If your dog has a sensitive stomach after eating, then it’s important to get them checked out by a professional veterinarian as soon as you can, if only to rule out any greater health issue. But in some cases, an upset stomach could be caused by the ingredients used in your chosen dog food formula, especially if you’re not using a quality product.
Of course, some dogs can be so sensitive that they will greatly benefit from a ‘limited ingredient’ formula that will rule out many of the most troublesome ingredients to begin with, leaving a simple formula that will give your dog all of the vital nutrition they need without giving them digestive trouble.
There are several options on the market that tend to work well for a dog who’s prone to stomach sensitivity, and in this guide, we’re going to reveal these options to you. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look.
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The Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient formula is a good option for any sensitive dog, as the limited ingredients mean that there are far fewer things that could upset your dog’s digestive system.
It uses a single protein as the main source of nutrition, along with some easily digestible carbohydrates in the form of oatmeal, which is often useful for any dog who suffers from digestive troubles.
What’s more, all of the ingredients are natural, with no use of artificial additives, gluten, wheat, or other fillers which could cause problems for your dog. Additionally, the product is proudly made exclusively in the USA.
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This blend from Natural Balance is a top limited ingredient formula, and it’s always an option that’s worth considering whenever you’re shopping for a sensitive dog.
It uses a grain-free formula and a low number of individual ingredients, with sweet potato and venison being the primary two. What’s more, it manages to deliver a well-balanced blend of nutrition despite its limited ingredient focus.
There’s no use of artificial preservatives, colorings, or flavorings, and it generally manages to be a tasty formula that any sensitive dog should find tempting.
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Blue Buffalo is another popular dog food manufacturer that receives top ratings, and this limited ingredient formula is a solid option for most dogs.
It comes in a few different flavors, with the ‘turkey and potato grain-free formula being a particular highlight. The turkey is of great quality, and there are three simple sources of carbohydrates in the form of oatmeal, potatoes, and brown rice.
You’ll also find a limited range of healthy vegetables that add some all-important nutritional value to the blend, which ultimately makes it a top-notch, well-rounded formula that shouldn’t let you down.
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The Hill’s Science Diet brand has long been a popular choice for many, and this ‘sensitive stomach and skin’ formula is a great choice for any dog with a delicate digestive system.
It’s designed with easy digestion in mind, but also ensures that it provides your dog with a complete and balanced nutritional profile that doesn’t leave anything essential out.
It contains vitamin E, along with plenty of other important vitamins and minerals that should help to keep your dog in good health without upsetting their stomach – and the company also stands by the product fully. So much so, that they offer a full money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the formula.
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Next, we have this formula by Purina which is a specific ‘sensitive skin and stomach’ version of their popular Pro Plan Focus blend. This product scores very well in the buyer reviews, and it’s also well formulated to ensure that it doesn’t give your dog any digestive issues.
It comes with plenty of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which can help to keep your dog’s skin in a healthy condition. What’s more, zinc is added to the formula which can help to support a healthy coat.
There’s no corn, soy, or wheat used in the product – which eliminates some of the main culprits that can cause a dog to have stomach issues. Additionally, you won’t find any cheap, inferior meat by-products or artificial colorings or flavorings.
The ‘sensitive naturals’ version of Iams is another reliable choice for any sensitive dog, and it also has plenty of positive reviews to back this up.
When it comes to the ingredients, this formula relies on real fish as the primary source of protein, and it also contains further vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your dog’s health and boost the immune system without causing digestive issues.
Additionally, the formula is surprisingly affordable, making it a reliable option for those on a fairly tight budget but are still looking to buy a formula that’s been designed to accommodate the needs of a sensitive dog.
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The Earthborn Holistic brand offers many quality, all-natural dog food products – and this one, in particular, is a good option for sensitive dogs.
It uses an entirely grain-free formula that should already give some help to a sensitive dog – and it includes further antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to ensure your dog receives plenty of quality nutrition.
In general, most buyers have found this to be a solid choice for their dogs, with a few reviewers noting how it managed to settle their dog’s stomach and even alleviate some forms of skin allergy.
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This formula from Nutro uses oatmeal, which aims at being easily soluble and digestible in order to help a dog with a sensitive stomach. It also uses plenty of vitamin E to boost your dog’s immune system and help keep them healthy, particularly in regards to their skin and coat.
Additionally, the primary ingredient is a high-quality source of protein in the form of farm-raised chicken. Overall, this is another great brand that a sensitive dog should be able to manage in most cases.
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Here’s a popular formula from a company called Canidae, and this version caters to all life stages of your dog, from puppies to adults and seniors. It comes with a blend of chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish meals which give your dog a broad range of proteins and flavors, and it also uses very high-quality ingredients throughout.
Of course, there’s no use of corn, wheat, or soy, which is an important characteristic to look for when shopping for a limited ingredient blend. Overall, this is generally a good product that gives you reliable ingredients at an affordable price.
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This formula is a little costlier than some of the other limited ingredient options listed in this guide, but it certainly delivers exceptional quality and scores top reviews from most buyers.
It comes in a range of flavors, with duck, lamb, and turkey being the main options to choose from – and it’s specially formulated to cater for dogs with a sensitive stomach.
This means that there’s no grain or gluten, nor are there any additives or preservatives that could upset your dog’s delicate digestive system.
However, there is a few useful additives in the form of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, as well as green tea extract.
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The Nutro formula is made with sensitive stomachs in mind, and it uses a combination of fish, brown rice, and potatoes to give you a fairly basic blend that shouldn’t cause your dog much digestive trouble at all.
It uses a limited range of ingredients to avoid any complexity, and there’s no use of corn, wheat, soy, or gluten – which are often responsible for stomach upsets with sensitive dogs.
However, it still provides plenty of omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat, along with zinc and vitamin B.
The Best Wet Dog Food For Sensitive Dogs
There’s no denying the benefits offered by wet dog food, as it’s a great way to get some added moisture into your dog’s diet, and it’s always safe to say that a dog will appreciate the addition of wet dog food on their daily menu, too.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at a few of the best wet dog foods on the market, all of which should be reliable choices for a dog who has a sensitive digestive system.
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The Wellness brand often receives great reviews for a wide range of their product line, and this limited ingredient wet food doesn’t let the brand down at all.
It uses a single source of protein which varies depending on the flavor you pick, and it comes with a simple carbohydrate in the form of either potatoes or oatmeal, depending on the flavor you choose.
The ingredients are generally very good quality, and there’s little in here that could trigger allergies or stomach sensitivities, and it’s also exclusively created in the USA to give you extra confidence in the quality.
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Natural Balance is often a highly recommended product for sensitive dogs due to its limited ingredient design, and the wet food is always a good option, too. It comes in many different flavors which include chicken, duck, fish, lamb, venison, and wild boar – each of which is paired with a healthy carbohydrate (either sweet potato or brown rice).
The food is entirely grain free, and it doesn’t use any of the biggest troublemakers nor will you find any artificial preservatives, colorings, or flavorings.
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The Blue Basics line is another solid choice for anyone who’s looking for a quality limited ingredient formula, and it manages to avoid many of the biggest culprits behind stomach sensitivity while still giving your dog a tasty meal that they’ll greatly enjoy.
It doesn’t contain any low-quality protein in the form of animal byproducts of ‘meals’, nor are there any artificial ingredients or additives that would detract from the quality of the blend on offer here. There are two different flavors available which include turkey and salmon, and there’s also a large breed version that’s obviously the better choice for a bigger dog.
Last update on 2023-08-26 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The wet food by Nature’s Variety is another excellent choice for dogs with food sensitivities, and it contains one of the most limited ingredient formulas you’re ever likely to find. It uses a single source of protein to keep things nice and simple, and there’s also no use of grain or gluten either.
When it comes to the flavors, there’s a range to choose from which include duck, lamb, rabbit, and turkey, so there’s always something tempting for your dog to enjoy. Of course, the formula still contains many of the key ingredients that’ll keep your dog healthy, such as omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
Last update on 2023-09-03 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s a tasty limited ingredient formula from Merrick, which gives you a delicious formula at a very reasonable price, making it a great choice for many sensitive dogs.
It uses real deboned meat as the primary ingredient, and the single source of protein is a great way to limit the number of ingredients your dog is exposed to in order to reduce the chances of digestion issues.
The formula doesn’t contain any corn, grain, soy, or gluten, so it avoids many of the most common sensitivity triggers – and there’s no use of artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives. However, it does come with chondroitin and glucosamine which helps to keep your dog’s joints and hips in a healthy state.
Nutrition Tips For Sensitive Dogs
- If you suspect your dog has a digestion health issue, then the first thing to do is take your pet to the vet for an expert opinion and qualified advice. Many signs of stomach sensitivity can be similar to other health issues, so it’s always important to get an expert’s take before relying on advice found online!
- The most common signs of stomach sensitivity in dogs are diarrhea, gas, vomiting, and loose stools. So if you see these signs, it’s worth investigating further to find what’s causing the problem and whether it’s diet-related.
- An important thing to do will be to remove any excess food items from your dog’s diet – so this means getting rid of table scraps, making sure your dog isn’t getting into the trash and being careful about the types of treat you’re giving to your dog.
- Stomach sensitivity can vary greatly from dog to dog, so while some dogs can trawl through the trash without getting sensitivity, others may experience a stomach upset very easily. If you suspect you have a sensitive dog, then choosing a limited ingredient formula is often a smart move.
- When it comes to searching for a quality brand of dog food, pay careful attention to the quality of the protein, fat, fiber, and added vitamins and minerals. In general, the fewer ingredients the better off you’ll be – at least until you can calculate which ingredients your dog is more sensitive to.
