Some dogs can eat anything at all with no after-effects. However, not every dog is so lucky; some tend to be more sensitive. That’s where the best dog food for sensitive stomachs come to play.

Introduction

Just like humans, all dogs are different. Some are lucky enough to be able to eat anything, while some have quite sensitive tummies. Because of this, we need to find the best dog food for sensitive stomachs to avoid these problems and bring out the best for our dogs.

What causes upset stomachs in dogs?

To start, dog food intolerance is a type of food sensitivity. This occurs when food simply doesn't agree with your pet. Moreover, there are two main causes of why your dogs get sensitive stomachs.

Food allergies

Some protein sources can cause a reaction to food. “The most commonly identified food allergens reported were beef, dairy and wheat,” Dr Perkins, a veterinarian, says. “Dogs with food intolerances may not be allergic to food proteins but may benefit from diets with certain qualities: highly digestible and have an improved ratio of Omega -3 and -6 fatty acids.”

Aside from this, dogs can also develop food allergies after eating a particular dog food brand for a long period. On the other hand, allergies from intolerance can also come from just a single ingredient. “Although food additives frequently cause problems in dogs and cats, few data confirm this perception,” says Dr Perkins.

Carbohydrate intolerance

Correspondingly, there is the carbohydrate intolerance. Carbohydrate intolerance usually means a sudden change in diet. It could also mean episode of

gastrointestinal disease. The intestine requires several days to adapt to changes in carbohydrate food sources. Your veterinarian will always encourage you to change your pet’s diet slowly for this reason.

“Diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal discomfort occur when lactose-intolerant animals ingest milk. Puppies are able to digest lactose in their mother’s milk. However, when given cow’s or goat’s milk they may develop diarrhea due to higher lactose levels,” says Dr Perkins.

However, food intolerance is different from food allergies; immune system or dermatological symptoms aren’t always present. Other ingredients found in dog food can also cause intolerance and allergies.

How do I know if my dog has a sensitive stomach?

According to Dr. Patrick Mahaney, "sensitive stomach is a generic and vague term. This can range from vomiting and diarrhea due,, to internal organ system damage. It's very common for dogs to have sensitive stomachs. Partly because dogs are curious and explore the world through their mouths." As a result, dogs eat anything they want to.

However, the good news about a dog’s sensitive stomach is that the signs are easy to see. These are vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and eating grass. These will be explained further one by one.

Vomiting:

Sometimes, dogs vomit but this is not a cause for concern. Dogs vomit occasionally for a variety of many reasons – to expel unwanted substances from their stomachs. If there are other symptoms like

lethargy or diarrhea, pay your veterinarian a visit. Watch out for prolonged, unrelenting vomiting or regurgitation as this can be the sign of a more serious condition.

Diarrhea:

Dogs having loose stools can be one of the signs of a sensitive stomach, especially when their diets just changed. In addition, loose stools are the main indicator of diarrhea. These intestinal problems may also be accompanied by

vomiting.

Flatulence:

One common cause of flatulence is from swallowing too much air (this might be an unpleasant experience for us humans!) But aside from this, it could come from a gastrointestinal disease as well as from eating too fast. Be wary, for diseases can also be a cause for flatulence.

Eating grass:

Lastly, you may notice your dog eating some grass when you're out walking him. This is because grass serves as a natural cure for upset stomachs. However, the grass blades can slightly wound the stomach lining which may cause your pet to vomit.

Food intolerance and food allergies can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Some dogs are allergic to certain grains like wheat and corn. These are found in certain dog foods. Moreover, others are allergic to certain protein sources used in dog food. Under those circumstances, always be cautious of the dog food that your dog is eating.

Consequently, try putting him on a homemade bland diet like pumpkin or yogurt if this happens to your dogs occasionally.

Pumpkin is good for diarrhea and yogurt acts as a probiotic (beneficial bacteria). If the bland diet still isn’t working, ask your veterinarian about what you could do.

With these in mind, if you think that food might be what is causing your dog’s upset stomach, try switching your dog food to one that’s specifically manufactured for sensitive stomachs. Your veterinarian may suggest switching to a brand with a different protein source or grain component to see if the reason for the upset stomach is allergy-related.

In addition, here are more symptoms for sensitive stomachs in dogs: nausea, indigestion with excessive belching, bloating, and

heartburn. More serious conditions can have symptoms that are similar to those seen in dogs with sensitive stomachs. Talk to your veterinarian if your dog’s symptoms seem unusual from these.

What should dogs with sensitive stomachs eat?

In effect, after seeing the symptoms of a sensitive stomach, you are now more convinced of your dog’s condition. In order to ease your dog’s stomach sensitivity, certain ingredients should be added to their food and most dog foods contain this. These include:

● Rice

● Oatmeal

● Chicken

● Cottage cheese

● Sweet potato

What should dogs with sensitive stomachs avoid?

Unfortunately,

commercial dog food brands contain chemicals and ingredients that dog’s stomachs can’t handle. So be careful when buying these. Make sure the brand is reliable. Some of the ingredients dogs with sensitive stomachs are particularly sensitive to include sweeteners, food colorings, and artificial preservatives. Moreover, there are also other ingredients that your pet might have difficulty in digesting, including:

● Wheat bran

● Corn

● Beef

● Chicken by-product / meat meal

● Salt

● Corn syrup

● Peanut hulls

Some of these ingredients have near zero nutritional value. As a result gastric problems and various allergies may occur after passing through your dog’s stomach.

What are some tips for taking care of my dog with a sensitive stomach?

There are other ways you can ease potential food intolerances as you make changes to your dog's nutrition.

Firstly, make it easier on your dog's stomach by mixing a small amount of the new food with the current food. Then increase the new food over the course of seven days.

Next, familiarize your dog to the new eating routine for only six to twelve weeks

Thirdly, avoid giving your dog treats and people food.

And lastly, stay away from ingredients known to cause stomach aches and intolerance in dogs. These include wheat, beef, dairy, eggs, and chicken. Moreover, consult your veterinarian for any more questions about your dog's sensitive stomach.

Product Review

Here are 5 of the best dog foods for sensitive stomachs and listed down are their pros and cons. Under cons are product recall histories. A product recall is a request from the manufacturer to return the product after the discovery of safety issues or certain defects that may put the consumer at risk. Here are some of the best dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs:

Conclusion

To summarize, I would still go for the Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin Chicken and Barley Dry Dog Food because it contains all the ingredients that a dog with a sensitive stomach might need. Moreover, it doesn’t have any cons or a recall history, which is really something to be impressed with. All we want is the best for our beloved dogs and if our dogs aren’t feeling well, they count on us to take care of them, so we need to give them the best dog food for sensitive stomachs. I trust my dog with this brand, and I hope you would too!