Dogs with sensitive stomachs are difficult to deal with because you never know if the problem is temporary or a sign of a more significant problem. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, try not to panic, we can help.
This guide explains what causes sensitives and the best types of dog food for sensitive stomachs.
What Causes Dogs to Have a Sensitive Stomach?
There are a few common causes of sensitive dog stomachs.
Food Allergies/Sensitivities
While food allergies and sensitivities are two very separate things (allergies are an immune reaction, but sensitivity doesn’t reach that level), we’ve lumped them together for this article because they both result in digestive problems for dogs.
When eating a food they’re allergic or sensitive to, dogs can have different digestion problems like vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Common allergies/sensitivities include:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Grains
- Dairy
If you want to learn more about food allergies in dogs, our article will give you all the information you need!
Diet
Even without allergies, what your dog eats can cause them to have a sensitive stomach. This is because many commercial dog foods are full of fillers, chemicals, and preservatives that can irritate your dog’s stomach. Depending on the formula, some vitamins and minerals may be missing, which can cause your dog to become deficient in those nutrients, potentially leading to a sensitive stomach.
Also, it may be time to stop giving them table scraps. A dog’s digestive system is different from a human’s, so while food may not be toxic to dogs, extra spices, flavors, or oils can cause sensitive tummy problems.
Illness
A dog’s sensitive stomach could be due to some illness or condition. For example, inflammatory conditions like Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) can cause a dog’s stomach to be sensitive all the time.
Temporary illnesses like a bacterial infection or gastroenteritis, which can be caught through contact with other dogs or eating something they shouldn’t, can also cause a sensitive stomach while they are healing.
Parasites
Parasites are a common problem for dogs and can cause a variety of digestive problems by making their home in the digestive system. This can lead to sensitive stomachs due to constant irritation.
Toxins
Your dog could have a sensitive stomach from eating a potentially toxic food or chemical. If you aren’t sure what human foods are toxic to dogs, we highly recommend you read our article about the subject.
Stress
Despite being a source of joy, dogs experience stress and anxiety just like people do. Depending on their stress level, they may develop a sensitive stomach or even lose their appetite altogether.
Stress can come from a new move, separation anxiety, a new person in the home, loud sounds, or basically any change they aren’t used to.
Symptoms Your Dog Has a Sensitive Stomach
A lot of symptoms of a sensitive stomach will show through your dog’s bowel movements, like loose stool or changing colors. (Learn what your dog’s poop reveals about their health.) Other symptoms include:
- Appetite changes
- Bloating
- Changes in behavior
- Really smelly gas (smellier than their usual farts)
- Vomiting
How to Help a Dog with a Sensitive Stomach Naturally
Here are six natural solutions to alleviate occasional sensitive stomach problems.
1. Feed Bland Foods
Just like with humans, bland foods are great for sensitive stomachs, especially if it’s unusual for your dog to have a sensitive stomach. Bland food lets them eat without a lot of effort to digest.
The most common food pet parents feed their dog includes:
- Pumpkin
- Bone broth
- Plain, lightly cooked protein
2. Change to an All-Natural Diet
If your dog has constant sensitive stomach issues, it’s time to switch to an all-natural diet to improve their stomach health. The best dog food for sensitive stomachs is packed with whole food ingredients that give your dog essential nutrients without chemicals and preservatives.
Best of all, your dog will probably prefer the taste to kibble!
Is Grain-Free Bad for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs?
When people change to a natural diet, they sometimes think they need to go grain-free as well because so much commercial food uses them for filler. Grain-free diets aren’t bad for dogs unless they are allergic to grains.
Grains used in proper portions provide an energy source so a dog’s body can do daily activities with ease.
3. Switch Protein Sources
As mentioned before, your dog could be allergic or sensitive to the protein source in their meals. Try switching to a different source, such as fish or lamb. It may solve all your dog’s problems.
4. Add Probiotics and Supplements
Your dog’s sensitive stomach could be due to needing extra help with the digestion process. Adding probiotics can help their sensitivity problems. Probiotics are full of good bacteria that help with digestion. When the stomach has too much bad bacteria, a lot of digestive problems occur.
Other helpful supplements include vitamins and fiber or mineral supplements.
5. Use Tummy-Soothing Ingredients
Besides bland food, did you know there are specific ingredients known to soothe tummy troubles? Adding these ingredients to your dog’s meal may help with sensitivity issues:
Plain pumpkin: It has high amounts of fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, and E, and various minerals.
Skinless sweet potato: This also has a lot of fiber and minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium.
If you want to learn more about foods that can calm an upset stomach, make sure to read this article.
6. Address Stress
If the sensitivity is due to stress, it’s best to address that stress. To do that, you need to figure out why they’re so stressed out. A variety of methods can help ease stress, such as:
- Creating and maintaining the same schedule
- Ensuring that your dog gets plenty of attention from you
- Giving them a safe and quiet environment when company comes over
- Playing with them more for stimulation
- Walking them more to get rid of anxious energy
There Are Sensitive Stomach Solutions
At the core of every dog’s sensitive stomach, there is a cause—many of which have to do with nutrition. Make creating healthy and tasty meals for your dogs easy with whole-food meals from Dr. Harveys.
Shop our collection of dog food today!
