3 Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach and Diarrhea (2023)

Does your dog have a sensitive stomach? It could be a case of food allergy, intolerance, intestinal problems, and so on. Whatever the reason is, you must seek the help of a veterinarian. Also, you have to focus on what your dog eats. This is where the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea comes in.

DOG FOODBRANDEXPERT
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Blue Buffalo
Wilderness Grain-Free
Dog Food
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Merrick Grain-Free
Dry Dog Food
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Nature’s Recipe
Grain-Free Dry Dog
Food
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More often than not, food is a key player on the stomach issues of your pooch. Still, it’s a big issue that should be addressed right away to prevent any complications.

Common causes of sensitive stomachs among dogs

A lot of things can cause stomach sensitivities and digestion problems among dogs. The symptoms can also be confusing, so if you’re not sure, it’s best to phone a vet right away.

Although dog diarrhea can be a lot of things, the following are some of the notorious culprits to the explosive problem.

-Parasites

Do you see white, rice-like bits on your doggo’s bum? If so, your pooch may have tapeworms. This happens when your dog ingests an infected substance or parasite. One of the most common examples is adult fleas.

Fleas can be a host to tapeworms, and when ingested by your dog during grooming, it could lead to the proliferation of tapeworm in the stomach.

Moreover, dogs with tapeworm will start to lose weight, exhibit poor appetite, and experience recurring diarrhea.

-Allergies

Another possible reason why your dog is experiencing diarrhea is allergies. Each dog could develop allergic reactions to certain food ingredients.

Usually, the protein source is the most common allergen among dog foods. Beef is the leading protein source allergen, but it highly varies on each dog and breed.

You must diagnose food allergy early on. Contrary to some beliefs, continuous exposure to the allergen doesn’t cure the dog’s problem. In fact, this prolonged exposure will worsen the dog’s allergy. Worse, it can cause fatal consequences.

-Inability to digest ingredients

If allergy and parasites aren’t the causes, your dog may be unable to digest some of the ingredients of their food. The most common ingredients that cause this problem is, again, protein, and grains. Some dogs will also find it difficult to digest fats, which will lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

This inability to digest is also known as food intolerance. Once you confirm that your dog can’t digest certain ingredients, the only fix is to find food that doesn’t have the problematic ingredients.

For example, if your dog is intolerant of beef, consider switching to chicken or lamb.

-Emotional distress

If your dog has a bad case of separation anxiety, their tummy may go haywire. Like humans, dogs also get butterflies in their stomach when experiencing stress.

Aside from diarrhea, dogs that experience emotional distress also tend to be gassy. So can how you fix it? Try to get your dog calmer through crate training.

Breeds known to have sensitive stomachs

Some breeds are more prone to having sensitive stomachs. A few of these breeds are Yorkshire Terrier, Scottish Terrier, French Bulldogs, Pitbulls, and other deep-chested canines.

Still, it’s not just about the breed. Some breeds that aren’t known to have problematic tummies can also develop sensitivities.

You have to factor in the health of your pup the moment you got it from a breeder. Also, the food that you give is an important consideration.

Signs that your dog has a sensitive stomach

 A sensitive stomach is very easy to spot. This condition always shows its symptoms the moment your dog experiences the irritation. The following are some of the tell-tale symptoms of a sensitive stomach:

*Diarrhea
*Vomiting
*Gas/flatulence
*Eating grass or leaves
*Weight loss
*Irritability
*Poor appetite

What to do next?

Once you notice this, you must seek professional help. You can also change your dog’s food slowly and see if their condition improves. If not, you should visit a veterinarian right away. Your dog could have other underlying conditions that should be treated.

If your dog suddenly becomes lethargic due to diarrhea and reluctance to eat, try administering sugary water using a needleless syringe.

Once your dog regains its energy, put the pooch on a diet of bland rice and chicken. Do this while you schedule a visit to the vet. Don’t panic because it takes about 24 hours for diarrhea to become lethal. Still, try to keep your dog hydrated as much as possible.

How to deal with stomach sensitivity

Seeing your dog vomiting and experiencing severe diarrhea is alarming. However, try not to panic and think about the following steps:

-Consider changing the dog’s food

When it comes to sensitive tummies, switching to the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea is the usual fix. However, it’s only the case if the problem is a food allergy or intolerance. If your pooch is having stomach problems due to ingestion of toxic substance or separation anxiety, changing their food may not always be the solution.

-Look for easy-to-digest food

For dogs that are having a hard time digesting food, looking for easy-to-digest ingredients will help. The likes of pumpkin, potatoes, green beans, and rice are some of the easy-to-digest yet filling food items.

-Think about reducing grains

Grains are common culprits to indigestion and allergies. Still, not all grains are bad. You just have to choose the right ones. For example, avoid those with too much corn and soy.

-Add more probiotics

Probiotics are good gut bacteria that help fight indigestion and other intestinal problems. It can also alleviate diarrhea while boosting your doggo’s immune system.

-Don’t let the pooch dig through the trash

Regardless if your dog is having problems on its tummy or not, never let it dig through the trash. Aside from spoiled food that will piss their stomach, they might also ingest toxic substances and foreign objects.

What to look for the best dog food for sensitive stomach

-Fewer ingredients

If you’re planning to switch to a new diet, it’s best to look for the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea with limited ingredients. This way, you can limit potential allergens. And if the symptoms persist, the veterinarian can easily identify which of the ingredients are causing the problem.

Still, fewer ingredients don’t mean you’re going to skimp on quality and excellent nutrition. Your dog can eat fewer ingredients while getting the same – or even more – nourishment.

-Whole protein

The biggest portion of your Fido’s diet is composed of protein. These amino acids support muscle growth and it’s also an important energy source.

A whole or complete protein contains all the nine essential amino acids. This allows your dog to acquire quality protein without the frills.

As much as possible, avoid or limit meat by-products. By-products are cut-outs from the best meat cuts. Although it still contains protein, it lacks other nutrients that your dog would get from quality protein sources.

Even if it’s chicken, beef, pork, lamb, venison, and other meat types, always look for complete protein.

-Right protein source

You can get high-quality protein for your dog, but if the source isn’t right, the pooch can still experience stomach problems.

Moreover, some dogs will have allergies or intolerances to specific types of meat. It’s important to check this before getting a new diet.

In addition, veterinarians can conduct skin tests on your dog to diagnose if the pooch is allergic to a certain protein source.

-Fewer grains

Again, too many grains can be bad for your dog. So for pooches that experience recurring diarrhea and vomiting, it’s best to cut these ingredients in the least amount possible.

Still, it’s not a good idea to deprive your dog of all grains. The likes of brown rice and quinoa are healthy as long as it’s blended in the right amount.

When in doubt, the opinion of a veterinarian will enlighten you.

-Complete and balanced

When a dog product indicates that it’s ‘Complete and Balanced’, it means that it has met the nutritional levels suggested by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

AAFCO is a regulating body that reviews dog food products and suggests nutritional levels for pet nutrition.

-Wet vs. dry

Dry dog food or kibble is a common choice among dog owners. It doesn’t spoil easily, plus it’s not as messy as canned or wet dog food.

Dry dog food also promotes dental health as some products have specially shaped kibble that reduces tartar buildup.

Meanwhile, wet dog food can be the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea since it’s moist and soft. Dogs with very sensitive stomachs can easily digest the food. Still, it all boils down to the ingredient.

Take note that wet dog food is prone to spoilage and should be stored in the fridge. Also, it’s not advisable to let your dog eat leftover wet food that’s been on its dish for a few hours.

Best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea – Top 3 Picks

OUR TOP PICK: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food
best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea

Product Name: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food

Product Description: If your dog needs a grain-free diet, you should consider the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food. It’s made with real chicken and packed with the proprietary LifeSource Bit containing a burst of vitamins and minerals. Some of the wholesome ingredients of Blue Buffalo include deboned chicken, sweet potato, peas, Menhaden fish meal, and loads of vegetables. Each serving of this dog food contains 34% of crude protein, 15% fat, 6% fiber, and 10% moisture. With this consistency, it suits most small to large dogs experiencing stomach sensitivity. It’s also rich in antioxidants and glucosamine that promote joint health.

Offer price: 52

Currency: USD

Availability: InStock

  • Nutrition
  • Taste
  • Value for Money
Overall
5

Summary

What we really love about this food is it doesn’t contain soy, corn, wheat, artificial preservatives, and by-product meat. Everything is premium to deliver excellent nourishment.

Aside from solving the tummy problem of your pooch, this food also boosts their immune system and improves the condition of their coat.

Pros

✔️Doesn’t contain by-product, soy, and corn

✔️LifeSource Bits

✔️Made with real chicken

Cons

❌Some dogs don’t like the LifeSource Bits

RUNNERS-UP

Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea

Does your dog love beef, lamb, rabbit, duck, turkey, or venison? If so, you have lots of savory options here with Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. Its number one ingredient is always real and whole meat. It’s also infused with whole foods like blueberries, peas, sweet potatoes, and more.

Also, this Merrick dog food product is an all life-stage blend. So regardless if you have a puppy, adult, or senior doggo, it will be their go-to nourishment.

What we really dig about this dog food is their money-back guarantee. If you or your dog isn’t happy with the food, you can send the opened bag back to get 100% of your purchase’s worth.

Aside from aiding your pets’ stomach, this dog food also improves the coat and immune system health.

PROS
✔️Meat is the number one ingredient
✔️100% money-back guarantee
✔️Comes in different flavors
CONS
.
❌Some dogs tend to be gassy with this food, but not all

Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Another grain-free dog food that we recommend is Nature’s Recipe Dry Dog Food. It has salmon as the first ingredient together with garbanzo beans, peas, apples, pumpkin, and more. It’s delicious and smelly that even the finicky canines can’t resist its appeal.

This dog food doesn’t have corn, soy, wheat, by-products, and other artificial ingredients. Your dog gets ample and high-quality nutrition in every bite.

Each serving of this sumptuous food contains 27% protein, 12% fat, and 4% fiber. It has active nutrients and antioxidants that will boost your pooch’s overall health as the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea.

PROS
✔️Made with real salmon
✔️Perfect for finicky dogs
✔️No by-products, corn, or soy
CONS
.
❌The kibble is a bit too small for large dogs

Wrapping Up

The best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea can be the solution to your dog’s tummy problem. Still, the advice of a veterinarian is a must. This way, you can rule out other conditions and take care of your pet much better.

What do you think of this post? Do you have comments or suggestions? Let us know!

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