How Do I Safely Introduce New Food When My Dog Has A Sensitive Stomach
When your pup has a sensitive tummy, the last thing you want to do is completely upend their current diet with an entirely new one overnight. The American Kernel Club recommends you start the first meal with approximately 80 to 90 percent old food and 10 to 20 percent new food, then gradually up the proportions over the course of 10 days.
What Causes A Sensitive Stomach In Dogs
There can be several reasons why a certain dog might experience a sensitive stomach when fed certain foods. There is also a scale of severity here, which means one dog might experience mild symptoms while another might experience severe symptoms.
This holds true even when the two dogs both get problems with the same foods.
However, there are certain areas that are most likely to cause digestion issues in dogs and puppies. Lets look at those now. Understanding the different options will help you choose the best dog food for sensitive stomachs.
Protein
All dogs need protein to help them thrive. However, while your dog may love chowing down on beef, their stomachs may have different ideas! Changing from one source of protein to another will help identify whether they are sensitive to one or more of them, such as chicken or even fish. Consider trying foods based on single sources of protein rather than those with two or more in the same mix.
Fat
The higher in fat a dogs diet is, the more trouble the animal is likely to have digesting it. Switching to dog food with a lower fat percentage can help rule out this as a possible cause or identify it as the culprit. Look at your existing dog food and find one with a lower fat percentage to see what happens.
Fiber
Food quality
Food made to an open formula means the components could change. For a dog with a sensitive tummy, that can be a disaster.
Orijen Regional Red Dog Food
Your dogs wild ancestors hunted the whole animal and ate it, providing the nutrition they need for their health. For a concentrated source of protein, two-thirds are FRESH animal ingredients. ORIJEN Regional Red is rich in protein from whole animal ingredients, including grass-fed beef, wild boar, bison, and Yorkshire pork. It provides your dog with the food they need.
Your dogs wild ancestors hunted the whole prey animal and ate it. For a concentrated source of protein, two-thirds are FRESH ingredients. ORIJEN Regional Red Dog Food contains protein from whole animal ingredients, including grass-fed lamb, pasture-raised beef, bison, wild boar, and wild-caught Pacific pilchard. This diet gives your dog the nutrition they need for good health.
This food is made with fresh, all-natural ingredients that are sourced from local farmers and suppliers. Its also free of grains, corn, and soy, so its perfect for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. Plus, the kibble is specially designed to help support your dogs healthy teeth and bones. So if youre looking for a portion of nutritious and delicious dog food, be sure to check out Orijen Regional Red.
Pros
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Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs Need Highly Digestible Food
Sensitive stomach dog foods are formulated to be highly digestible, with a limited number of high-quality ingredients, so theyre easy for your dogs digestive system to process. Digestibility, which measures the amount of nutrients that are absorbed by the body, reflects a foods ability to deliver essential nutrients to the dog thats eating it and ultimately affects his or her long-term health. Dog food digestibility can also influence the volume, appearance and smell of your dogs stool and the likelihood for flatulence.
Some types of ingredients are considered to be more digestible than others. For example, protein ingredients have higher digestibility than fiber ingredients, but specific types of fiber are critical for optimal digestion.
The term quality is often used to describe the digestibility of an ingredient or food. Dog foods made from high-quality ingredients tend to be much more digestible than lower-quality ingredients. Veterinary nutritionists also use quality to describe whether a protein contains all the essential amino acids in the appropriate ratio for a particular animal.
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet
Ideal for allergy-prone pups
What we love: Made right here in the USA Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet dog food has all-natural limited ingredients, ideal for dogs with allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances. Chock-full of easily-digestible carbohydrates that include vitamins and minerals like antioxidants, probiotics, omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and taurine, this dog food will aid your dogs digestion and support their immune system, too.
What customer reviews say: Reviewers mentioned that this food is apt for dogs that have chicken allergies. It also seems to help dogs with sensitivities, itchiness, and diarrhea. A few customers also mentioned it helped their dogs recover from recurring ear infections, too.
First five ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, oatmeal, peas, and ground rice.
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About Ollie Subscription Dog Food
For a fresh dog food option, Ollies food has limited ingredients, is minimally processed and contains no soy, corn, or wheat. Recipes are vet-crafted, and their onboarding quiz specifically takes allergies into account when recommending a formula. We recommend the chicken recipe for dogs with sensitive stomachs. They also have turkey, lamb, and beef options, all of which are fiber-rich.
Our reviewers dog Enzo typically has a sensitive stomach when switching to new foods, but had no problem switching from kibble to Ollie. Ollies welcome booklet includes a recommended schedule for transitioning between foods to avoid any digestive issues.
For more about Ollies subscription pet food, read our in-depth review in our article, The Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery of 2021: Tested by Real Dogs.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
This dog food is a source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome in your grown dog.
Low Fat Dog Food Recipes
Various low fat dog food recipes that you can easily make at home are:-
Beef Recipe
- 13 oz cooked white rice
- 5 oz red leaf lettuce
- 3/4 teaspoon hemp oil/walnut oil or 1.5 teaspoons canola oil
- 1/4 teaspoon cod liver oil
- 1 oz beefs liver
- 1.5 teaspoon bone meal
- 30 to 105 Vitamin I, U vitamin E
- 1 oz beefs heart
Procedure
- Take a medium-sized bowl and add washed. Later, add 95% lean ground beef along with lettuce.
- Now, add packaged beef heart and liver along with freshly cooked rice.
- After that, mix hemp/walnut, canola, cod liver oils, and a few drops of 30-105 Vitamin E, I, U.
- Last, for seasoning, add salt, kelp and mix well. You may add a little bone meal also.
Mixed Ingredients Recipe
- 2 lbs of chicken thighs, fat, & skin
- 3 lbs of whole wheat macaroni, cooked
- 1 lb red leaf lettuce
- 1/2 lb chicken liver
- 4 teaspoons of eggshell powder or 6,000 mg calcium
Procedure
- Take a large bowl. Add washed and forked chicken thighs, liver, fat, and skin. Also, mix ground beef, whole wheat macaroni, or cooked rice.
- Next, give a touch of red/green lettuce, broccoli stalk, canned sardines, egg white, and mix well.
- Then, add beefs heart, salt, kelp meal, and some amount of eggshell powder or calcium from other sources and mix thoroughly.
- Finally, add a few drops of Vitamin E, and you are ready to serve it. You may also add 1-2 drops of edible oils.
Raw Chicken With Bones Recipe
Ingredients
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Crave Grain Free High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
- Free from corns, soy, and wheat
- Food for any age dogs
This high protein and fat dog food is rich in protein and is a white fish along with a salmon meat recipe. Craves Premium adult dry dog food has its first and primary ingredient as real white fish. We were amazed by the protein percentage of 34%, supporting a strong and lean body in providing enough strength. Inspired by dogs wolf ancestors diets, this food comes with natural ingredients such as high-quality animal protein. Also, it is very flavourful with a full meaty flavor that most canines love. Furthermore, this best low carb dog food has vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients for a balanced body diet.
Craves Premium adult dry food has no grains and is dry in nature formulated with no corn, wheat, and soy. Therefore, it meets the nutritional needs of young to old adult dogs. Carbohydrate sources are grain-free such as peas that provide energy to canines for various activities. Besides, it contains no artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Every ingredient used in it is natural and of grand quality. These ingredients include lentils, fish meal, pea starch, salmon meal, dry plain beet pulp, pork meal, etc. Moreover, it also has added vitamin E, B12, D3, B6, A sources, biotins, and calcium carbonates. So we consider this low fat dog food pancreatitis an ideal choice for sufficient dispense of the taste and nutrition for pooches.
Best With Grain: Blackwood Dog Food Sensitive Skin And Stomach Formula
Grain-free kibble isnt everyones cup of tea, and sometimes, theres no need to skip grains if your pet is actually sensitive to other ingredients in the formula. Blackwood Dog Food Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula is a great example of how healthier grains can be included in the formula and still suit those pooches that have sensitive tummies. Slow cooked and handcrafted in the USA, this dry food for dogs combines salmon with brown rice, carrots, celery, and spinach to deliver a potent nutrient punch without causing digestive issues in the process. To further cater to dogs with sensitive stomachs, this kibble is enriched with a blend of probiotics and prebiotics that nurture a healthy digestive system.
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Signs And Symptoms Of A Sensitive Stomach In Dogs
The classic signs of a sensitive stomach include intermittent loose stools or diarrhoea, nausea and excessive wind. There may be blood in the stools and your dog might vomit. Sometimes when a dog has eaten a food that triggers their sensitive stomach, theyll be less active and possibly reluctant to go for a walk. The odd self-limiting episode of wind or loose stools is part and parcel of a dogs life but if the symptoms become chronic and you notice weight loss, get your dog checked over by their vet.
This chart will help you understand and explain your dog’s stools to a veterinary professional.
The symptoms of sensitive stomach can be similar to those seen in irritable bowel syndrome , inflammatory bowel disease , colitis , gastroenteritis and pancreatitis , so its important to note the frequency and types of symptoms as this will help the vet with diagnosis.
Did you know that a sensitive stomach can spark off itchy skin in dogs? Look out for lots of scratching, areas of hair loss and sore, dry skin. In light coloured dogs, reddish-brown marks on the face known as tear stains are also a sign of irritated skin, which may be linked to a dietary sensitivity.
Things To Consider When Evaluating Dog Foods For Sensitive Stomachs
Do you sometimes wonder if your dog has a sensitive stomach? He or she might if he or she has one or more of the following symptoms:
- Recurrent, but sporadic, loose stools
- Occasional vomiting
- Excessive, nasty-smelling flatulence
Its important to recognize that these symptoms can occur for plenty of reasons. An inability to tolerate a particular food ingredient, an infection caused by a virus or bacteria, a food allergy, snacking on something that he or she shouldnt have, internal parasites and several other medical conditions can all result in digestive system problems.
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Whats Wrong With Carbohydrates
It all comes down to digestion. Dogs have no biological requirement for carbohydrates and cant metabolize these ingredients as efficiently as humans, which is a problem because most commercial dog foods are packed with them!
Next time youre shopping for dog food, take a closer look at the ingredients. If you notice carbohydrates or filler products are included in the ingredient panel, theres a good chance your dogs stomach will struggle to digest this food.
Not only do carbohydrates put stress on the digestive system , theyre also more likely to remain in the colon because theyre difficult to break down entirely.
Grains contain phytates that block mineral absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and iodine, plus they metabolize into glucose and convert into fat – which is a recipe for weight gain and other health issues. To make matters worse, grains also have a tendency to mold and produce aflatoxins that are not only poisonous to pets, but potentially fatal.
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey And Potato
Image courtesy Chewy
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Turkey and Potato Recipe will keep your pal full. This natural, grain-free dry food for dogs has a single source of protein and readily digestible carbohydrates.
This dry food is made in the United States and includes omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, and taurine. This dog food contains no wheat, corn, soy, gluten, or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.
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Is Lamb Good For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs
Dogs that suffer from chronic stomach upsets definitely prefer their chow as non-spicy as possible. Lamb is one of the foods that they can most easily stomach. Boiled lamb is the best for them. Its a reliable source of healthy protein that dogs also have a natural affinity for.
If your pup cant stomach any other kind of food, lamb will do the trick. You can combine it with rice in order to add the benefit of preventing diarrhea. The combo of lamb and rice is one that your dog will thank you for as they return to health.
Although something like chicken by-product meal might be much cheaper, its simply not suitable for a dog with sensitivities.
Purina One Smartblend Sensitive Systems Formula Adult Premium Dry Dog Food
Looking for a dog food formula that offers all nutrition and zero fillers? This is the one for you. Made with real salmon and easy-to-digest ingredients like rice and oatmeal, this formula contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Additionally, this blend features omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, and natural glucosamine to improve your dogs joint health. Even better, SmartBlend contains a dual-defense blend of antioxidants to give your dogs immune system a boost.
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Taste Of The Wild Pine Forest Grain
Top Ingredients: 1. Venison, 2. Lamb Meal, 3. Garbanzo Beans, 4. Peas, 5. Blueberries
Taste of the Wild Pine Forest is one of the most premium and nutrient-dense dog foods available for sensitive canines on the market. Like any other Taste of the Wild formula, it contains novel proteins and unique ingredients like venison, garbanzo beans, and peas. A full list of wholesome fruits and vegetables help in providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Because the diet is focused on sensitive dogs, it also boasts additional benefits from K9 probiotics and prebiotics that promote gut flora and improve digestion. The recipe is also stripped off allergens like grains and artificial preservatives.
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Your Dog Is Unable To Digest The Ingredients In His Treats
Just like their food, a dogs treats can contain ingredients that upset the function of your pups digestive system.
Additionally, offering your dog too many treats can overwhelm her body. Avoid treats while trying to solve your dogs sensitive stomach issues. Once youre ready to reintroduce treats, try opting for hypoallergenic dog treats.
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Chicken Salmon & Barley Adult Dry Dog Food
- Low-calorie food with added vitamin E & C, and Zinc
- Formulated by animal & food science experts
- Perfect blend of unique fibers and proteins
- Meal-satisfaction even with a small quantity
- Manufactured with right levels of L-carnitine
- Wholesome grains along with natural fibers
Natural Balances low fatdog food contains one 15 pound bag of dry food. Specially made for fat and overweight dogs to support a healthy weight, this one made its way into many hearts. Inclusion of targeted levels of L-carnitine, one can be worry-free that their dog will stay fit. This commercial dog food for pancreatitis contains a special fiber and protein blend that makes animals feel full and satisfied even with low quantities of a meal. It includes wholesome grains with fiber to support healthy & smooth digestion, eliminating gastrointestinal issues. So there is no need to worry about safety and digestion after feeding this natural balance of best low fat diet.
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What Is Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
Sensitive stomach dog food is formulated to be highly digestible, with high-quality ingredients, so that it is gentle on your dogs digestive tract.
The best dog food for sensitive stomach is a special pet food type that is particularly formulated so that it is easily digestible. It contains high-quality ingredients and superfoods that are easy on your dogs digestive tract.
The best dog food for sensitive stomach usually contains a single protein source, has low-fat content, and is gluten-free. It promotes easy digestion and relieves symptoms of an upset stomach.
Many of these dog foods can be sold as limited ingredient diets that have been loaded with probiotics and prebiotic fiber, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids and contain low levels of carbohydrates.
Most dog food brands that sell sensitive stomach dog food will use antioxidants to boost your dogs diet and immune system prebiotics to help maintain healthy gut flora, fish oil to help maintain healthy skin and promote a shiny coat taurine, and othersupplements to improve heart health.
Finally, the best dog food for sensitive stomach will be free from excess carbs, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.