The Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs

Formulated for pooch’s with sensitive stomachs, this type of dog food is created to be easily digestible so it’s easy on their stomachs. Sensitive stomach dog food is typically gluten free (or grain free), has a singular protein and is low in fat, so it won’t upset your canine’s tummy!

As well as being easily digestible and gentle on their tummies, dog food designed for sensitive stomachs can have a host of other benefits for your pooch including:

·       You may notice a change in their stools: a change in diet usually results in regular, more manageable stools.

·       A happy tummy is a happy dog! An improved mood is commonly a result from a healthier gut.

·       A healthy dog is an active one! You may notice your dog is more energetic and active.

Dogs can’t really tell us when a meal isn’t sitting right on their stomach, so it’s down to us to watch out for signs that they might have eaten something that doesn’t agree with them. The number of things you notice and how severe it is will depend on just how sensitive their stomach is. Some pets can go through quite a major upset after eating a meal they can’t digest properly, while others may only have subtle symptoms of having a more sensitive tummy.

The most common signs of a sensitive stomach include:

●      Intermittent loose stools

●      Diarrhoea

●      Sickness

●      Excessive wind

●      Lethargy or discomfort after they’ve eaten.

Some dogs might not be uncomfortable at all even though they have a sensitive stomach. In fact, pet parents are the only ones who have to suffer through their farts in the evening, so a change of food might be in order just to protect your sense of smell!

Other signs can really have an impact on your pup’s mood and mental state. Sickness and diarrhoea can make them feel absolutely rotten and you might notice them become less playful or they’re just not their usual happy selves.

Some dogs can even look uncomfortable when they’re moving around if their food is giving them a bad stomach. Even if they just have flare-ups of these symptoms from time to time, it’s worth looking into their diet and seeing if you can eradicate them just by feeding them meals with nothing in them that will trigger a bad stomach.

Many brands make it very clear when their diet is aimed towards pups with sensitive digestive systems – it’s designed to be easily digestible and to be lighter on their tummies. They’re low in fat and shouldn’t contain any nasty artificial ingredients that will trigger any sensitivities.

Diets that are gentle on the tummy will usually contain ingredients like:

●      One source of animal protein

●      Barley

●      Naked oats

●      Brown rice

●      Pea starch

One of the most important things to look for to make sure a diet is suitable for your pooch with a sensitive stomach is the source of protein. Many dogs can be sensitive to different protein sources, so sensitive food should contain just a single protein. It makes it much easier to avoid whatever meat can be triggering a bad tummy. If their usual diet contains proteins like turkey or beef, then try a sensitive diet with a different source of protein to see if it helps.

Hill's Science Plan Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Medium Dry Dog Food Chicken Flavour is one of the best-selling sensitive dog foods on the market. It uses human grade ingredients, so not only is it kind to their stomach, but you know your beloved family pet is only getting the highest quality sources of food too.

This diet contains L-carnitine to help better aid digestion and is free from artificial additives, flavours and preservatives – containing additional ingredients to support oral health and joint strength. While the main focus is to avoid upsetting their stomach, Hill’s diet still maintains other aspects of their health and your pup will still get the benefits of a glossy coat and clean gnashers.

Arden Grange Sensitive Grain Free Fish & Potato is made using only white fish as the source of protein so, if you think your pooch could be sensitive to a few different protein sources, fish is often a good bet to not trigger their sensitivities!

Packed with ingredients to help with their digestion whilst also maintaining muscle mass, joint health, and a lovely glossy coat – the perfect all round dog food for sensitive pooches. Rosemary acts as an antioxidant while it also contains cranberries to look after your pup’s bladder health. You can even buy the Arden Grange Sensitive food in a larger 12kg sack for a cost-effective solution to your dog’s sensitive tummy.

Burns Adult Sensitive+ Pork & Potato is a diet that’s completely free from wheat, soya, dairy and artificial colourings, or preservatives. You can be guaranteed to avoid any fewer desirable ingredients with their single protein source of pork so you can avoid any meat your pooch could be sensitive to. Their ingredients list is a short one which comes in useful when you have a dog with sensitivities, so you know exactly what’s in their bowl.

From sensitive tummies to alternative diets, Jollyes have you covered – find an array of dog foods that perfectly suits your beloved family friend. For all of your other doggy needs, have a sniff around in store or online today.