Best Diet for Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Some dogs seem to react to everything. Loose stools, gas, vomiting and picky eating can be signs of a sensitive stomach, though there is rarely a single cause. A steady diet and a methodical approach help.

What is a sensitive stomach?

It is not a diagnosis, but a description of dogs that get digestive upset easily. Causes include food intolerance or allergy, sudden diet changes, eating inappropriate items, parasites, infections, stress and chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. See our guides to diarrhea in dogs and vomiting in dogs.

Rule out medical problems first

Before changing diet, ask your vet to check for parasites, infection and other disease. A stool test, bloodwork and examination may be needed. Treating a medical cause is more effective than trying many foods.

Principles of a gentle diet

• Consistency. Feed the same high-quality food at the same times daily.
• Digestibility. Choose foods with highly digestible ingredients and moderate fat.
• Appropriate fibre. Moderate amounts support gut health. See fibre for dogs.
• Limited extras. Reduce treats, chews and table scraps. See table scraps.
• Smaller, more frequent meals for some dogs. See how often to feed a dog.

Types of diets

• Veterinary gastrointestinal diets are formulated for digestive disease.
• Sensitive stomach formulas from pet food companies often use easily digested proteins and carbohydrates, such as rice or oats.
• Limited ingredient or novel protein diets may help dogs with suspected intolerance. See limited ingredient diets.
• Hydrolyzed protein diets for allergy cases. See feeding a dog with food allergies.

Bland diets

A short-term diet of boiled white rice and lean protein can calm a mild upset. It is not complete, so use it for no more than a day or two unless your vet says otherwise. See rice for dogs and pumpkin for dogs.

Probiotics

Some dogs benefit from probiotics, particularly during stress or antibiotic treatment. See probiotics for dogs.

Changing foods

When you change diet, do it gradually over seven to ten days or longer. See how to switch dog food safely. Introduce one new thing at a time.

Triggers to avoid

• Fatty foods and scraps
• Sudden diet changes
• Scavenging on walks
• Stress and excitement around meals
• Foods your dog is known to react to

Keep a diary

Record foods, treats, stools, vomiting and stress events. Patterns often emerge, and your vet will find the record useful.

When to see the vet

Contact your vet if signs last more than a day or two, or if your dog has bloody stool, repeated vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, fever or abdominal pain. Puppies and seniors need prompt attention.

Meal routine matters

Irregular feeding, large meals and fast eating can all upset sensitive stomachs. Feed at consistent times, use slow feeders for gulpers and avoid exercise right after meals. A calm environment helps too, since stress can trigger gut signs in some dogs. See dog bowls and slow feeders.

Supplements and extras

Some dogs benefit from added fibre, digestive enzymes or prebiotics, but these should be introduced one at a time and under veterinary advice. Avoid giving several new products together, because you will not know which one helped or harmed.

The takeaway

A sensitive stomach responds best to consistency, digestible food and a methodical approach. Check for medical causes, feed simply and change foods slowly.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If your dog is unwell, or you are unsure about a symptom, diet change or medication, contact your veterinarian.