A Veterinarian Shares Her Picks for the Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs

Food plays an important role in a dog’s digestive health. Diets with exotic proteins and fewer ingredients are popular, but are they right for your dog’s sensitive stomach? Conversations about the best dog food brands can be as controversial as cars and sports teams, but to help pet owners navigate the vast realm of dog foods for sensitive stomachs, I’ve covered my top picks that are available without a prescription. Before you go out and change your dog’s diet, have a conversation with your veterinarian about what’s best for your dog’s nutritional needs.

Our top picks for best dog food brands for sensitive stomachs

How to choose the best dog food for sensitive stomachs

Talk with your veterinarian

A pet’s health and diet history should be assessed by a veterinarian to determine if they truly have a sensitive stomach and not another medical condition, such as an endocrine condition called Addison’s disease, or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, where they lack digestive enzymes. Your veterinarian is also your best resource for determining if your dog should be on a grain-free or grain-containing diet.

If a diet change is needed, your veterinarian will likely recommend a specific food to you (maybe via a twelve week food trial), or they may let you know which ingredients to avoid. Your veterinarian will need to know what treats, chews and supplements you give your dog. In addition to addressing diet, your dog may also need additional products to support their gut health, like a veterinary probiotic that is backed by research (e.g. Purina’s FortiFlora.)

Pay attention to your dog food brand’s protein source

Though not all food intolerances pertain to protein, if a dog has a true allergy to a food, it’s more likely that protein is the culprit than a carbohydrate. Even though determining what ingredients your dog can tolerate often takes time (e.g. a food trial), you may have also noticed that your pup doesn't respond well to certain protein-based treats. Navigating which protein to pick or avoid is best done with your veterinarian’s guidance.

Limited-ingredient diets ideally have just one protein source and one carbohydrate source. But dog foods that are listed as limited-ingredient may actually contain more than one protein or more than one carbohydrate source. For example, Earthborn’s Holistic Venture Limited-Ingredient Roasted Lamb & Butternut Squash contains two protein sources: lamb and Alaska pollack meal.

Then, there are novel proteins. A novel protein food is one that doesn’t contain a standard protein, like beef, chicken, turkey or lamb. Instead, they contain protein sources like kangaroo, bison, or rabbit. To be novel, the protein must truly be one that a dog has never been exposed to.

Instead of an over-the-counter food, your veterinarian may also determine that your pet needs a prescription veterinary diet that contains hydrolyzed protein. When a protein has been hydrolyzed, its structure has been altered to reduce its allergenic potential.

Look at your dog food brand’s fat content

A reduced-fat diet can be helpful for dogs with a sensitive digestive tract. That’s why you may have been told to feed your dog plain, skinless chicken breast and white rice for diarrhea – it’s bland and low-fat. Look for foods whose minimum crude fat is less than 17% (usually, a maximum won't be listed). For example, a minimum of 13%, like Earthborn’s Holistic Venture Duck Meal & Pumpkin, may work better for some dogs compared to ACANA’s Wholesome Grains Duck & Pumpkin, whose minimum is 17%.

Look at the life stage of your dog food brand

Some foods are listed as “All Life Stage” and these can potentially be too much fat for a senior dog (e.g. ACANA’s Wholesome Grains Duck & Pumpkin at 17%.) The packaging will also say in fine print if they are or aren’t suitable for large breed puppies (breeds that will be 70 pounds or more as an adult). When shopping on websites like Chewy, don’t rely on the website's own summary of the food specifications because some of the pages have incorrect information.

For example, on Chewy, neither Canidae PURE Goodness Salmon & Oatmeal Puppy or Acana Wholesome Grains Duck & Pumpkin All Life Stage diet meet the nutritional requirements for large breed puppies and the product packaging states that in fine print. But the summary provided by the website incorrectly says these foods are appropriate for large breed puppies. Look at the manufacturer’s photos or website to clarify if a dog food is suitable for your dog’s age.

Signs your dog needs a special dog food brand for sensitive stomachs

There are many signs that your dog might have a sensitive stomach; however, these signs can also be indicative of serious medical issues. If your dog is having any sort of new, recurring, or ongoing digestive issues, please consult with your veterinarian so more serious medical issues are ruled out first.

Vomiting

Dogs with a sensitive stomach can respond to an abrupt diet change with vomiting. They may also vomit when given foods that have a higher fat content or after eating excessive treats. Due to the many reasons for vomiting and the varying degrees of seriousness, if your dog has recurring vomiting, let your veterinarian know right away.

Diarrhea or loose stool

If your pet is having loose stool due to a sensitive digestive tract, it can occur after a change in diet, the introduction of a new treat or if they got into the trash. In addition to noting what the possible trigger was, make sure to note things like frequency of loose stool (e.g. once or twice a day or multiple times a day) if there is blood or not, and if your pet is straining to defecate or not. These pieces of information will help your veterinarian arrive at a diagnosis.

Flatulence

Passing gas, or flatulence, can occur for many reasons, some of which don’t specifically have to do with diet. But for dogs with a sensitive digestive tract, suddenly introducing them to a new food may cause them to experience flatulence. You might also hear gut sounds. That is, your dog’s belly is gurgling. These things may also arise if a dog ingests something they shouldn’t have. Sometimes, flatulence can occur on an ongoing basis when a food is poorly digested because it contains certain fiber-containing ingredients like peas, soybeans and beans.

Appetite change

When dogs with a sensitive stomach aren’t responding well to something they ate, one of the symptoms can be a decrease in appetite, or not wanting to eat at all. Did you just change your pet’s diet or add in a new treat? Did you recently have a family event at your house with lots of people and irresistible food? Or does your dog share your interest in indoor or outdoor plants and is sampling them?

Please discuss a decreased appetite with your veterinarian right away because it can be a sign of a major medical issue, such as a gastrointestinal foreign body (e.g. a toy trapped in the intestinal tract.) Waiting even a few days to address this can have dire consequences.

How does a quality diet benefit a dog’s digestion?

Generally, a quality diet for dogs promotes good gut motility, supports bacterial diversity in the intestinal tract and reduces gut inflammation. A certain food can be part of a quality diet and still not be digestible for a particular pet. To complicate things for the pet food shopper, food packaging sometimes states the product is “highly digestible,” (like my top pick listed below). However, this term doesn’t have a standardized definition.

What goes into digestibility?

There are many factors that are involved in what makes the best dog food brands digestible for a certain dog, including:

• The digestibility of the protein source itself, for example, exotic protein sources (e.g. kangaroo, buffalo or alligator) compared to standard ones like beef, chicken or turkey.
• Allergies to certain ingredients.
• How a food has been processed.
• What breed your dog is. For example, smaller breeds are better able to digest food in general than larger breeds.
• The quantity and type of fiber in the dog food brand. Fiber itself is nondigestible, but it does affect how a dog’s digestive tract responds to the food. Fiber can also affect how the protein in a diet will be digested. For one pet, more fiber may be needed but for another, it may make their condition worse.
• Dietary fat. Fat definitely makes food more palatable to dogs. However, some dogs with chronic gut issues may have difficulty with fat digestion and their gut may require a low-fat food.

Factors that can cause a sensitive stomach for your dog

The reasons for a sensitive stomach (or sensitive digestive tract) are vast, and can be caused by factors inside or outside of the digestive tract. Factors from within the digestive tract include things like your dog eating something they shouldn’t have, a food allergy, abrupt diet changes, intestinal parasites or a disruption in the gut bacterial population due to antibiotics. Factors from outside the digestive tract include things like kidney issues, pancreatitis or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

How we selected the best dog foods for sensitive stomach

Quality

I selected these foods based on the quality of ingredients, favoring meat and meat meal over meat by-products. These diets are also formulated without corn, wheat or soy. I selected diets that contain nutrients which support digestion and overall health, such as prebiotic fiber, probiotics and omega fatty acids. Some even contain glucosamine +/- chondroitin for joint health.

The caveat with probiotics in food, however, is that even if it’s applied after the dog food has been processed, probiotics aren’t going to stay viable in an open, non-refrigerated bag. They also don’t withstand long storage. So, how long ago was the food produced? This is one of the reasons why a dog on a food containing probiotic may still need additional probiotic supplementation.

Labeling

All of the foods I chose are from established, reputable brands. The diets meet the nutritional guidelines of the Association for the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for the life stage for which they are labeled. Due to the retail scope of the article and the inability of pet owners to obtain veterinary therapeutic diets without a prescription, those diets were not covered. Only foods labeled specifically as sensitive stomach, digestive health or limited-ingredient were reviewed.

Pulses and exotic protein

Whether or not a food contained pulses that have become common in dog food (peas, lentils, chickpeas or dry beans) was also a big factor, due to the FDA’s concern that, for some dogs, these ingredients may be linked with diet-associated DCM, a type of heart disease. Since more research is needed, I avoided exotic protein sources for the same reason.

Exotic protein and/or pulses caused me to not pick foods by many brands, such as Solid Gold, ACANA, Orijen, Taste of the Wild and Canidae. For example, Solid Gold’s Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Salmon and Vegetable contains chickpeas, lentils, and peas as the third, fourth and fifth ingredients, respectively. And Orijen’s Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food contains red lentils, pinto beans, navy beans, green lentils, chickpeas and peas.

After evaluating your pet’s health and nutritional needs, your veterinarian is the best person to decide if your dog should be on an exotic protein diet and if a diet containing peas, lentils, chickpeas, or dry beans is okay.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What food is good for dogs that throw up?

There is no one food that will work for all dogs who vomit because there are numerous reasons for vomiting. For dogs with a sensitive stomach, things like food palatability, fat content, fiber type and quantity, protein sources and carbohydrate sources all need to be considered. You and your dog may also need to go through some trial and error to find the best dry dog food or canned food that works for them.

Does sensitive stomach dog food help?

Sensitive stomach dog food, sometimes called dog food for allergies, can help if the pet truly has a diet-responsive condition. However, it’s possible that even when diet is an important component of your dog’s treatment, they may also need additional digestive support in the form of additional fiber, probiotics or even medication. Talk with your veterinarian before adding anything to your pet’s diet.

What dog food is good for dogs with stomach issues?

There is no one dog food that is appropriate for all dogs with stomach issues. For example, some dogs with a sensitive stomach may tolerate chicken just fine but may not be able to have foods and treats that are high in fat. Other dogs may not be able to consume poultry at all, even if it's in hydrolyzed form.

How do I transition my dog to dog food for sensitive stomachs?

If possible, transition your dog to their new food over at least 10 days, potentially even 14 days. The way to do this is from day one to three, mix 75% of their old food with 25% of the new food. From day four to six, mix the food 50:50. On day seven to nine, use 25% of the old food and 75% of the new food. On day 10, offer 100% of the new food. Talk with your veterinarian if they feel like you should take longer (14 days) to transition your pet from one food to another.