The Best Foods For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, it can make feeding them tricky. Certain foods or treats might not agree with your pet, leading to unpleasant consequences. It’s only natural to want to address your pet’s diet, to see if you can help them feel their best and stop any tummy troubles from occurring. But with so many diets and so much confusing jargon out there, it can be hard to know which way to turn. We’re going to look at sensitive stomachs in dogs in more detail, as well as the best type of food for dogs with delicate insides.

What Do We Mean By A Sensitive Stomach?

Some dogs seem to have cast-iron stomachs, whereas others… not so much. The term ‘sensitive stomach’ is a vague, non-scientific term used to describe dogs that can’t handle a sudden change in diet, rich foods, or too many treats.

Signs of a sensitive stomach may occur randomly or after a specific trigger—for example, changing dog food brands. These symptoms include:

• repeat episodes of loose stools (ranging from soft, tricky-to-pick-up feces to liquid diarrhea)

• excessive jelly-like mucus in the stool

• blood in the stool

• vomiting

• abdominal discomfort

• increased flatulence or burping

• changes in appetite

Any dog breed could have a sensitive stomach, but some are more prone than others. German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, huskies, poodles, Irish setters, cocker spaniels, and shar peis are all seen regularly in veterinary clinics with digestive troubles.

Before assuming your dog has a sensitive stomach, it is important to get them checked out by your veterinarian. Sometimes, there is an underlying cause to their symptoms, with parasites, food allergies/sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, or pancreas problems all presenting similarly.

If illness or infection has been ruled out, the next step for dogs with a sensitive stomach is to address their diet.

Your veterinarian might suggest that you try a bland and easy-to-digest food for your dog. But where do you begin? Let’s look at the different diet options.

The Best Wet Dog Foods For Sensitive Stomachs

If your dog prefers wet food, there are a variety of diets available that might suit them. Most sensitive-stomach diets will be suitable for all breeds, and whether you have a husky or a poodle, their anatomy is very similar.

A sensitive-stomach food should be low-residue, which means it is low in fiber (<3-5% on a dry-matter basis)[3], low in fat, and easy to digest. These diets should contain high-quality protein. Some will also contain prebiotics, which are ‘food’ for healthy gut bacteria to thrive on[4], as well as added antioxidants.

When choosing your wet food, look for a quality brand developed by a company with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist working for them. This will give you confidence in their dietary claims. Reputable brands will also have a customer helpline for additional support, and to help with any dietary queries you might have.

Many owners use a combination of wet and dry food, but some dogs do have a strong preference for one over the other. Some small breeds can be picky, so serving wet food might entice them more than dry kibble.

The Best Dry Dog Foods For Sensitive Stomachs

The good news is that there is also an array of sensitive-stomach dry-food diets available if your dog prefers kibble to wet. These are equally as good as the wet alternatives, so it is just a matter of personal preference. A good diet should be the same as discussed under wet food—a veterinary-developed formulation, low-residue, and easy-to-digest.

Dry foods are perhaps more likely to help with weight gain, as they are energy-dense. This means dogs need a lesser volume of dry food than they do wet food to achieve the same number of calories. This also makes them more cost-effective than feeding multiple cans of wet food a day.

Remember that dogs with specific food allergies may require more specific diet restrictions. Your veterinarian will discuss with you how to carry out a food trial to diagnose an allergy, and the particular diets available for your pet.

The Best Homemade And Natural Dog Foods For Sensitive Stomachs

As a short-term measure, cooked chicken breast (with the fatty skin removed) and plain boiled rice are often suggested. The idea is that this is a bland, low-fat diet with no hidden ingredients, which allows the irritated digestive tract to settle down. It is also low-residue, meaning it is low in fiber and therefore very easy to digest. Cooked chicken meat is also a good way of tempting picky eaters or dogs with small appetites.

However, there is a lack of solid evidence to support the use of chicken and rice, with studies yet to prove the effectiveness of this diet change. Anecdotal evidence suggests it is helpful, but many cases of simple stomach upsets may have improved anyway.

The other downside of feeding chicken and rice is that it is not a suitable long-term diet. While a few days should be fine, it shouldn’t be fed for extended periods as it is not a complete food. It lacks essential nutrients such as iron, fiber, and calcium. It is also easy to accidentally underfeed your dogs, as chicken and rice are not as energy-dense as complete dry food, and no feeding guidelines accompany this diet.

If you want to make a long-term homemade diet for your pet, you need to seek the help of a veterinary nutritionist, who will help you get the formulation right for your pet’s breed, size, and age.

Do Probiotics Help Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs?

There is a substantial body of evidence backing the use of probiotics for a variety of digestive complaints, including dogs with sensitive stomachs. Using probiotics can help enhance gut health in dogs, with one 2023 paper stating: ‘The administration of probiotics can improve the balance of the intestinal microbiota, suppress inflammation, enhance immune function, and alleviate intestinal disorders in dogs and cats[5].’

Choosing a probiotic from an established and trusted company, such as Protexin, ensures the quality of the product your dog receives.

Remember To Speak To Your Veterinarian

Hopefully, you have found this advice helpful, but remember that you should always speak to your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog’s digestive health. Your veterinarian will be able to determine if your pet has a sensitive stomach, or whether there is an underlying cause that requires treatment. They can also help to make specific diet recommendations and provide ongoing support.

Unfortunately, there is no measure of ‘digestibility’ available on commercial pet food, which can make selection tricky for pet owners[1]. Also, different diets suit different pets, so there might be some trial and error involved. But whether your dog is a puppy, a senior, or somewhere in between, speak to your veterinarian if you are worried about their sensitive tummy.

FAQs

What Is The Best Food To Feed My Dog?

There is not one product that suits every single animal. Sometimes trial and error is needed to determine which food is best for your dog. Just make any diet changes gradually, and stick to good-quality complete pet food.

What Is Bland Dog Food For A Sensitive Stomach?

The term ‘bland diet’ can be a bit vague, but in both people and pets, it is used to describe a diet that is easy to digest and is low in fat and fiber. It often contains a high-quality protein source, with little in the way of added extra ingredients such as seasonings.

Is Grain-free Dog Food Needed For Sensitive Stomachs?

No, grain-free is not a cure-all solution for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Dogs are omnivores, adapted to eat grain and vegetable material. So, while it may be helpful for some dogs, it is not necessary to cut this from their diet unless they have a proven allergy, which is uncommon compared to protein allergies[2].