The best food for dogs with sensitive stomachs in 2024, according to vets

What we love: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult dog food is specifically formulated not only to improve your dog’s digestion, but also support immune health, improve joint mobility, and contribute to a shiny coat. The main ingredient is tasty salmon, and the food is made without any wheat, soy or corn.

What customer reviews say: Many customers said that this dog food healed their dog’s dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, along with fixing any tummy woes, too. However, some reviewers mentioned their dogs didn’t love the fishy taste of this food.

First five ingredients: Salmon, barley, ground rice, canola meal, and fish meal.

What we love: For a dog food with non-GMO ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, consider Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Puppy. Not only will it be easy on your dog’s tummy, but it also has natural sources of calcium, chondroitin, and glucosamine to support healthy joints and bones. With the main ingredient as farm-raised chicken, your pooch will love the natural flavor while getting the nutrition and immune support they need.

What customer reviews say: This all-in-one food gives dogs “healthy skin, shiny fur, and normal stools,” said one reviewer. Customers found the food especially beneficial for large-breed puppies (hence its name) — especially ones with sensitive tummies.

First five ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, brewers rice, and lentils.

What we love: Made right here in the USA Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet dog food has all-natural limited ingredients, ideal for dogs with allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances. Chock-full of easily-digestible carbohydrates that include vitamins and minerals like antioxidants, probiotics, omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and taurine, this dog food will aid your dog’s digestion and support their immune system, too.

What customer reviews say: Reviewers mentioned that this food is apt for dogs that have chicken allergies. It also seems to help dogs with sensitivities, itchiness, and diarrhea. A few customers also mentioned it helped their dogs recover from recurring ear infections, too.

First five ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, oatmeal, peas, and ground rice.

What we love: If your dog needs extra fiber, Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care is the right food to choose. Its blend of active fibers helps regulate your dog’s cycle and encourages a healthy gut, including the release of postbiotics. As pets can be sensitive to sudden diet changes, this special dog food requires vet authorization for purchase.

What customer reviews say: Whether it’s for preventing loose stools or getting the gut back to normal post-illness, customers love this dog food for its digestibility. Reviewers mentioned it helped their dogs form healthy stools and recover after intense antibiotic treatments. One customer even deemed it a “miracle” for her dog.

First five ingredients: Chicken, cracked pearled barley, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, and whole-grain corn.

What we love: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat dog food has ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids to soothe your pup’s tummy, as well as prebiotics to support a healthy gut. This food is also fiber-rich to encourage healthy digestion. As pets can be sensitive to sudden diet changes, this special dog food requires vet authorization for purchase.

What customer reviews say: 98% of customers recommend this particular dog food, noting that it helps regulate their dogs’ movement and improves gas. Some reviewers even said it helped their pups lose weight.

First five ingredients: Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, wheat, barley, and natural flavors.

• Diet is the key — Serving your dog high-quality, limited-ingredient dog food is the best way to improve their quality of life.
• You’re going to pay more — Whether it’s wet dog food or dry food, limited ingredient formulas often cost at least 30% more than our average kibble.
• The occasional upset stomach is OK — Chronic sensitive stomach symptoms can be indicative of a deeper problem with your dog’s digestive system.
• Always talks to your vet — If you think your dog’s experiencing sensitivities to a new food, call your vet.

Like humans, every dog is different. Some dogs may have stronger stomachs than others, while some need dietary restrictions in order to stay active and healthy. Also: The average puppy loves chewing on stuff. Adult dogs chew too. So it’s not uncommon for dogs to occasionally get an upset stomach because they ate something that isn’t food.

When you should start to be concerned is when your dog shows symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea on a pretty regular basis. Chronic upset stomach symptoms suggest that your dog might have a sensitive stomach, but they can also point to more serious chronic conditions like food allergies and pancreatitis.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether your dog has a sensitive stomach or a more serious condition. If your dog shows symptoms like vomiting, gas, and diarrhea but still maintains their same energy level day-to-day and isn’t losing weight, it’s likely a diet-related issue.

Symptoms of a sensitive stomach in dogs

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Gas / flatulence

👉 Occasional symptoms are OK, but always talk to your vet if your dog shows prolonged symptoms 

👉 Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest probiotics can help your pet’s tummy problems and boost their immune system, but results vary wildly from pet to pet. 

Dr. Jan Suchodolski, the associate director for research of the GI Lab at Texas A&M University told Tufts that “nothing is guaranteed. Every single individual, whether a dog or a person, is different. We all have similar groups of bacteria in our GI tracts, but the proportions are somewhat different.”

On top of the genetic variances, it’s hard to know exactly which products are high quality and which ones aren’t. The FDA doesn’t regulate these types of products, so it’s tough to take ingredients labels at face value unless you’ve done extensive research in the company’s manufacturing processes. (We discuss this more in our guide to dog vitamins and supplements — we focus on brands who have a full-time vet nutritionist on staff.)

Ultimately, we maintain our thesis that your dog’s diet is key. There’s no good reason not to try adding a probiotic supplement to your dog’s food, but switching to a limited-ingredient diet has the potential to make much more of a difference.

A dog’s digestive process is different from a human’s. There are certain foods, preservatives, and flavorings that we can eat that dogs should stay away from — especially if they have sensitive stomach problems.

Highly processed ingredients

• Rendered fat. Animal tissue melted into a goop that’s loaded with grease and food waste.
• Corn syrup. Zero nutritional value, and known to cause problems when eaten in excess.
• Animal by-products. The “leftovers” of slaughtered animals with a super low nutritional value.

Chemicals and preservatives

• BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin. Common chemical preservatives that are illegal to use in human food and are considered toxic.
• Artificial flavors. Unnecessary additives common in dog treats and food that have no nutritional value.

Dog food manufacturing standards are low

Pet food ingredients are “feed-grade” rather than “human-grade,” which means they’re held to a lower standard. Even if an ingredient on a dog food label might impact your dog’s digestive health, companies aren’t allowed to show the quality or grade of that ingredient

Why do dogs develop sensitive stomach issues?

Dogs can develop food sensitivities in all life stages, but age, size, and breed are a big part of a dog’s propensity to develop tummy issues. For example, older dogs (7 years or more) and puppies are more susceptible to digestive problems. Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Yorkies are genetically more likely to be born with or develop a sensitive stomach.

Food allergies are also a big instigator of digestive conditions and more. Low-quality ingredients (fillers, wheat, corn, etc) can also lead to chronic digestive issues and cause flare-ups.

What are the long-term health effects of improper nutrition?

Dogs are members of the family. Dog owners are responsible for making sure the food they buy has the nutritional value their pets need.

Low-quality ingredients can cause more than your dog’s sensitive stomach issues. Digestive issues often mean your dog isn’t getting the proper nutrition needed to live a healthy life. Over time, improper nutrition can lead to kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.

How can I soothe sensitive stomach issues?

The best thing you can do to alleviate and prevent symptoms is to make sure your pup eats high-quality food on a regular basis. Foods like banana baby food, bone broth, and canned pumpkin can be used to help treat the occasional upset stomach.
Always see a vet if you suspect your dog has chronic sensitive stomach issues — There might be health issues at play. Your vet will help you identify to root cause and determine your treatment options.