10 Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach and Diarrhea (2020)

Being a pet parent is filled with happy thing like cuddles, licks, having a running buddy, and being greeted with wild tail wags and excited yaps when you get home from work. 

It can also, however, be full of stray dog hairs, chewed shoes, vet visits, and perhaps every dog parent’s worst pup-related incident: doggy diarrhea. 

If this problem has become a chronic one, there are certain foods that can help. We’ll be checking out the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea. This is definitely something that will benefit both pooch and parent when it’s fixed, so have a read and choose a stomach-friendly food for your pup. 

10 Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach and Diarrhea

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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation

We’ve looked at five specific criteria when choosing the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea. Keep in mind that these are quite generalised, as we’re covering all breeds, ages, and sizes. You’ll need to be aware of your own pup’s sensitivities and allergies and work around those within these guidelines. 

Criteria 1 – High Quality, All-Natural Ingredient List

One of the most common reasons pups have sensitive stomachs is the quality of the ingredients that go into their kibble. Many commercial dog foods are made with cheap, low-quality “filler” ingredients that are actually not the easiest to digest. 

Corn, wheat, and soy are some of the most used ingredients in dog foods, but also some of the worst for your pup. If your pooch is already predisposed to having a sensitive tummy, feeding them a dog food containing these ingredients is only going to make the problem worse. 

You should be looking for a high-quality, properly identified animal protein as the first ingredient, followed by healthy carbs in the form of fruits and vegetables. Gluten-free grains are also great, and actually provide a good dose of fiber which will help if your pup is having diarrhea or similar symptoms as a result of their sensitivities. 

In addition to a list filled with whole, healthy foods, you want to make sure artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives are avoided. It’s also best to avoid dairy products, as they tend to be hard to digest. 

Criteria 2 – High Fiber Content

Fiber is something that most pet parents don’t pay much attention to, even if you are in the habit of checking your pup’s food’s ingredient list and guaranteed analysis list. 

There are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers increase the moisture content of the food and aid in digestion. Insoluble fibers are helpful for firming up loose stool, so if your dog suffers from diarrhea, this is the type of fiber they’ll need. 

Although you aren’t likely to know offhand which fibers are which in dog food ingredients, they’re found in plant ingredients, so fruits and vegetables will be an important part of the food you choose. Whole grains and pumpkin are good options, but all veggies have a good fiber content. 

You’ll want to stick to a dog food that doesn’t dip below 5% fiber on the guaranteed analysis list. Most foods will contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fibers, so you don’t need to worry about figuring that out. 

Criteria 3 – Moderate Fat Content

Although it’s accepted that fat is the most easily accessible energy source for pups and it also aids in digestion, too much of it can take digestion too far and actually cause diarrhea. 

Every dog is different, so this may not be a problem for your pooch, but it’s something you should be aware of. If you have eliminated potential problem ingredients and your pet is still struggling with stomach issues, the fat content may be the culprit. 

You’ll want to go with a food that contains 15% fat maximum. Very active dogs may be used to getting quite a bit more than this, but if they’re a chronic diarrhea sufferer then lowering that number may help. 

Criteria 4 – Other Added Nutrients

Even if a dog food is specified as being a sensitive stomach formula, it should have extra things added to it to boost the immune system, digestion, or things that are specific to breeds or ages. 

Probiotics and prebiotics are essential for a food for sensitive tummies, as they’ll help quite a bit with digestion. Omega fatty acids are also great to see, but it’s best to stick to moderate numbers here as well as the general fat count. 

Some breeds will need joint-strengthening supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. Puppies will need DHA and EPA. L-carnitine is always a good thing to see on a guaranteed analysis list. Added vitamins are always helpful, and chelated minerals are also fantastic for aiding in digestion. 

Criteria 5 – Affordability

As pet parents we will often try everything we can to fix our fluff’s health problems. A change in diet, vet’s visits, medication, or supplements, we’ll try it all in an effort to make sure our pups are okay. 

Although a change in diet is the first, simplest step in trying to fix chronic diarrhea that comes from a sensitive stomach, there’s no reason you should have to shell out a fortune in order to make sure your dog is getting a healthy diet. 

We believe that a large part of keeping dogs happy is making sure their parents are happy too – and this criteria is our attempt to make sure that pet parents have options to suit every budget so that choosing a high-quality food for your pooch doesn’t become a stress factor for you, and in turn, your pup. 

Our Best Value For Money option is just as high-quality as the rest of the foods on this list, but it’s very budget-friendly. We’ve rated each food on its price, and been honest when we think a food is a little pricey. 

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Questions & Answers

A sensitive stomach is characterised by chronic signs and symptoms. Pups like to chew on anything that smells appealing, so acute diarrhea is going to happen – no question about it! If your pup suffers from diarrhea, gas, or bloating on a regular basis, though, it’s an indication that they have a bit more of a sensitive tummy than usual. 

The most common cause of a sensitive stomach is a food intolerance. There’s a difference between food allergies and food intolerances, and intolerances are to blame for tummy issues. The easiest way to get rid of the problem is to switch your pup’s food to something containing different ingredients. A limited ingredient formula may work best. 

Diarrhea is a result of a digestion problem. This could be due to a lack of fiber or a too-high fat content in your pup’s food, so you should try to remedy those if you’re going to be switching your pet’s diet. You should be sure to introduce any new food slowly, as a change in diet can also cause stomach problems. 

Other things that could be contributing include stress, reactions to medication, intestinal parasites, infection, or inflammatory diseases. While a pooch should get used to a diet change fairly quickly, the others are slightly more worrying and should be checked out by a vet. 

In general, a pup with a sensitive stomach may be reluctant to eat their food, might display signs of discomfort after eating, and may suffer from either constipation or diarrhea on a fairly regular basis. Their coat and skin may be dry and dull, indicating that nutrients aren’t being absorbed effectively. 

When it comes to chronic diarrhea (changes in your pooch’s stool for 3 weeks or more), the signs are slightly different depending on where the problem originates. When the issue is in the small intestine, your pooch will most likely have some weight loss and vomiting along with a big appetite (due to poor absorption of nutrients). 

They will also most likely be going more often (between 2 and 4 times a day, regardless of how much they’re eating) and the volume of poop will be abnormally large. You might actually be able to hear noises from their gut, and their stool will look darker than usual and have a tar-like quality. 

If the problem originates in the large intestine, your pup may be pooping 4 or more times a day but the volume of faeces will be smaller than you would expect. They may struggle to poop and only produce a tiny amount despite their straining. 

You may see mucus in the stool, and possibly bright red blood. They could also display signs of being in pain while attempting to poop. 

These symptoms can carry on for a long time if the cause isn’t removed. If your pooch had a bout of diarrhea because they ate a rat they caught in the garden, it will most likely pass and they’ll get back to normal, although you should always see a vet if you spot blood in your pet’s stool. If their sensitive stomach is being aggravated by their daily kibble, the symptoms are likely to persist until something changes. 

While diet is a common cause of a sensitive stomach or chronic diarrhea, there are cases where it can be caused by something more concerning. 

Intestinal parasites can cause plenty of discomfort as well as poor absorption of nutrients. Deworming your pup can help, and this should be done on a regular basis. 

Various inflammatory diseases can also be a cause, as well as infection. These are hard to figure out any way except medical tests, and so a trip to the vet is going to be the best option here.

If your pup has been having tummy problems for a week or two, it could just be that they chewed on something dodgy in the garden. If it persists for three weeks or more, though, then you should consider taking a trip to the doggy doctor. 

There are other things that should be more concerning when it comes to your pup’s poop. You can get a pretty good idea of your dog’s state of health by checking out the four Cs – colour, consistency, coating, and content. 

Black, red, yellow, or grey coloured poop are all signs of something not right in the digestive system. If you see a strangely coloured poop for two or more consecutive poops, then it’s cause for concern. 

Consistency is what will be most noticeable when you’re dealing with a pup with diarrhea. A Healthy poop contains little liquid, and although a runny one here and there isn’t an issue, if it continues for a while then you might want to take your fluff to the vet. 

You shouldn’t see any type of coating at all, so if there is any sign of mucus or blood in your dog’s stool, you should get it checked out. Content is something that requires a strong-stomach to check out, but it’s worth checking out if your pup is having tummy trouble. 

If you see bits of undigested food in your pup’s stool, it could be an indication of what doesn’t work well with your fluff’s system. This could be a sign of a much-needed food change – grains are often the culprit for a sensitive stomach, and if you see them in your dog’s poop it could be a sign you need to go grain-free. 

If you see bits of foreign materials that a dog shouldn’t be eating at all, it could be an indication that your pooch has some kind of intestinal parasite. 

If you’re looking at changing your pup’s food to something that works better for their tummy, there are some things to look for in their new food that should be helpful to prevent sensitivities and diarrhea. 

First and foremost, you should be checking out the quality of the ingredients. All-natural, whole food ingredients are the best option out there, and make a fantastic base for any good dog food. There should be nothing artificial in there at all – no colours, flavours, or preservatives other than natural ones. 

The fiber content should be more than 5%, and made up of fruits and vegetables (although a high-quality animal protein should be first on the ingredient list). The protein count is less important and will depend on the individual pup, but the fat content should be moderate – a high fat count can make diarrhea worse. You’ll need to remember to check out both the crude fat content and the Omega fatty acids here, and both should also come from quality animal sources. 

Apart from that, the best dog food for sensitive stomach and diarrhea should contain any other supplements that are appropriate for your own pup. Glucosamine and chondroitin, DHA, EPA, and L-carnitine will be helpful depending on the age, breed, and activity level of the pooch.