Dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs
A sensitive stomach makes itself known long before it becomes a real problem. Loose stools after a meal, a dog who suddenly sniffs at the bowl and walks away, a gassy tummy in the evening, or a coat that loses its shine. Dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs is therefore not about taking things away, but about composing meals from ingredients so clean and easily digestible that the gut is given a chance to settle. This collection brings together the meals and the PÂTÉ from ESSENTIAL FOODS created with exactly that in mind, from BALANCE and BALANCE PÂTÉ with their Tummy Rescue profile to the grain-free meals in our Living range.
What they all share is that they are prepared in Our finest British Heritage Kitchens from fresh produce and human-grade ingredients, with no unnecessary fillers. That is what makes the difference for a dog with a sensitive stomach: fewer and better ingredients, high digestibility and a nutritional profile that asks no more of the gut than it needs to.
How to find the best dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs
Start by working out whether your dog needs a short reset or a long-term solution. BALANCE is designed to restore digestive balance and is made with 30% fresh turkey, rice and oats. Turkey is a mild, light protein, and the slow-release carbohydrates from rice and oats provide gentle energy while the gut settles. BALANCE PÂTÉ, with 59% salmon and psyllium husk, can be served on its own or as a topper, and psyllium husk is well known for giving stools a firmer consistency. Do note that the BALANCE meal is not grain-free, precisely because the gentle grains serve a purpose here, which sets it apart from the grain-free meals further down in this collection.
If your dog's sensitive stomach is linked to particular ingredients, however, a grain-free meal built around a single, clearly defined protein may be the better route. Here you have a grain-free recipe combined with human-grade ingredients and a high proportion of fresh and dried meat or fish. NAUTICAL LIVING, with 77% fresh Scottish salmon, trout and fresh fish of the season, is an obvious place to begin, as fish rarely triggers a reaction. ESTATE LIVING, with 74% grass-fed fresh British free-range lamb, free-range chicken and venison, and SUPERIOR LIVING, with 83% free-range British chicken and duck, fresh Scottish salmon and trout, offer other protein profiles to work with, while ETERNAL LIVING is ovo-vegan and built on brown rice, field beans, sweet potatoes, chickpeas and free-range eggs. HIGHLAND LIVING, with 81% free-range fresh turkey and Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef and game bird, is another avenue worth exploring. If you are unsure which one suits your dog, our nutritional advisers are on hand by phone, chat and email to guide you through the choice, including if you are considering a closer look at our grain-free meals or the allergy-friendly selection.
Change food slowly when the stomach is sensitive
Even the best-composed meal can cause loose stools if the transition happens too quickly. Allow seven to ten days, gradually increasing the proportion of the new meal while reducing the old one. With a dog who has a sensitive stomach, it is worth stretching this to a fortnight. Keep an eye on stool consistency along the way, and take a step back in the ratio if the stomach reacts, rather than abandoning the meal altogether.
Set feeding times, calm around the bowl and a carefully measured portion often do more for digestion than most people expect. Consider dividing the daily ration into two or three meals, so the stomach is not burdened by large servings. And remember that treats count too: choose a few clean treats rather than lots of different ones while you are in a phase of mapping out what your dog tolerates.
Weight, life stage and digestive upset go hand in hand
A dog with recurring digestive upset does not absorb nutrients optimally, and this can show itself both as weight loss and as a dog who puts on weight, because portions are increased in an attempt to compensate. Read more about how to assess whether your dog is a healthy weight, and adjust the amount according to your dog's body condition rather than the size of the bowl.
Life stage matters too. Young dogs have a digestive system still in development, and those first months lay the foundation for the stomach later in life, something you can read more about in the Puppy Universe. In a dog's golden years, digestion often becomes slower and more sensitive again, and here it may be worth looking at our senior meals, so the profile follows your dog all the way.
