- Home
- Best Products
- Dog Food
- Best Dog Food for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach 2024
Best Dog Food for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach 2024
Written by a Labrador Retriever lover Tim Falk
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 05/18/2023, edited: 11/13/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Choosing the right diet for your fur-baby is a crucial responsibility for every pet parent. But if your dog has a sensitive stomach, finding the best food for their troubled tummy can be a challenge.
You’ll want to look for a food that is nutritionally suited to your pet’s size, activity levels, and life stage. At the same time, the food should also be designed to be gentle on the stomach and reduce the risk of digestive issues. Diets for sensitive stomachs commonly feature a limited range of easily digestible ingredients, plus added prebiotics and probiotics to improve overall digestive health.
Keep reading for our pick of the top 5 dog foods for dogs with a sensitive stomach.
Overview
Wellness Core Digestive Health
4.5
Best overall pick
If you’re searching for the best dog food for dogs with a sensitive stomach, the Wellness Core Digestive Health range is our top pick. Designed to be nutritious and delicious for your pup, plus easily digestible at the same time, this dry and wet food range can help keep your dog’s tummy troubles in check.
Wellness Core Digestive Health recipes feature probiotics, digestive enzymes, and a combination of prebiotic fibers to support a healthy gut. There are chicken, fish, and plant-based dry food recipes available, along with foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of small and large breeds, puppies, and seniors. And if your dog prefers wet food, you can also choose from chicken, beef, and lamb pâté as well as a meal topper.
Wellness CORE Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Wellness Core Digestive Health
- Contains a blend of prebiotic fibers to support a healthy microbiome.
- Available in dry and wet food recipes.
- Digestive fiber from fruits and vegetables.
Considerations & concerns
- Not the cheapest option.
- Some pet parents may prefer foods with fewer ingredients.
- Features beet pulp, which is a controversial ingredient in the eyes of some pet parents.
What pet parents say about Wellness Core Digestive Health
“One of my dogs is allergic to multiple proteins and gluten. The brand that we usually buy is unavailable for an undetermined amount of time so we had to switch with hardly any notice to this food. It is such good quality and so similar to our previous food that my dogs had no trouble with the transition.”
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company, Inc.Canidae Pure
4.5
Vet recommended
A limited-ingredient diet can be a good choice if your dog suffers from food allergies and intolerances. And if you want to feed this type of diet to your pup, we recommend checking out the Pure range from Canidae.
This range features novel protein sources like salmon, wild boar, and bison — pawfect for dogs with meat protein allergies. Candiae Pure products are also made with 10 key ingredients or fewer.
Canidae Pure products include dry foods, wet foods, treats, and toppers, with a mix of grain-inclusive and grain-free choices available. There are also foods designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of puppies and seniors, so there’s something in the range to suit every pet.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s licensed veterinary consultants, personally recommends Canidae to her clients:
“Canidae dog food is made with high-quality animal protein sources, providing essential amino acids, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can trigger allergies.“
Canidae Pure Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Canidae Pure
- Made with 10 key ingredients or fewer.
- Includes a range of alternative protein sources.
- Also available in recipes designed for small breeds.
Considerations & concerns
- Check with your veterinarian before deciding if a limited-ingredient diet is right for your dog.
- Some recipes aren’t a hit with picky eaters.
- Some pet parents complain about the amount of crumbs in bags of dry food.
What pet parents say about Canidae Pure
“My German Shepherd has a hard time with some foods like lamb and other unknowns that seem to be common in most food. I never know what food will and won't work vs what she will eat and what's best for her diet. This brand was suggested but it was expensive so I tried other things first. Sure enough, after many failures getting her off the more expensive pharmacy-grade food, this was the winner. I'm not super knowledgeable of what's in dog food, but whatever is in this she has really thrived. No diet issues, she eats it, and has a lovely smile. I've been getting her winter weight off. So as long as I stick with the right quantity, I don't see her gaining unnecessary pounds. I give her the full amount in the morning and by the end of the day it's gone. What more could I ask for?”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Canidae.Ollie
5
Best fresh option
Next on our list of the best dog foods for dogs with a sensitive stomach, Ollie offers fresh dog food made with human-grade ingredients and delivered to your door. After you answer some questions about your pup’s age, breed, and lifestyle, Ollie will develop a customized meal plan for your fur-baby.
There are multiple recipes to choose from, including baked varieties if you prefer to feed dry food. The available options are:
- Fresh Beef with Sweet Potatoes
- Fresh Chicken with Carrots
- Fresh Turkey with Blueberries
- Fresh Lamb with Cranberries
- Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes
- Baked Chicken with Carrots
If your pooch has a sensitive stomach, you might like to try them on the Ollie Fresh Turkey Dish With Blueberries. It features fiber-rich butternut squash to aid digestion and help your dog feel fuller for longer, plus lentils and blueberries to support digestive health.
Ollie Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Ollie
- Recipes formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.
- Uses human-grade ingredients.
- Cooked in US kitchens and formulated to suit all life stages.
Considerations & concerns
- Not a cheap option.
- Some buyer complaints about poor customer service.
- Fresh is not as convenient as dry food.
What pet parents say about Ollie
“My dog goes absolutely crazy for their food. The fresh turkey recipe really made his poops consistent in hardness and in schedule. I am overall very happy with the meals for my companion.”
Read more reviews on Ollie.
Product image sourced from the Ollie website. Copyright Ollie Pets, Inc.
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
4
Vet recommended
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, this Blissful Belly formula from Blue Buffalo has been developed from the ground up to be gentle on the stomach. There are two products available in the Blissful Belly range:
- A dry formula that comes in 4-pound, 11-pound, and 24-pound bags.
- A wet food that comes in 12.5-ounce cans.
Both of these foods feature prebiotic fiber to help maintain digestive health, and include real chicken as the first ingredient. And with both formulas developed with the aim of being easily digestible and maintaining stool quality, they can help settle your fur-baby’s sensitive stomach.
Blue Buffalo is another brand that Dr. Jeremiah personally recommends to her clients — she says its limited-ingredient recipes make it one of the best foods for dogs with sensitive stomachs:
“Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs. They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”
Read our full Blue Buffalo dog food review to learn more about the brand's products, history, recalls, and more.
Blue Buffalo Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Blue Buffalo
- Features prebiotics known as fructooligosaccharides to help maintain the balance of good bacteria in the gut.
- Contains flax seeds with fiber for digestive health and omega 3s for healthy skin and coat.
- Formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists.
Considerations & concerns
- Not a good choice if your dog is allergic or sensitive to chicken.
- Some buyers report that their dogs simply weren’t interested in this food.
- Some buyers complain about the smell of the dry food formula.
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo
“My labradoodle is a healthy [dog] but sometimes her poop would get soft and she would have diarrhea every once in a while. I tried probiotics and other food brands, but nothing worked. However, since changing to Blissful Belly her poop has been solid and she doesn’t have stomach issues anymore. She also would be picky and would not want to eat kibble without toppers, but that’s not the case anymore and she will eat Blissful Belly dry without anything else on it. Highly, highly recommend.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach
4.5
Best grain-free option
If a grain-free diet is the answer to your dog’s tummy troubles, the Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach range has got you covered. Designed to promote good gut health, it features recipes that use alternative protein sources alongside a range of ingredients free of grains and gluten. There are 4 products in the range, including wet and dry foods:
- Buck Wild Sensitive Stomach with Venison, Potato, & Pumpkin (dry food)
- Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Salmon Recipe with Vegetables (wet food)
- Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Cold Water Salmon & Vegetable Recipe (dry food)
- Wild Heart Sensitive Stomach Quail, Chickpea, & Pumpkin Recipe (dry food)
Featuring probiotics to support a healthy gut and other ingredients designed to nourish the good bacteria in your dog’s GI system, these Solid Gold recipes are well worth checking out to help your dog’s sensitive stomach.
Solid Gold Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Solid Gold
- Features probiotics to support gut health.
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids support healthy skin and coat.
- No corn, wheat, or soy.
Considerations & concerns
- Not a cheap option.
- Some pet parents complain about the strong odor of some recipes.
- Some buyers complain that the kibble is too large for small dogs.
What pet parents say about Solid Gold
"My newly rescued Husky came with a very messed up digestive system. I tried several good dry foods but nothing helped until I tried Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach. She loves it and is improving. Thank you Solid Gold."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Solid Gold Pet, LLC.
FAQ
Is my dog’s sensitive stomach a sign of a more serious health problem?
What are the signs of a sensitive stomach in dogs?
What helps a dog with a sensitive stomach?
How can I transition a dog with a sensitive stomach to a new food?
My dog is recovering from a bout of diarrhea and/or vomiting. What can I do to help their sensitive stomach recover?
How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?