When you get a new puppy or dog, it’s advised to keep them on the same food they were eating before coming into your home. However, that’s not always possible, and puppies can develop allergies at any time, especially after the six-month mark.
The good news is that there are countless dog food brands available today with all kinds of unique formulas to suit every dog and its specific needs, especially if they have a sensitive stomach (Source: VCA Hospitals). Many breeds are prone to sensitive tums – if you have French Bulldogs, there’s an article specific to that breed here.
Otherwise, keep reading to hear more about these different food brands for your sensitive pooch. I’ll also cover the raw food diet and offer some tips on how to help if your dog has a food intolerance.
Covered in this Article:
1. Tails.com Grain-Free Dog Food
Tails.com is a unique dog food delivery service that allows you to tailor-make food for your specific dog’s needs, including allergies and sensitivities.
Although the most common dog food allergy is protein, many dogs are allergic to wheat and grains. And since many dog food brands use rice as a filler, it’s important to find something grain-free to keep your dog as healthy as possible.
Source: The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals
This grain-free food from Tails.com is made without wheat, oats, or rice. Instead, it contains sweet potato and beet pulp to ensure a healthy level of fibre.
Just go to their website, give them some key information, and they will create a kibble blend just for you, which they then deliver on a set schedule. It takes all the guesswork out of remembering to buy dog food.
After you give them your dog’s breed, weight, and age, they will ask a few other questions, such as:
- What is the most important thing about your dog’s food?
- On average, how active is your dog?
- Does your dog have any of these health issues?
- Are there any ingredients your dog is allergic to?
If you know what your dog is allergic to, you can input that, and they will be sure to make kibble without those ingredients. Of course, if you’re unsure, it’s always best to visit a vet to test for allergies.
But Tails.com does offer a hypoallergenic meal plan that excludes the five most common allergens faced by dogs.
Source: Tails.com
2. Burgess Sensitive Dry Dog Food Lamb
Burgess offers well-reviewed dog food at a very reasonable price. Their sensitive blends are especially celebrated, and many customers praise the difference they see in their dogs almost right away.
It is nutritionally balanced, and although it contains rice, the sensitive blends are all made without:
- Wheat
- Maise
- Beef
- Soya
- Eggs
- Dairy
These blends come in lamb, salmon, and turkey for adult dogs, as well as formulas for puppies and senior dogs.
Lamb is particularly good for dogs as it’s loaded with protein, vitamins and nutrients, and it tastes great too. But if you want something leaner, the salmon blend would be the best choice as it’s still tasty and also full of essential fatty acids to help keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy.
If you buy this from Amazon.co.uk, you have the chance to save by purchasing it as a subscription. Just choose how often you want it delivered and save as much as 15% on repeat deliveries.
3. Barking Heads Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, Grain-Free
Kibble is a very common dog food, but some dogs just don’t enjoy it. For puppies, it’s not uncommon to soften kibble with water, and many senior dogs can’t handle the crunch.
Or, some dogs just prefer the fresher, meatier taste of wet food.
This variety pack gives you three different flavours to help keep your pup interested. They include chicken, beef, and lamb, and each is made using 60% fresh meat and 25% broth.
Other ingredients include peas, sweet potato, carrots, spinach, seaweed, salmon fish oil, and turmeric. If you look at the package, you can see that there are no fillers or unpronounceable ingredients.
In fact, Barking Heads promise all-natural ingredients with no fillers in any of their food.
Their recipes include:
- Probiotics
- High-quality fibre
- Omega 3 & 6 Oils
- Top-quality protein
- Slow-release carbohydrates
- Plenty of essential vitamins and minerals
Source: Barking Heads Ingredients
This pack comes in quantities of six, 12, 18, and 24, and again, if you choose the subscription, you can save by scheduling deliveries. For example, if you chose the largest pack for a one-time delivery, it would cost a little more than £1.50 per pouch. But if you opt to schedule deliveries, it would be closer to £1.20.
4. Wellness CORE Puppy Food Dry
Just like us, puppies need high levels of protein and nutrients in order to grow properly. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see puppies with sensitive stomachs.
If you got your puppy from a breeder, be sure to keep feeding it the same food if possible. That way, you already know the dog likes it and can process the food well. Then, moving forward, you can typically purchase the same brand in the growing stages of your dogs’ life.
But if you’re a new puppy owner and cannot access the same food, this Wellness puppy blend is perfect for a growing dog. Made up of 32% turkey and 30% chicken, this has a ton of lean protein along with plenty of plant protein, salmon oil, and other healthy veggies.
This Wellness puppy food (from Amazon.co.uk) contains no wheat, eggs, gluten, artificial colours, or preservatives, so it should be safe for most puppies. Of course, if you notice any changes in their bathroom habits, it’s worth contacting your vet.
As mentioned, puppies will often show signs they’ve developed an allergy after six months, but it could take as long as a year for it to present. Look out for the following:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Itchiness
- Dry skin
- Constant licking
- Lethargy
Source: American Kennel Club
If you just notice small changes in their stool, it’s possible that the new food is too rich for them, and they need time to adjust. Always introduce new food slowly, removing a little of their old and replacing it with the new over the course of a week.
After seven days, they should be eating more of the new food, allowing their little tummies to get used to it slowly.
5. Arden Grange Sensitive Light/Senior Dry Dog Food
Arden Grange is a small, family-run business located near Brighton. The founders were breeders and showed dogs for many years, so they have a good idea of what all breeds need to be healthy.
Their main goal is ‘nutrition without compromise,’ which is why their recipes are all hypoallergenic.
Source: Arden Grange
This senior blend (from Amazon.co.uk) is a perfect food for ageing dogs who don’t need the same levels of carbohydrates as younger dogs and puppies. As they become less active, they require less energy. After all, if you keep your older dog on the same higher fat diet, they would likely gain weight.
That said, older dogs still need protein. So, it’s better to adjust their calorie intake and make the move to different proteins, like fish, which also offer fatty acids and nutrients that will help their joints.
In addition to joint health, fish is known to improve your senior dog’s skin and coat, keeping it healthy for longer.
Source: American Kennel Club
Since this is kibble, you may need to soak it in water if your dog has trouble with hard foods. Alternatively, try this Barking Heads Golden Years wet food. It’s grain-free and specifically formulated to help with joint health and to aid in healthy digestion.
Is Raw Food Good For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs?
Raw food is good for dogs with sensitive stomachs as it is less processed, contains few (if any) grains, and is easily digested. However, it’s also rich in protein and fat, which could be an issue for some dogs. Plus, it is more likely to be contaminated with bacteria than cooked food.
There is a big debate surrounding the raw food diet, with owners and vets disagreeing on its benefits.
On the one hand, there are no artificial preservatives, fillers or bulking agents, like oats and rice. Plus, raw diets have very little sugar or carbs which are the sources of many allergies. Not only that, but your dog can absorb more nutrients from a raw diet. (Source: FitDog)
However, handling raw meat is constantly a risk, and there is always a chance of bacteria being present in the meat. Typically, we cook the meat and kill off anything harmful. But if there is bacteria present and you feed it to your dog raw, you run the risk of making the sick.
In fact, the CDC made the following statement regarding raw food for dogs:
“Raw diets, especially raw meat diets, are not recommended because of the risk for salmonellosis and other infections that can affect pets and their owners.” (Source: American Veterinary Medical Association)
In addition, a lot of people feed their dogs raw bones as part of this diet, which can be very harmful if they chip. Small pieces can get lodged in your dog’s system, and it could need surgery to have it removed.
Ultimately, it’s your choice what you feed your dog. If it has severe allergies, the raw diet might be worth looking into. Just remember to do a lot of research and start out slow. Transitioning from kibble to raw right away could cause your dog to get sick.
Check out this video for a thorough look at what pet owners and vets are saying about the raw food diet:
Source: YouTube: The Primal Pack
Other Tips on Helping Your Dog with a Sensitive Stomach
Unlike people, who would avoid something that made them sick, most dogs will keep eating their kibble until you, as the owner, figure out it’s making them sick.
As a dog owner, you need to watch your dog and take note of everything from their demeanour and energy levels to their poop, how it looks, and even how it smells.
If you’re unsure what is making your dog sick or tired, don’t panic. Try giving them another type of food to see if they perk up. If not, speak with your vet about getting them tested.
If you know that your dog has a sensitive stomach, here are a few things you can do to make them more comfortable:
- Narrow down the cause by trying different foods with different key ingredients.
- Try using a slow-feeder, as their discomfort could just be coming from eating too much too fast.
- Don’t leave anything out that your dog could get to, especially anything that might contain the food they’re allergic to.
- Reduce the number of treats they get, as some dogs can get sick from too much rich food.
- If using supplements, do plenty of research and speak with your vet before adding anything to your dog’s food.
Your dog can’t tell you that it’s feeling sick, and it doesn’t get a choice about what it eats. So, make sure you monitor your dog when eating and after, and always get the best quality food you can. If none of the first few key ingredients are a form of protein, don’t buy it!
Final Thoughts
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you’ll know not long after they eat. Luckily, it’s very easy to find dog food designed just for them so they can eat and be happy and healthy.
Hopefully, this article will help you find the right blend for your pooch!