natural balance dog food for sensitive stomach
The Best Dog Foods For A Sensitive Stomach
Your dog may suffer from a sensitive stomach. Occasional digestive upset is normal for dogs and puppies, but when you start to notice the symptoms occurring more frequently, it could be a sign of a problem. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, dont assume that you have to start feeding him a homemade diet. It is not uncommon for dogs to develop sensitive stomachs or skin allergies. Some pets even become allergic to certain dog food ingredients, requiring a diet addressed by a recipe with limited ingredients.
Before you find the right dog food, youll need to determine what is causing your dogs sensitive stomach. Afterwards, finding the best food for a dog with a sensitive stomach can be a challenge. To help owners, weve compiled a list of the best dog foods for sensitive stomachs. Keep reading to learn more about this digestive issue and what to feed your dog or puppy to maintain a healthy diet and minimize allergies.
Symptoms of Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
The term sensitive stomach is pretty vague and generic. Depending which veterinarian you ask, you might receive several different definitions. However, dogs with sensitive stomachs generally show symptoms like vomiting, loose stools, and frequent gas. Lets take a closer look at each of these symptoms.
When your dog gets into something he shouldnt, whether its something dead he found in the yard or some fatty table scraps he grabbed from the counter, vomiting is his bodys way of getting rid of the offending substance.
When vomiting becomes frequent or if it is paired with additional symptoms like lethargy or diarrhea, it may be a sign of sensitive stomach. Loose stools on their own, or other changes in bowel movements, can also be a symptom.
Many dogs experience occasional flatulence and it is often related to their diet. Sometimes, however, your dog may experience gas if he eats too quickly or if he has some kind of gastrointestinal disorder.
If you notice that your dogs gas develops shortly after he eats a meal and that it happens fairly consistently, it may be a sign of sensitive stomach.
What Causes Sensitive Stomachs in Dogs?
For many dogs with sensitive stomachs, it isnt always a problem with a specific ingredient. More commonly, it is a matter of inconsistency if your dogs diet is frequently changing, it could trigger digestive upset.
There are also certain ingredients used in pet foods that can make your dogs digestive system work a little harder than its used to things like corn, wheat, and soy ingredients, for example. Similarly, it could be that he is sensitive (or allergic) to a particular ingredient.
To determine whether a sensitive stomach is your dogs problem, start by simplifying his diet. Cut out all treats and table scraps for a week or two and then see how hes doing. If your dogs problems have mostly resolved, it is likely that the variability in his diet was to blame for his sensitivity.
If you cut out treats and table scraps but your dog still exhibits symptoms, it is likely to be a problem with one (or more) of the ingredients in his food.
Your next step is to switch him to a product made with a unique source of protein and carbohydrate that he hasnt had before ideally, one made with a limited number of ingredients to limit the risk for digestive problems.
You should also make sure that all of the ingredients are of high quality because fillers and artificial additives are more difficult to digest. Look for a formula rich in protein, moderate in fat, and supplemented with digestible carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
Best Dog Food For A Sensitive Stomach
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dog Food
If you suspect that your dogs digestive problems are caused by an ingredient in his food, you might consider switching to a formula that features novel proteins like venison, duck, or lamb. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dog Food comes in several different formulas, so you can choose the one that doesnt contain whatever your dog is sensitive too. These recipes are packed with protein and free from artificial additives, so you can feel good about whichever recipe you choose.
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Adult Dry Food
The Blue Buffalo Basics line of products is designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies. Each recipe features a limited number of ingredients with a novel source of protein and carbohydrate to maintain high digestibility. Each recipe contains a single source of high-quality animal protein with supplements to ensure nutritional balance.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Food
Merricks Limited Ingredient Diet line of products contains five protein options (chicken, duck, lamb, salmon, and turkey) as well as grain-free, gluten-free carbohydrates to ensure digestibility. Each recipe features a single source of animal protein with a balance of omega fatty acids and beneficial supplements. Plus, all of Merricks products are made in the USA with all-natural ingredients.
The Best Puppy Food For Sensitive Stomach
Choosing a dog food formula can be tricky because you want to strike the right balance of protein and fat to support energy as well as growth and development, but you dont want to go overboard on calories and put your puppy at risk for obesity or overgrowth. When you throw a sensitive stomach into the mix, things get even more complicated.
Fortunately for you, weve already done the hard work to bring you our recommendations for the best puppy foods for sensitive stomachs:
Canidae Grain-Free PURE Foundations LID
The Canidae company is known for producing high-quality pet foods and this Grain-Free PURE Foundations LID formula is no exception. Made with fresh chicken, this recipe contains just 9 key ingredients plus beneficial supplements to make it gentle on your puppys digestion. It contains 30% protein and 12% fat which exceeds your puppys minimum nutritional needs without going too high in fat content that you have to worry about digestive upset.
Holistic Select Grain-Free Puppy Health Dry Food
The Holistic Select company believes in the power of natural ingredients to nourish your puppys body from the inside out. This particular recipe is grain-free which greatly reduces the risk for digestive upset and it is made with only the highest quality ingredients to ensure digestibility. It contains optimal levels of protein and fat to support growth and development and it is free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives. It also comes in a large- and giant-breed formula.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Formula
If your puppy has a sensitivity to specific ingredients, you need a brand that offers a wide variety of recipes Natural Balance is that brand. Their Limited Ingredient Diets are made with a select number of high-quality ingredients, many of which are unique which makes them less likely to trigger food allergies and sensitivities. They are all made with a single source of high-quality protein and supplemented with limited (highly digestible) carbohydrates.
The Best Canned Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs
Some dogs with sensitive stomachs tolerate canned food better than kibble. If you choose to feed your dog canned food, know that it is just as important that you take your time to select a high-quality product as it is if you were feeding a dry food product.
To give you a place to start your search, here are a few recommended canned dog foods for sensitive stomachs:
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Canned Food
The Wellness company is known for producing a wide variety of products for a wide variety of needs. Their Simple line of pet foods is designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies. These recipes are made with high-quality, easily digestible ingredients like turkey, duck, lamb, oatmeal, and potato. They are all-natural and free from gluten, grains, and artificial additives. Plus, the wet food formula is rich in moisture to make it even easier to digest.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Canned Food
Though Natural Balance offers many different products, some of their most popular are their Limited Ingredient Diets. These recipes are perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs because they are made with a lower number of primary ingredients than the typical dog food and they feature novel ingredients like duck, buffalo, and sweet potato. There are several canned food recipes to choose from, so pick one made with ingredients your dog hasnt had before.
Natures Recipe Easy To Digest Stew
As you can guess from the name, Natures Recipe uses wholesome natural ingredients in their formulas and this particular line of products is designed for easy digestibility. Choose from high-quality proteins like chicken and lamb with digestible carbohydrates like rice, barley, peas, and carrots. These canned food recipes are gentle on your dogs digestion but still provide for his nutritional needs.
COMPLETE & BALANCED NUTRITION FOR ALL DOGS, BOTH THOSE WITH AND WITHOUT FOOD SENSITIVITIES
Each Limited Ingredient recipe has been created with ingredient-sensitive pets in mind and feature single-source animal proteins like bison or duck, omega-rich salmon, plant-based proteins, and carefully selected carbohydrates.
These recipes provide complete & balanced nutrition for all dogs, both those with sensitivities and those without. Whether your dog has dietary sensitivities, or you just want to keep it simple, we have a trusted formula that will feed your dogs greatness.
- Helps support for your pets skin, coat & digestive health
- An unmatched variety of single-source animal and plant-based proteins
- Balanced nutrition with no added fillers for easy, everyday feeding
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Dry)
The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient product line includes the 21 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Grain Free Sweet Potato and Venisonwas selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The second ingredient is venison. Although it is a quality item, raw venison contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The third ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
The next ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.
Even though pea and potato proteins contain over 80% protein, these ingredients would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like these can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. Thats because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.
Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.
In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
The next item is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial ingredient. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
After the natural flavor, we find dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Natural Balance product.
With 6 notable exceptions
First, we find flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Additionally, we note the use of dried potato products, the dried residue of the potato processing industry primarily consisting of potato pieces, peelings and culls.
With the exception of perhaps its caloric content and a small amount of protein, potato products are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.1
This recipe also includes taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient looks like an average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
Which means this Natural Balance product line contains
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry kibbles.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the pea and potato proteins, brewers yeast and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a recipe containing a moderate amount of meat.
