Finding the fitting pet food in your canine can take time, and it’s additional difficult when your canine has a delicate abdomen. Pet meals corporations are all regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make sure they’re fit for human consumption, produced beneath sanitary situations, include no dangerous substances, and be in truth labeled.1 However, as with common canine meals, there are larger and decrease high quality manufacturers on the market. Some use higher, extra digestible proteins than others. The FDA does examine manufacturers to make sure they’re labeling their merchandise precisely, however there may be nonetheless a number of selection between manufacturers.
As with all dietary considerations, it’s finest to seek the advice of your veterinarian earlier than switching your canine to a brand new weight loss plan. However, it’s nonetheless useful to know what choices are available in your canine. To make it easier to together with your search, we’ve reviewed a number of notable forms of pet food for delicate stomachs. Our opinions offers you all the knowledge you have to decide which canine meals could be good choices in your canine.
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The 10 Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs
1. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe – Best Overall
| Main components: | Chicken, hen liver, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts |
| Protein content material: | 49% |
| Fat content material: | 32% |
| Calories: | 295 kcal/half a pound |
The Farmer’s Dog is a well known subscription pet food service that conveniently delivers recent meals in your canine straight to your door. All its pet food recipes are made with pure entire meals and gently cooked at low temperatures in human-grade meals amenities. They’re formulated with veterinarian session to make sure your canine is getting all of the each day vitamins they want.
The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe has a easy ingredient record and solely accommodates one supply of meat. It additionally consists of The Farmer’s Dog’s nutrient mix that accommodates all important vitamins and makes the meals an entire and well-balanced meal. It isn’t formulated for delicate dogs particularly, however with its low variety of simply digestible components and one meat supply, it could be simply what your canine wants. The solely draw back to The Farmer’s Dog is that it’s not bought in shops. So, you need to be on high of your meal deliveries to keep away from working out of meals. However, the meals itself is secure and balanced, making it the perfect general pet food for delicate stomachs.
Pros
- Convenient supply system
- Simple, restricted ingredient record
- Recipe is enriched with a nutrient mix
Cons
- Food isn’t bought in shops
- Not formulated for delicate stomachs particularly
2. Wholesomes Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food – Best Value
| Main components: | Lamb meal, brown rice, oatmeal, pearled barley, floor rice |
| Protein content material: | 23% |
| Fat content material: | 13% |
| Calories: | 360 kcal/cup |
Wholesomes Sensitive Skin & Stomach With Lamb Protein Dry Dog Food is the perfect pet food for delicate stomachs for the money as a result of it’s an honest budget-friendly meal for dogs that doesn’t make important sacrifices to high quality. This specific recipe makes use of a single protein supply, on this case lamb, which is a novel meat for some dogs. Due to there solely being one protein supply it’s a appreciable alternative for dogs which have allergic reactions to extra widespread meats present in pet food. The recipe can also be freed from legumes, which can be linked to heart issues in dogs once they’re used as one of many essential components.
This recipe accommodates a mix of historical grains which are wealthy in fiber and assist wholesome digestion. It additionally consists of pure sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which assist pores and skin and coat well being.
While most dogs benefit from the taste, it’s value noting that there might be inconsistencies with the feel. Some baggage of this pet food have been reported to include very crumbly kibbles, so it’s necessary to be additional cautious when scooping the kibble out of the bag.
Pros
- Uses a single supply of protein
- Doesn’t include legumes
- Supports pores and skin and coat well being
3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Canned Dog Food – Premium Choice
| Main components: | Chicken broth, turkey, carrots, pork liver, rice |
| Protein content material: | 20% (dry matter foundation) |
| Fat content material: | 13.6% (dry matter foundation) |
| Calories: | 253 kcal/can |
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Canned Dog Food is a dependable premium alternative. Although it could cost greater than your common pet food, it has a components developed by scientific analysis and veterinary consultations.
This pet food accommodates simply digestible components which are identified to be light on the abdomen. It additionally accommodates vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids to enhance and assist pores and skin and coat well being. Each batch of meals is sluggish cooked to retain flavors, and dogs will get pleasure from consuming this savory turkey dish. If you’re seeking to save on prices, you possibly can combine this meals with the dry meals model, which is rather less costly than the moist meals model.
Just remember that although this recipe is labeled as a turkey dish, it does include hen, which is a typical meals allergen for dogs. So, whereas it’s a viable possibility for dogs with delicate stomachs, it’s not appropriate for dogs with meals allergic reactions, as hen is a quite common meals allergen.
Pros
- Uses simply digestible components
- Supports pores and skin and coat well being
- Slow cooked to retain tasty flavors and necessary vitamins
Cons
- Contains hen (widespread meals allergen)
4. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Puppy
| Main components: | Rice, hen by-product meal, hen fats, beet pulp, wheat |
| Protein content material: | 27% |
| Fat content material: | 20% |
| Calories: | 426 kcal/cup |
Correct meals and diet are important to wholesome progress and growth in puppies, so it’s necessary to discover a palatable meal for them to eat at this lifestage. The recommended protein requirement for wholesome puppy progress is 22-32% on a dry matter foundation.
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Puppy has a delicate components that’s additionally full of vitamins that puppies must develop. It is formulated to fulfill the dietary ranges established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for progress, together with progress of huge measurement dogs (over 70 lb as an grownup). This is important when deciding on a puppy meals, particularly as a result of the quantity of calcium inside the meals of huge and large breed puppies must be strictly managed.
This recipe accommodates extremely digestible proteins, balanced fibers and omega 3 fatty acids. It can also be formulated to be excessive in power for rising puppies with gastrointestinal sensitivities and has chosen prebiotics to assist feed and develop a wholesome intestine microbiome.
Since this pet food is particularly formulated for puppies, you’ll discover that the kibble measurement is smaller than normal. The draw back to this weight loss plan is that it’s a prescription meals, so that you’ll must ask your vet for a prescription to purchase it on-line.
Pros
- Contains simply digestible components
- Formulated to nourish the pores and skin and coat
- Meets the usual of diet established by the AAFCO
Cons
- Some homeowners of huge breed dogs remark that the kibble measurement is simply too small for his or her dogs
- Veterinary prescription weight loss plan
- Cost
5. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach 7+ Dog Food
| Main components: | Salmon, rice, barley, canola meal, fish meal |
| Protein content material: | 29% |
| Fat content material: | 14% |
| Calories: | 401 kcal/cup |
Nutrition continues to play a significant position as dogs age into seniorhood. The Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach 7+ Salmon & Rice Dry Dog Food is a well-liked possibility for older dogs with delicate stomachs. Salmon is the primary ingredient, and it’s supplemented with rice and oatmeal, that are each simply digestible components. It accommodates sunflower oil, which is one other glorious supply of omega fatty acids and is often used to nourish the pores and skin and coat. The recipe additionally consists of pure prebiotic fiber and antioxidants to assist wholesome digestion.
Another purpose we advocate this pet food is that it’s freed from widespread components which are tough for dogs to digest. It doesn’t include any eggs, animal byproduct meal, or synthetic flavors. So, although it’s a bit costlier than your typical pet food, you’re undoubtedly getting your money’s value and buying high-quality pet food.
Pros
- Contains simply digestible components
- Prebiotic fiber helps wholesome digestion
- Omits eggs, animal by-product meals, and synthetic flavors
6. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food
| Main components: | Lamb, lamb meal, oatmeal, peas, floor rice |
| Protein content material: | 21% |
| Fat content material: | 12% |
| Calories: | 406 kcal/cup |
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food is one other pet food that makes use of a comparatively unusual protein supply. It’s particularly formulated for dogs with meals allergic reactions and doesn’t include some other sort of meat, making it a viable possibility for dogs which are allergic to beef or hen.
As a limited-ingredient pet food, the recipe omits filler components and doesn’t include any synthetic preservatives, colours, or flavors. It’s additionally freed from meat by-products, dairy, and eggs. However, it does record peas as considered one of its essential components, which can presumably be linked to non-genetic heart issues. Make certain to seek the advice of your veterinarian beforehand, particularly in case your canine’s breed is inclined to coronary heart points, particularly dilated cardiomyopathy.
Pros
- Lamb is the only supply of animal protein (good for dogs with meals allergic reactions)
- Doesn’t include filler components
Cons
- Peas are one of many essential components
7. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
| Main components: | Salmon, menhaden fish meal, brown rice, brewers rice, oat groats |
| Protein content material: | 24% |
| Fat content material: | 12% |
| Calories: | 340 kcal/cup |
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food helps wholesome digestion by utilizing pure components which are light on the abdomen. It accommodates wholesome parts of fiber that help in digestion and assist enhance stool high quality. It additionally accommodates vitamin E to assist the immune system and omega fatty acids to nourish the pores and skin.
The components was created particularly with dogs with meals sensitivities in thoughts. It doesn’t include any animal meats which are widespread meals allergens for dogs. While the components seems nice on paper, one widespread concern is that choosy dogs don’t appear to love it. Fortunately, Natural Balance creates a number of different limited-ingredient recipes that use different forms of meat, together with beef, hen, duck, and lamb. So, you might need higher luck with these formulation.
Pros
- Specifically formulated for meals sensitivities
- Limited protein supply
- Fiber aids in wholesome digestion
Cons
- Not fashionable with choosy eaters
8. The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Dehydrated Dog Food
| Main components: | Dehydrated hen, natural quinoa, dehydrated candy potatoes, dehydrated spinach, dried parsley |
| Protein content material: | 26% |
| Fat content material: | 15% |
| Calories: | 516 kcal/cup |
The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe means that you can management the consistency of your canine’s meals. It’s an awesome possibility for choosy eaters as a result of you possibly can decide how dry or moist their meals are by how a lot water you add to it. You can even add it as a meal topper to your canine’s common meals.
This pet food has a easy ingredient record that solely accommodates six nutritious pure components, together with natural quinoa, candy potatoes, and spinach. It’s additionally formulated for all life levels, so you possibly can proceed to feed it to your canine all through their lifetime.
As with many dehydrated canine meals, this recipe is at larger threat of changing into powdery, which results in gloopy pet food. So, it’s necessary to combine it properly earlier than scooping it out of the field to forestall all of the finer items from settling to the underside.
Pros
- Only accommodates six components
- Can management the consistency of the meals
- Recognised by the AAFCO as assembly the dietary wants of dogs of all life levels, together with dogs over 70 lbs (grownup measurement).
9. Hills Digestive Care Prescription Diet, Low Fat
| Main components: | Broken rice, hen and turkey meal, maize gluten meal, animal fats |
| Protein content material: | 26% |
| Fat content material: | 5-9% |
| Calories: | 300 kcal/cup |
A veterinary prescription weight loss plan that’s formulated for dogs with complicated gastro-intestinal situations, together with pancreatitis, malabsorptive problems and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in grownup dogs. It accommodates simply digestible components and ActivBiome+ prebiotic mix (Dried beet pulp, flaxseed, floor pecan shell, dried citrus pulp, dried cranberries) that has been developed by Hill’s to quickly activate the microbiome and assist with digestion.
Pros
- Actively helps to enhance digestion
- Highly digestible and low in fats which is important in some situations
- Promotes a wholesome immune system
Cons
- Veterinary Prescription weight loss plan
- Costly
10. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High-Fiber Dry Dog Food
| Main components: | Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, pea fiber, hen fats, wheat |
| Protein content material: | 21% |
| Fat content material: | 14% |
| Calories: | 290 kcal/cup |
Royal Canin is a well known pet food model, however there’s no denying that its pet food is commonly costlier than its rivals. The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High-Fiber Dry Dog meals isn’t any exception. However, should you’ve been struggling to seek out secure meals in your delicate canine, you could wish to look into this recipe.
This pet food is a veterinary weight loss plan, which implies you’ll want your veterinarian’s prescription to buy it. It accommodates a excessive quantity of fiber to assist with digestion and enhance stool well being and high quality. The recipe makes use of extremely digestible proteins and has a prebiotic mix to enhance the intestine biome. It additionally has a moist meals model that you may combine with dry meals to assist wholesome hydration. So, should you’re at your wit’s finish and haven’t discovered possibility in your canine, it could assist to talk together with your veterinarian to see if this prescription weight loss plan can be applicable in your canine.
Pros
- High-fiber weight loss plan helps with digestion
- Uses extremely digestible proteins
- Prebiotic mix improves intestine biome
Cons
- Relatively costly
- Veterinary prescription wanted
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs
Shopping for pet food for delicate stomachs can get overwhelming on account of all of the totally different choices. However, by paying consideration to a couple key elements, you possibly can slender down your search pretty shortly. Here are some key issues to remember when on the lookout for pet food for delicate stomachs.
Easily Digestible Ingredients
Start making notes of pure meals which are simple for dogs to digest. Some widespread components which are light on the abdomen embody canned pumpkin, white rice, plain hen, and bone broth.
Dogs with delicate stomachs could have a tough time digesting sure pure components. It’s finest to avoid beans and lentils as a result of they will trigger flatulence. It’s additionally necessary to concentrate to how a lot fiber your canine consumes. While fiber can assist with digestion, an excessive amount of fiber can result in gassiness, bloating and diarrhea.
Limited-Ingredient Recipes
If your canine has a number of meals sensitivities, you could wish to look into limited-ingredient diets. limited-ingredient weight loss plan will include lower than 10 components, and the components will probably be pure entire meals. Because grain allergic reactions are uncommon in dogs, you don’t essentially need to go for a grain-free weight loss plan.
Beware of low-quality pet food that solely claims to have a limited-ingredient components. Because limited-ingredient canine meals don’t have strict laws, the label is commonly used as a advertising tactic. Therefore, make certain to verify the ingredient record to make sure it has lower than 10 components and is freed from synthetic flavors and ambiguous components. The most necessary factor to look out for is that there’s a restricted variety of protein sources used, ideally just one.
Novel Meat
Novel protein is commonly really useful for dogs which are allergic to meats generally present in pet food. This is as a result of dogs will get meals allergic reactions from meals that they’ve already eaten up to now. This generally consists of beef, hen, and turkey. Therefore, making an attempt new forms of meat might be simpler on a canine’s abdomen. Some novel proteins utilized in pet food embody duck, venison, rabbit, and fish.
Aids Digestion
Many canine meals for delicate stomachs embody components that help digestion. Along with containing a wholesome quantity of fiber, all these pet food can also include prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are meals for the nice micro organism in your canine’s intestine. Probiotics are helpful microorganisms within the intestine that assist with breaking down meals, creating vitamins and nutritional vitamins, and strengthening immunity. Both prebiotics and probiotics can assist help with digestion and enhance your canine’s general intestine well being.
Conclusion
According to our opinions, The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe is the perfect pet food for delicate stomachs as a result of it makes use of high-quality, pure components and has a restricted ingredient record. Wholesomes Sensitive Skin & Stomach With Lamb Protein Dry Dog Food is our budget-friendly choose as a result of it doesn’t considerably sacrifice high quality.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey & Rice Stew Canned Dog Food is a worthwhile premium possibility on account of its veterinarian-formulated recipe. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Puppy is an effective alternative for puppies on account of its light components and balanced formulation, and we advocate Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach 7+ Salmon & Rice Dry Dog for older dogs as a result of it’s simply digestible and wealthy in vitamins which are crucial for senior dogs.
Featured Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock
