Best Dog Food for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach 2025

Home
Best Products
Dog Food
Best Dog Food for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach 2025

Written by a Labrador Retriever lover Tim Falk

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 05/18/2023, edited: 02/28/2025

Best Dog Food for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach 2025 image

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
Canidae Pure
Ollie
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach
FAQ

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

Editor's Choice

Up to 35% off with Chewy Autoship Shop on Petco

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.”

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?”

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.”

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.”

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?

From time to time, your dog will suffer from a bout of vomiting or diarrhea. In many cases, it’s no big deal and will resolve itself relatively quickly — especially if you take steps to manage your dog’s recovery with bland foods and small portion sizes.

But it’s also worth remembering that symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can indicate a range of more serious health problems. So if your dog’s upset stomach doesn’t return to normal within 24 hours, or if it’s a regularly recurring problem, take them to the vet for a check-up.

Your veterinarian will examine them to determine whether there are any underlying health issues at play. If those can be ruled out, your veterinarian will also be able to help you work out whether other issues, such as a sensitivity to a particular ingredient, are the cause of your pup’s tummy troubles.

What are the signs of a sensitive stomach in dogs?

Common signs of a sensitive stomach in dogs can include:

Loose stools
Diarrhea
Excess flatulence
Blood in stool
Nausea
Vomiting
Lack of appetite

If you notice these symptoms, get your dog checked out by a vet to rule out any other underlying medical causes before working out how to manage their sensitive stomach.

What helps a dog with a sensitive stomach?

There’s plenty you can do to help a dog with a sensitive stomach. One simple step is to switch to a food specifically designed for dogs with food sensitivities. These foods often feature limited ingredients and novel protein sources to minimize the risk of tummy troubles, along with high fiber and probiotics to support healthy digestion. Speak to your vet about how to find the best dog food for your dog.

How can I transition a dog with a sensitive stomach to a new food?

The key to transitioning your dog to a new food is to do it gradually. Simply replacing one food with another at your pet’s next meal increases the risk of an upset stomach, so it’s best to take your time switching your fur-baby to their new diet over a period of a week or more.

Start by mixing 25% new food and 75% of your dog’s old food together at mealtimes. Do this for a couple of days to allow them to adapt to the new ingredients, then increase the ratio to 50:50. On days 5 and 6, you can upgrade to a 75% new food 25% old food ratio, then graduate to feeding just the new diet at the end of the week.

My dog is recovering from a bout of diarrhea and/or vomiting. What can I do to help their sensitive stomach recover?

The best approach is to give your dog’s stomach a chance to ease back to normal. Withhold food for a little while, but ensure your dog has access to water so they can stay hydrated. Then, sticking to plain foods (like boiled chicken, rice, and canned pumpkin), avoiding rich foods, and feeding small portions will give their digestive system a chance to settle down. As their condition improves, you can slowly transition back to their regular diet.

How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?

Our editorial team conducts independent research when choosing which foods to feature and how to rate them. Our paw ratings are largely based on the ingredients and nutritional content of each food. Here’s a quick guide to what our paw ratings mean:

1 paw: High filler content, meat not listed as first ingredient
2 paws: Meat meal, bone meal or meat by-products listed as first ingredient
3 paws: Named meat listed as first ingredient (e.g., chicken)
4 paws: Same as 3 paws, but also made with whole, limited ingredients and minimal processing
5 paws: Same as 4 paws, but is also veterinarian or veterinary body approved and includes human-grade ingredients
Half-paws may be awarded for extra benefits, like affordability, trustworthiness, etc.