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach
1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Sometimes, your pup just may have a sensitive stomach, and that’s okay! Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin is specifically formulated to provide your pup with adequate absorption of nutrients, which leads to gentle and comfortable digestion. The formula also helps to promote intestinal health and immunity, along with an ideal body weight. It is a veterinarian approved food, and is clinically proven to provide your pup with a whole lot of health benefits, including a healthy coat and skin. Best of all, it is made up of natural ingredients, and doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
So, whether your pup has a sensitive stomach, or sensitive skin, this is a great choice. It comes in small 4.5 pound bags, all the way up to large 30 pound bags for your convenience. Give it a try today and see the difference in your pup’s digestive health.
2. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula
Purina is one of those names that people have grown to love and trust. They are well known for their line of pet foods, and among those foods you will find the Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula. It has real salmon as the number one ingredient, and it also has adequate amounts of Omega fatty acids to help moisturize the skin and keep it healthy.
The ingredients that make up this food include oatmeal and rice, which are easy to digest. All in all, this food not only offers easy digestion, but is also nutritionally balanced to offer your pup everything they need to be healthy. It comes in bags ranging from 6 pounds to 34 pounds, so order it today and let your pet reap the benefits of this premium dog food formula.
3. Natural Choice Adult Chicken, Whole Brown Rice and Oatmeal Formula
Believe it or not, oatmeal is one of the best ingredients for dogs that have sensitive stomachs. The Natural Choice Adult Chicken, Whole Brown Rice and Oatmeal formula offers natural sources of both Chondroitin and Glucosamine, to promote joint health. It also has other natural ingredients that give your pet the vitamins and minerals that they need.
It doesn’t contain meat by-products, and has only real chicken as its top ingredient. One perk with this food is that it is guaranteed to improve your pet’s coat and skin, or your money back! So, with this food, your pup will not only great a great coat and great skin, but also healthier digestion. It really is a win-win situation. This formula is great for dogs of all sizes, starting around age one.
4. Pedigree Sensitive Nutrition Dry Dog Food
Pedigree is one of the most well known names in the pet food industry. They have an extensive line of foods for both dogs and cats, including a line for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The Pedigree Sensitive Nutrition Dry Dog Food is formulated without wheat, corn or soy. It is made with high quality meat based proteins that offer your pet optimal digestion. There are four basic needs that dogs have, and they are immunity, digestion, oral care, and skin & coat.
This food is formulated to meet each of these basic needs. If your dog is past puppy food, then this could be a great option for them- especially if they have sensitivities to certain types of food. Pedigree is a name that you can trust, and their food is actually one of the more economical choices on the market.
5. Wellness Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs with Food Sensitivities
Wellness offers a wide variety of super premium dog food choices, including the Wellness Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs with Food Sensitivities. They have various flavors to choose from to meet your pet’s taste preferences. The good news is that it also is available in puppy formulas, as well as small breed adult formulas, so that you can ensure that your pet gets the nutrition they need, without upsetting their stomach, no matter what life stage they are in, or their breed size.
These Wellness foods don’t contain meat by-products, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. It is 100% grain free, and offers balanced nutrition for a healthy and active lifestyle. As an added bonus, there are Omega fatty acids that help to nourish their skin and coat. All in all, this is a great choice and one of the best dog food for sensitive stomach.
6. Royal Canin Special
When digestive health is what you are seeking, Royal Canin always has a solution! The Royal Canin Special blend offers excellent digestive and dental health, and it tastes great too! The kibbles are small in the mini formula, because they are designed for small breed dogs that have a picky appetite. If your dog is over 10 months old, and between 9 and 22 pounds, then the mini is for you. They also have other choices for larger breeds, each of which have enhanced palatability for your pup’s hearty appetite.
Royal Canin has been in the dog food industry for years now, and are probably most known for their breed specific formulas. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have great solutions for sensitive stomachs as well. Give it a try, and see if it is what your pet needs for optimal digestion.
7. Instinct Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Diet
Did you know that grains are often times what cause the biggest issues with your pet’s digestion? While grains don’t affect all dogs the same way, some dogs just have sensitivities to the gluten found in the grains. Instinct Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Diet only has a few select ingredients that are extremely easy to digest. Aside from easy digestibility, it also offers an excellent taste that your dog is sure to love.
Among the list of ingredients, you won’t find any grains, gluten, beef, chicken, fish, dairy or eggs. It is made up of turkey meal as the main ingredient. The kibble size is versatile, and perfect for large or small breed dogs. It also offers complete and balanced nutrition for all breeds at all different life stages. To give your pet what he instinctively desires, give this food a try.
8. Iams Sensitive Naturals Dry Dog Food
Iams Sensitive Naturals Dry Dog Food is made up of real fish as the number one ingredient. It doesn’t contain any corn, meat by-products, or soy. It is also free of all artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. This food is packed full of fruits and veggies to ensure that your pup gets optimal nutrition. Vitamin and antioxidant blends also enhance this formula. For pups that have sensitive stomachs, this is an excellent choice. It comes in various size bags, for your convenience.
As with most premium dog food blends, if you are switching your pet to Iams, it is important to do it gradually. This will help them to transition easier to the new food, without having stomach upset. The AAFCO gives this food their seal of approval for being 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs. If you have a puppy, they also have varieties that work well to promote healthy development.
9. Blue Buffalo Basics Grain Free Dry Dog Food
This is another grain free food that is manufactured by Blue Buffalo. It uses high quality turkey as its main protein source. It also has three easy to digest carbohydrates – oatmeal, brown rice and potatoes. The blend of veggies, fruits and other micronutrients help to add to the nutritional value of this blend, and also aid in healthy digestion. There is no wheat, corn, soy or dairy found in this food, which means that it is perfect for dogs with food sensitivities. This limited ingredient, grain free formula offers a lot of great health benefits.
Aside from promoting healthy digestion, it also promotes healthy skin and coat, and optimal immune system health. Based on consumer reviews, this one seems to be a very popular choice among dog owners, and most consumers that buy this food have nothing but positive things to say about it.
10. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Formula
The Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream formula comes in both adult and puppy varieties. It is made with 100% real smoked salmon, and it also contains supplemental fruits and veggies that help to deliver your pup with antioxidants to promote excellent health. You will also see a good mix of vitamins and minerals in this formula, which are important for overall health and wellness. Taste of the Wild focuses on your dog’s natural instinctive diet, and they have several formulas to choose from.
The Pacific Stream formula is one of the best dog food sensitive stomach. It doesn’t contain wheat, soy, or grains, and offers your pet carbohydrates that are easy to digest, including potatoes and sweet potatoes. It offers an exceptional taste that your pup is sure to love.
Making the Switch
Before we look at some of the top formulas, we need to talk about making the switch. If your pet eats a regular food now, and you plan to switch him to a sensitive stomach formula, then you can’t just switch all of a sudden. This can cause even more upset, because some dogs are not used to the nutrient density of premium dog foods. The best way to switch is to do it gradually. Some foods will actually have a guide that you can follow to switch your dog’s food, but others may not specify. A good rule of thumb is to start by replacing 1/4 of their regular food with the new food for the first two days, then replace 1/2 for the next two days. Continue on over the course of a week, and by the end of the week your dog will be eating only the new food. This is especially important if your dog is a picky eater, because they may not really take to the new food right away. Just like people, dogs sometimes don’t choose the foods that are the healthiest for them!
There are definitely some great brands out there that will not only offer your dog with excellent nutrition, but also help them to feel better about eating- knowing that they won’t get an upset stomach!
The Benefits of Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
There are many benefits that come about when you feed your pet sensitive stomach dog food. The majority of dog foods that are designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs are actually made with the fewest ingredients possible. The ingredients are carefully selected with your pup’s health in mind. Having fewer ingredients means easier digestion. Most contain an animal protein, a simple starch, and various vitamins and minerals that your pet needs to be healthy. A few of the biggest benefits include:
- no more upset stomach
- 100% complete and balanced nutrition
- easy to digest
Sensitive Stomach Treatment Options
It is important to take a look at some of the treatment options that you have to consider. First and foremost, you need to make sure that your dog’s diet is simplified. This means to cut out the following:
- low quality dog food
- table scraps
- dog treats
This is sometimes easier said than done, especially if your pup likes to get into the trash and pull out the edibles! It may require you to keep a closer eye on your dog, at least until you get his digestive system under control.
Take a look at the type of dog food your pet is currently eating. Does it have a high amount of fat? Are there tons of ingredients? This could be the issue for your pup. A limited ingredient diet that is designed specifically for dogs that have a sensitive stomach is really the best way to avoid stomach issues down the road. Look for the best dog food for sensitive stomach that is made with higher quality ingredients, even if you have to pay a bit more. It is, after all, your pet’s health that you are investing in.
7 Responses
We are getting a new puppy, and I have heard that some dogs have stomach sensitivities. Is this something that you realize early on, or does it take a while for you to notice it? Should you just go ahead and start them out on a sensitive stomach diet, or wait and see if it is necessary? Any advice is appreciated!
I’ve been feeding my dog Pedigree Sensitive Nutrition Dry Dog Food for a few months now, and the results are fantastic. He used to get extremely horrible gas and would not be into the day to day grind like usual. Now he is more active and actually looks healthier.
I was never good when it came to picking dog food either, but thankfully I learned.
Blue Buffalo is the best and has worked for my senior dog for years. No problems, and no more upset stomach. Before switching to this brand, he was eating regular pedigree kibble and he was a really bad. It might be fine for some, but we live on blue buffalo now.
OMG, my dog has some of the worst gas ever. I tried many different foods, but not yet any of these. I’m going to get a pack of that Blue Buffalo dry food listed at #9. I figure my dog would love this stuff, but if this doesn’t work, I’m going to try anything else on this list and see what she thinks.
When we first noticed that our dog was having an upset stomach, we switched him to Instinct Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Diet. We made the transition over the course of a week, and he has now been eating this food exclusively for the past four months. We have seen a dramatic improvement in his digestion.
This is a pretty comprehensive list and I appreciate how you have gone in to the specifics of each food. Unfortunately, the best way a dog owner can get the right food is by trial and error till he/she finds one perfect for their dog. This list of yours makes it easier for them to find that. Good job
Hill’s Science diet is the best dog food for sensitive stomach.