Symptoms of Sensitive Stomach in Dogs
Symptoms of digestive trouble may include:
Types
Sensitive stomach in a dog can affect any breed and any age of pet. Old dogs and small dog breeds tend to be more commonly affected; however, this condition can affect all canines. Gassy dog breeds, whether young or getting along in age, include the Pug, Golden Retriever, and Boxer. The vet can recommend the best dog foods for dogs with gas which may include wet food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Wet food can work its way through the digestive tract easily, helping the stomach and intestines to function without strain.
A condition causing soft stool, lack of appetite or gas can be the primary issue in any dog, or it may be the secondary result of another ailment. Additionally, chronic symptoms can lead to other secondary issues as a result. For example, if your dog has a delicate digestive system and their diet is irritating their gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to chronic vomiting and ulceration. If your dog is older, discuss the best food for senior dogs with sensitive stomachs to help get their gastrointestinal system back in proper working order. Testing for underlying disorders may be recommended if your companion has concerning symptoms that are causing health-related issues.
Signs That Your Dog Has an Upset Stomach
How do you know if your dog has an upset stomach? Many of the signs are similar to what you experience when your own tummy hurts. Signs include:
Causes of stomach issues can be internal (inside the stomach) or external (outside the stomach). Internal causes for an upset stomach include dietary indiscretion (a fancy way of saying your dog ate something they shouldnt), food allergies, overeating, ulcers, tumors, parasites and intestinal blockages. External causes include liver or kidney problems, pancreatitis, hormonal issues, brain problems, inner ear problems, cancer, pain, heatstroke and stress.
What causes a dog to have a sensitive stomach?
The most common cause of a sensitive stomach in dogs is their diet. Some dogs can’t handle a sudden change in diet, so swapping food brands or flavours, feeding table scraps or giving too many treats can cause problems.
Some animals may have developed a food sensitivity meaning they are intolerant, or even allergic, to certain ingredients. Beef, milk and chicken are the three common food allergies in pets, but your dog may be sensitive to others.
Unresolved parasite or bacterial infections can make your dog’s stomach more sensitive, meaning he may be fine on bland food but flares up again when he’s given something a little harder to digest.
The GI Tract and Sensitive Stomach with Dr. Karen Becker, DVM
Unfortunately, we tend to only learn about our dog’s stomach after we encounter some mishaps. You may wake to an unpleasant smell, or come across a poop-shaped present after a night apart. These are the tell-tale signs. Without them, it’s tough to tell when somethings up. Sensitive stomachs are very common among dogs. Just like us, dogs’ digestive systems disagree with a lot of the things they eat – hard to believe when you consider how quickly they guzzle up their food. The issue is: how do we know? Is your dog’s upset stomach something more serious, or is it a temporary bug, or something they’ve eaten when you’re not looking? As a dog owner, making that decision to switch your dog’s diet is tricky if you’re not entirely sure.
That’s probably why you’re here, reading this blog. So, let’s get started. We’ve pulled together all the things pet parents need to know about sensitive stomach dog food. After reading this, you should have a much clearer idea of whether your dog needs to make the switch.
The clue is in the name. This type of food is designed for dogs who have sensitive stomachs, it’s basically dog food that’s easy to digest. It consists of highly digestible and natural high quality ingredients. That’s because these are far more gentle on your dog’s digestive tract. Food with high quality, sensitive stomach ingredients is always a safer bet. They’re much less likely to contain processed and unnatural ingredients and nasty chemicals that can upset a lot of dogs. These types of food are sometimes a bit more expensive, but we think our dogs deserve the best. Good quality food guarantees this.
The most common ways to tell if your dog has a sensitive stomach include signs of consistently loose and messy stools, diarrhoea or feeling of nausea. Other tell-tale signs include:
As mentioned, there’s no pleasant way to find out whether your dog has a sensitive stomach – and you’ll often have no choice if and when you do find out their stools. 
If your dog is experiencing severe levels of these symptoms, then we advise you consult your vet as soon as you can. If it appears to be nothing too serious, then maybe switching to sensitive stomach food for dogs is worth considering.
A sensitive stomach can be caused by a number of factors. Unfortunately, for some dogs it can be something they inherit, which means owners have to source sensitive stomach puppy food right from the start of puppyhood. A sudden change of diet may also be the reason behind your dog’s upset stomach. This is common. As dog owners, we’re always looking for the best food for our dogs. That’s great, but the more frequently we change our dogs’ diets, the less time they have to get used to the ingredients. Once you find a bag of food your dog likes, try sticking with it. For many dogs, some ingredients just don’t sit well. Certain types of meat can play havoc and dogs can quickly develop allergic or intolerant reactions. That’s why plenty of owners opt to buy hypoallergenic dog food – designed specifically for those with allergies or intolerances. Grains are also known to be particularly difficult for some dogs to digest. 
Despite this, you’ll still find them in many commercial, mass-market bags of dog food. That’s because grains are predominantly cheap fillers – cost effective but lacking in nutritious value. You can discover more about grains and our dog foods in our ultimate guide to grain-free dog food. For other dogs, a sensitive stomach may be triggered by something that’s out of our control. Things like worms and bacterial infections can sneak their way into our dog’s food – or stuff they’ve eaten elsewhere. Dog breeds prone to sensitive stomachs
Unfortunately some breeds are considered more likely than others to suffer with a sensitive stomach. Some breeds most commonly associated with stomach sensitivity are:
Of course, any breed can suffer from a sensitive stomach, if you think your dog may be having an issue we recommend a visit to your vet to get some professional advice.
It’s always a good idea to consult your vet, if you’re worried your dog is suffering from a sensitive stomach. They’ll be able to identify the problem and point you in the right direction, whether that’s the right medicine or changing your dog’s diet. Before talking to your vet, there are a number of things you can do to get an idea of the problem. These include:
It’s also worth noting that dogs sometimes make themselves feel ill when they eat their food too quickly. To find out if this is the case, divide their food into smaller portion sizes. If their sensitive stomach goes away, this may well be a long-term adjustment you have to make at dinner time. What to feed a dog with a sensitive stomach? The food you should feed a dog on a sensitive stomach includes boiled plain rice, and cooked chicken. Although, if your dogs sensitive stomach is an ongoing problem, then look for a long-term option like a sensitive stomach kibble or wet dog food.
Once you’ve identified that your dog has a problem with their stomach, it’s time to start sourcing a type of food that agrees with them and still provides them with enough nutritious value and all the energy in the world. But what food is best for this?
As you know, there are plenty of things out there that can upset their stomachs. It’s, therefore, our job as owners to buy food that gives our dogs the best chance of healthy digestion. As mentioned before, high quality ingredients is one way to guarantee this.
While dogs have short acidic digestive tracts – which allow them to digest animal fat quickly – they should not be allowed to eat too much of it. Too much fat can lead to serious stomach issues, like pancreatitis. Just like us, dogs need to be fed things in moderation.
Dogs are carnivores and if you look back at their ancestors, they ate predominantly meat-based diets. Of course, in the wild dogs did consume some grains, notably those in the stomachs of their prey. But they were never designed to eat grains alone. That’s why many struggle to digest commercial bags with such high grain content – sometimes 50/50 alongside the protein source. At Beco, we know how temperamental dogs’ stomachs can be. That’s why we’ve created a diverse and delicious range of grain free dry dog food for sensitive stomachs, all of which are easy to digest and great for dogs with digestive problems. Our puppy food is also a fantastic option for puppies with sensitive stomachs.
There’s a fine balance when it comes to what we feed our dogs. Ensuring you buy a healthy, nutritious, digestible and stomach friendly bag for an affordable price is sometimes hard. But they are out there – you’ve just got to look a little more closely. Like all things to do with our dogs, we should always give our best shot to give them the best chance.
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