What To Feed Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

While some dogs will happily eat an interesting variety of “treats” from the sidewalk without a care in the world, others suffer from terrible digestive troubles at the slightest thing. The likelihood is that if your dog has a sensitive stomach, boy do you know about it, but signs include frequent loose stools, bad gas and occasional vomiting. Not only can these symptoms be a trial for an owner to live with, they can also cause discomfort to the canine in question. A change in diet can often help dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Slowly Does It

If you decide to make a change to your four-legged friend’s diet, make sure you do so gradually. Simply changing from one food to another overnight can cause even more digestive distress, which is only going to exacerbate your pup’s stomach issues. Instead, transition to the new food by replacing a small portion of his current food with new and slowly increasing the amount until he’s completely switched over to his new diet. It could take a couple of weeks on the new food before you see a marked improvement.

Related: Gluten Allergies And Intolerance In Dogs

Eliminating Allergens

Your dog’s sensitive stomach could be caused by a food allergy or sensitivity. If this is the case, changing to a more hypoallergenic diet could cure his symptoms. On the list of foods that dogs commonly show a sensitivity to include wheat, gluten, soy and corn. Luckily, there are a number of commercial dog foods that eschew these ingredients, so you’ll be spoiled for choice. Of course, your pooch still needs carbohydrates in his diet, but some foods use alternative sources of carbohydrates, such as white potato, sweet potato, oatmeal and rice.

Go Back to Basics

Look out for a high quality dog food that uses minimal ingredients. Sure, there need to be enough ingredients to offer your dog a complete balanced diet, but too many fillers and additives can wreak havoc on a sensitive stomach. Look out for a brand of dog food that contains just one grain and one meat, plus a range of vegetables, vitamins and minerals.

Related: Benefits Of A Grain-Free Diet For Your Dog

Watch Out for Fat Content

Too much fat in your dog’s diet could be causing his digestive problems. Check the nutritional information of his dog food. Ideally, it should contain around 15 percent fat. Dogs need some fats in their diet, to stay healthy, but excess fat isn’t good for a pup with a sensitive stomach.

Fabulous Fiber

Fiber is one of the key nutrients for keeping dogs – uh – regular. If your pooch is having problems with loose stools, he might not have enough fiber in his diet. Many dog owners swear by adding a few spoonfuls of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling!) to their pups’ food to help regulate digestive issues. What some people don’t realize is that there are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is easier to digest, so make sure the fiber sources in your dog’s food are soluble ones. Good sources of soluble fiber include beet pulp, oats, flaxseeds, beans, lentils, peas and carrots.