7 Of The Best Sensitive Stomach Dog Foods

Just like people, dogs can have sensitive stomachs, making them more prone to upset tummies after eating. If your dog often experiences gas, diarrhea or vomiting, especially after eating, he may have a sensitive stomach and could benefit from a sensitive stomach dog food made especially for easy digestion.

Allergies vs Sensitive Stomachs

Allergies in dogs are complicated to both identify and treat. As with any health condition concerning your dog, your first port of call should always be your veterinarian, as the successful management of your dog’s allergies will be dependent on the correct diagnosis.

Typically, once an infectious or flea allergy (the most common causes of allergies in dogs) has been eliminated as the potential cause, the next step is to look closer into the dog’s diet to see if there are any underlying dietary issues that are causing the problems. If this doesn’t produce results, a skin prick test will often be recommended as your dog likely has ‘contact’ allergies to common allergens such as grass or pollen. If this is the case it is often possible to treat these allergies in your dog with a course of personalized immunotherapy.

Does My Dog Have A Sensitive Stomach or a Food Allergy?

Contrary to popular belief, true food allergies in dogs are far less common than contact allergies. To read more about contact allergies in dogs you can read our post here.

Any breed can develop food allergies, but there may be an increased risk for Labrador Retrievers, West Highland White Terriers, and Cocker Spaniels. Some dogs have genuine food allergies which require veterinary supervision to manage, but many dogs suffer from less serious, but no less distressing, sensitive tummies and need special dog foods formulated to be easily digested.

If your dog has a true food allergy it will typically show up with the following symptoms:

If this is the case you should work with a veterinarian to diagnose and manage the allergy, as it is likely to be more complex than simply a sensitive tummy.

If your dog consistently exhibits any of the following symptoms, he may have a sensitive stomach and could benefit from a sensitive stomach dog food diet designed for more delicate doggies:

Why Do Dogs Suffer From Sensitive Stomachs?

There can be a range of reasons your dog suffers from a sensitive stomach and experiences digestive distress. It is likely you may need to try a few different sensitive stomach dog foods or an elimination diet to successfully uncover the cause of your pup’s stomach troubles. Some of the most common causes of digestive issues in dogs include:

• Your dog is allergic to a protein source in the food – it has been shown in clinical trials that it takes two years on average for a dog to develop symptoms of a protein allergy, so it is entirely possible for a new food allergy in your dog to seemingly appear out of nowhere. The most common type of food allergies or causes of digestive upsets and sensitive stomachs in dogs is the source of protein in their food, and the most common reactions occur with beef (34%), dairy (17%) and chicken (15%). If you suspect this may the case, trying a hypoallergenic diet and/or a diet with lamb, pork, rabbit or fish as the single protein source is recommended for 2-3 months in order to establish the cause of the digestive upset, as these alternative protein sources are usually very well tolerated.

• Your dog is having difficulty digesting a carbohydrate source in his food – a sensitive stomach caused by a carbohydrate source is possible, although far less common than a protein, with wheat (15%), soy (6%) and corn (4%) being the most common sources of carbohydrate-based food allergies in dogs. A sensitive stomach caused by rice (2%) or barley (0.3%) is very unlikely, which is why rice is often a key ingredient in dog food formulas made for sensitive stomachs. Potatoes also make a very good carbohydrate source for pups with sensitive tummies and feature often in dog foods created for sensitive stomachs and food allergies.

• Your dog has an unhealthy microbiome – if your dog has had a course of antibiotics, has been exposed to a new environment (such as a new park or doggy daycare), has been unwell or under stress, he may have an unhealthy microbiome. Just like people, dogs can suffer from poor gut health, which can lead to digestive issues. You can test your dog’s microbiome using a home-kit, or consider adding a probiotic into his food.

The Benefits of a Sensitive Stomach Dog Food

Sensitive stomach dog foods are specifically formulated to eliminate the most common causes of digestive distress in dogs. This means they will contain a carbohydrate source that is easily digestible, such as rice, barley or potatoes.

We don’t advocate for grain-free diets without the recommendation of a veterinarian, and we also recommend you avoid any formula with peas or lentils listed as one of the main ingredients, as the preliminary report by the FDA has identified these types of foods as a potential cause of diet-related DCM.

It is very uncommon for a dog to have an allergy to grains other than wheat, so most dogs will do very well on dog food containing rice or potatoes as an alternative carbohydrate source. We do however recommend dog food which has meat as the main ingredient, and balanced RAW or ‘home-made’ dog foods get our tick of approval!

Dog food made for sensitive stomachs will usually have a hydrolyzed protein source, which means the protein contents of the foods are ‘predigested’ and split into tiny particles using water, which reduces the dog’s immune system from recognizing an allergic threat. Hydrolyzed protein formulas are often used for human babies suffering from lactose intolerance or other food allergies. There is also considerable data emerging that supports the use of hydrolyzed protein dog food in cases of canine irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Another feature of dog food made specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs is the type of protein used. Typically, sensitive stomach formulas will contain a single protein source, and it will be one of the better-tolerated proteins, such as pork, lamb, fish or rabbit.

Additionally, sensitive stomach formulas will often include a prebiotic and added Omega-3 Fatty Acids and antioxidants to support your dog’s entire immune system, which can become stressed while dealing with digestive distress.

It may be worth trying your dog on a probiotic whilst you investigate further, and an elimination diet could be the best way to establish if there is a single ingredient or protein source that your dog is reacting to.

Our Top Picks – The Best Sensitive Stomach Dog Food

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