Picking out the best food for your dog — whether they’re a puppy, adult, or senior dog — can be a bit of a process, to say the least. There are plenty of nutritious dry and wet dog foods from trusted brands, including options made for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those who need to shed a few pounds.
Digestive issues in dogs can cause discomfort and, if ignored, could lead to more serious health problems. In this article, we’ll talk about why a balanced diet is important for your dog, what signs of digestive issues you should be aware of, how food allergies and intolerances can impact their digestion, and which dog foods are best for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Let’s get started!
Understanding Dog Digestive Health
Just like people, dogs can experience plenty of digestive issues — from mild sensitivities to severe allergies. Symptoms like occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or gas could be signs that your dog has a sensitive stomach.
The root cause could be food intolerance, or something more complicated — like a chronic digestive disorder. Feeding your dog a diet designed specifically for sensitive stomachs can make a big difference in their health, however. Let’s talk about how and why below.
The Role of Diet in Digestive Health
The saying “you are what you eat” is just as true for dogs as it is for humans. A dog’s diet has a direct impact on their digestive health. It influences everything from how well they absorb nutrients to the quality of their stool. Choosing the right food for a dog with a sensitive stomach can help ease upset stomach symptoms when they come up.
Common Health Issues Linked to Sensitive Stomachs in Dogs
Digestive problems in dogs can sometimes signal or lead to more serious health issues. Dog owners should be aware of these potential underlying conditions to make sure that their pets get the care they need. Some common health problems that are linked to sensitive stomachs in dogs include:
Gastrointestinal disorders
Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and gastroenteritis can cause symptoms similar to those of a sensitive stomach, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
Pancreatitis
This painful condition, which involves inflammation of the pancreas, can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and a hunched posture due to abdominal pain. Dogs with sensitive stomachs may be more prone to pancreatitis, especially if their diet isn’t properly managed.
Parasitic infections
Worms and other intestinal parasites can upset the digestive system, mimicking the symptoms of a sensitive stomach. Regular deworming and fecal tests are important to rule out these parasites.
Food intolerances and allergies
Food intolerances and allergies are often the direct cause of sensitive stomach symptoms in dogs, but they can also lead to chronic skin problems and ear infections if not addressed properly.
Liver or kidney disease
Chronic liver or kidney issues can cause digestive problems, including symptoms that resemble a sensitive stomach. These serious conditions require prompt medical attention and management.
As a loving pet owner, you must seek to understand the link between these health issues and stomach issues in dogs. If your dog shows persistent symptoms of an upset stomach, you should talk with your veterinarian about what to do next.
What Are the Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs?
Chicken, Rice, & Bone Broth Bland Diet for dogs
This freeze-dried bland diet, which is made from chicken, rice, and bone broth, is a great option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's designed to calm your dog’s digestive system. Like other bland diet food options from Under the Weather, it’s also designed to keep your dog hydrated.
The combination of rice, chicken, and bone broth will help to soothe your dog’s stomach until their digestion returns to normal. This dog food also has a shelf life of three years, which means you can always be ready for when your dog gets an upset stomach.
This formula is freeze-dried, and electrolytes have been added to improve your dog’s hydration and energy. It’s made from cage-free chicken without antibiotics or added hormones, and the bone broth helps to improve your dog’s immunity. It also provides extra digestive support, which is a huge plus.
Everything is sourced and made in the USA, with no meat by-products, gluten, artificial flavors, dyes, or chemicals. Federal regulations prohibit added hormones in poultry, so that should put your mind at ease!
Ingredients
- White Rice
- Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast
- Chicken Bone Broth
- Glycine
- Sodium Chloride
- Potassium Chloride
Hamburger, Rice, & Sweet Potato Bland Diet for dogs
This freeze-dried diet, which consists of hamburger meat, rice, and sweet potato, is specifically designed to soothe your dog’s digestive system. It’ll also help keep your dog hydrated, which is important because stomach issues, like diarrhea, can cause dehydration.
The blend of hamburger, rice, and sweet potato helps calm your dog’s stomach until digestion stabilizes (or for as long as your vet recommends). With a three-year shelf life, you’ll always be prepared, and with our straightforward, natural ingredients you’ll be able to make sure that you’re providing the best for your dog!
This freeze-dried formula also has electrolytes, which will help keep your dog hydrated and full of energy. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients list below.
Ingredients
- White Rice
- Freeze-Dried Beef Hamburger
- Sweet Potato
- Glycine
- Sodium Chloride
- Potassium Chloride
Ingredients to Look for in Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs
When picking dog food for sensitive stomachs, it’s important to choose ingredients that support your dog’s digestive health. Dogs with digestive issues might benefit from a diet full of easily digestible ingredients to help minimize discomfort.
High-quality proteins
High-quality proteins like chicken, turkey, lamb, or fish are easy to digest and provide essential nutrients that support your dog’s health. These proteins are less likely to cause digestive problems and are an excellent source of necessary nutrients for dogs.
Proteins are key to a healthy diet for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Choosing proteins like chicken and fish can lower the risk of triggering digestive issues. It’s one of the best ways to make sure that your dog gets the nutrients they need without upsetting their stomach.
Fiber
Fiber (especially prebiotic fiber) is important for keeping your dog’s digestive system in check. It helps with regular bowel movements, prevents constipation, and supports the growth of good gut bacteria. Look for dog food with a balanced amount of fiber to support your dog’s digestive health.
For dogs with sensitive stomachs, finding the right amount of fiber is more important than you might think. Enough fiber in their diet can aid in proper digestion and prevent stomach problems. Ingredients like sweet potatoes and brown rice are great sources of fiber that help keep your dog’s gut healthy.
Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs
There are certain ingredients in commercial dog food that you should avoid when picking out pet food for a dog with a sensitive stomach. This is because some ingredients in dog food can unfortunately worsen digestive issues and cause discomfort in dogs.
When selecting food for a dog with a sensitive stomach, it’s always a good idea to check the ingredients list. Make sure to choose foods with high-quality, easily digestible ingredients. You’ll probably be surprised by the difference this will make — and your dog will surely appreciate it!
Harmful additives and preservatives
Steer clear of dog food with artificial additives, preservatives, and coloring agents. These ingredients can upset your dog’s digestion and may even cause allergies. Artificial additives and preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are often found in low-quality dog foods and have been linked to health problems in dogs.
Natural preservatives like tocopherols (Vitamin E) are a safer alternative if your dog has a sensitive stomach. It can be difficult to understand what the preservatives in certain dog foods are, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. That’s why Under the Weather is here to help.
Low-quality fillers
Avoid dog food that contains low-quality fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. These fillers offer little nutritional value and can be hard for dogs with sensitive stomachs to digest. Low-quality fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy are not only difficult for dogs to digest but can also lead to food sensitivities and allergies.
We’d highly recommend choosing dog food that’s rich in high-quality proteins — like deboned chicken or turkey — along with complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes or brown rice. Both of these things will help support your dog’s sensitive stomach.
Conclusion
At Under the Weather, we understand how important it is to keep your fur baby feeling happy and healthy no matter what. The problem is, that it can be difficult to choose the right food for your dog, especially if they have a sensitive stomach because there are so many different options out there.
Our main goal is to make the process of picking out the right dog food easier. We have a wide variety of bland diet dog food options available on our website, so don’t hesitate to check out our selection. A healthy pet means a happy home, so don’t wait any longer.