Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs Buyer’s Guide
One of the best ways to soothe your pup's sensitive stomach is by switching to a sensitive formula dog food. You should choose food with high-quality ingredients and adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals.
All of the dog foods we've recommended in this article meet those requirements and are good, nutritionally sound choices. But you should still choose a new type of food carefully to ensure that it meets your dog's unique needs.
What Causes Stomach Sensitivity In Dogs
Dogs get upset stomachs for a lot of the same reasons that humans do. Parasites, food allergies or intolerances, gastrointestinal disorders, and stress can all cause your pup to have unpleasant symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and excessive gas are all reasons to see a vet, who can determine the cause of the symptoms.
Always Consult With A Medical Professional First
Your vet will run blood tests to see what's going on and may want to perform other tests and scans based on the results. Your vet might discover a gastrointestinal condition like gastritis or inflammatory bowel disease. If your pup has a digestive disorder, he may have to take medications and eat an allergy friendly, sensitive formula dog food.
We recommend that you get a test done if symptoms seem minor come on irregularly. Conditions and allergies can develop quickly, and it is always better to get them diagnosed as soon as possible.
Some Dogs Are Just Born With It
Sometimes no clear cause can be found for the digestive distress your pup is experiencing. Some dogs are just born with sensitive stomachs. In this case, it will take some experimentation to figure out which food and lifestyle changes improve your dog’s symptoms. You can discuss the option with a veterinarian who will be able to describe the condition in more detail.
Maybe your pet needs a slow feeder bowl to prevent him from chowing down on his food, which can cause bloating. Maybe smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day will jive better with his digestive system than his current feeding schedule. Reducing your pet’s stress levels by taking them for a walk can reduce stress levels which can cause an upset stomach.
Be Observant – Identify What Could Be Causing The Allergies
By taking a holistic approach to your dog’s digestive health, you’ll be able to manage troublesome symptoms more effectively. You can manage food allergies by having a test done. Once you have found the ingredients that trigger this allergy, you can formulate a diet that strictly avoids any foods that can cause symptoms.
It is important to strictly avoid giving your dog any food that they may allergic to.
Even small amounts can cause significant stomach distress and various other symptoms. It requires paying attention to what you feed your dog and always checking the ingredients list of any dog food that you buy for your pet.
What To Look For In A Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs?
Breed
One of the things you’ll need to consider is your dog’s breed. Some breeds are prone to certain food intolerances. Irish Setters and Wheaten Terriers, for example, are known to be sensitive to gluten. Research your dog’s breed and see if any common food sensitivities pop up. Try removing the offending ingredient from your pup’s diet and see if there’s any improvement in symptoms.
Life Stage
Make sure you pick a food that’s appropriate for your dog’s life stage, too. Puppies, adults, and seniors all have different nutritional needs, so you should choose a food that’s been formulated for both sensitive tummies and your dog’s life stage.
New Protein Source
You should also make sure that you pick food with a different protein source than your dog is currently eating. Some dogs can’t tolerate certain proteins, so try out a new protein and see if your pup starts feeling better.
Different Ingredients For Different Symptoms
You also need to consider your dog’s specific symptoms when choosing a new food. If your dog’s main symptom is loose stools, for example, then you should choose a dog food with added fiber. Some dogs need extra fiber in their diets to bulk up their stool and prevent diarrhea. Inulin and psyllium are both great sources of fiber.
If your dog passes a lot of gas, though, fiber may actually worsen the problem, so it’s very important to factor in your dog’s specific symptoms when you’re picking out food.
Lookout For These Easily Digestible Ingredients
Dogs can suffer from sensitive stomachs due to a wide range of factors and the cause isn’t always obvious. Your Vet can make some recommendations, as to which food your dog should avoid. However, in general there are specific characteristics that are found in highly digestible food. These types of foods tend to cause dogs with sensitive stomachs far fewer problems.
Grains
Grains are a key cause of stomach issues in dogs who have sensitivity. Therefore, anything with less grains, or easily digestible whole-grains is recommended. This includes grains such as brown rice and oats.
Poultry & Lamb
Easily digestible food for dogs includes, chicken, lamb, brown rice, and potatoes. It is true that all dogs are different, however the vast majority can digest the above foods with ease. Therefore, you can focus on a diet that has these ingredients.
Probiotics
It is important to look for foods that specifically contain digestion aids. This can include foods with probiotics or ones high in fiber. Both of these factors will aid digestion, and this is why many of the foods on our list contain one of the two ingredients in their food.
The Lesser The Ingredients, The Better
In general, bland food tends to be the most digestible for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Basic meats and rice tend to be a good option. Many other dog foods have a wide range of ingredients, and can be quite complex. This can cause issues for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and it is a reason why the foods on our list are relatively simple and bland.
Another key factor in digestibility is the ingredients present in a certain type of food. The more ingredients there are, the more likely the food is to cause digestion issues in dogs with sensitive stomachs. Of course it is important for your dog to get a full and balanced diet. However, this can be achieved through limiting unneeded ingredients such as additives and focusing on whole foods that only contain a few vital ingredients.
How To Transition Your Dog To A New Food
Transitioning your dog to a new food can cause more stomach discomfort if you don't do it correctly. Just like humans, dogs have gut flora that helps break down and digest their food. It can take the gut flora a while to adjust to brand new food, so if you make the switch too abruptly, your dog may experience uncomfortable symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. A cold turkey approach can cause a strong negative reaction in your dog, especially if it has a sensitive stomach. The best way to prevent this from happening is to introduce the new kibble into your dog's diet slowly. You can do this by mixing his current food in with the new food.
On the first day of the transition, you should replace about ten percent of your dog's old food with the new one. Each day you should increase the percentage of the new food by ten. So, on the second day, you can feed your dog 20% new food and 80% old food, and on the third day, you can increase the percentage of the new food to 30. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, you should allow for up to 6 weeks before completing the transition. Additionally, you have to mix the food carefully.
You should continue with a mixed diet until the stools of your dog are firm. This confirms that a healthy transition has been made and your dog's sensitive stomach is accustomed to the new diet.
It is important to keep some things in mind when transitioning your dog's food. It is vital you take caution if you are transitioning from dry food to wet food. Canned food can be very appetizing for a dog so it may seem like a quick transition would occur. However, their stomach may not be able to handle a fast change. You should be sure to mix the canned food and dry food when transitioning properly. A transition that occurs too quickly can cause a dog with a sensitive stomach to become very ill.
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