Stomach troubles are very common in dogs. Sometimes it's just a quick bought of nausea or diarrhea due to Fido eating something he shouldn't have. Other times it is a chronic problem that can only be solved by switching the dog to a more appropriate diet. If your dog eats a wet diet, the best-canned dog food for a sensitive stomach may be just what he needs.
Finding the right food for a dog with a sensitive stomach can be a challenge. Even with some of the best-canned dog food brands out there, it may be difficult to pick one that works for your individual Fido. You'll need to scan the ingredients of every recipe to look for possible irritants. If you're not sure what is causing Fido's tummy troubles, a trip to the veterinarian is in order.
Once you find out what's causing the problem, you can find a solution. Sensitive stomach dog foods are usually made with limited ingredients to help weed out any possible irritants. These foods are also ideal for dogs with food allergies.
Unfortunately, finding the best-canned dog food for a sensitive stomach may take a good deal of trial and error. And, advice from friends and family may not help, as every sensitive dog is different. The food that worked well for your sister's dog may upset your dog's stomach.
Food for dogs with sensitive stomachs is usually made with higher quality and novel animal protein ingredients (e.g. duck, lamb, venison, or bison instead of beef or chicken). The ratios are usually different as well because most sensitive stomach recipes use a small number of ingredients to avoid triggers.
We'll go into more detail about each brand and why it is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs below, but for now, here is a look at the 7 canned dog food recipes that made the list:
| Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Recipe | Price | Value | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Food | $$ | $.18/oz | 4.5/5 |
| Dave's Pet Food Restricted Bland Diet | $$ | $.16/oz | 4.6/5 |
| Nature's Recipe Wet Food Cuts in Gravy | $ | $.09/oz | 3.9/5 |
| Wellness Simple Natural Limited Ingredient Food | $$$ | $.23/oz | 4.3/5 |
| Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach | $$ | $.12/oz | 4.0/5 |
| Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Wet Food | $$$ | $.19/oz | 4.1/5 |
| Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe | $$$$$ | $.82/oz | 4.0/5 |
* Click on the best-canned dog food for sensitive stomachs for more information or scroll down for reviews.
Helping Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
If you suspect that your dog is dealing with sensitive stomach issues, you need to figure out what is causing the problem before you run out and switch his diet. Is it possible that he ate something he shouldn't have? If so, it's likely that his digestive problems will clear up in a couple of days.
If the GI upset seems to be a chronic problem, your dog's diet is the most likely culprit. The symptoms of digestive problems could include diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive gas. Of course, a visit to the vet will rule out any illnesses that could be causing the symptoms.
Recent research has shown that the same few ingredients cause stomach upset in the majority of dogs with sensitive stomachs. These ingredients include:
wheat- beef
- dairy products
- chicken
- lamb
The best canned dog food for sensitive stomachs will avoid these ingredients. Choosing one of these foods for your dog will not be easy, but the formulas listed below have been specifically designed for sensitive stomachs based on the current research available. Also, these foods include things that some dogs may be lacking like fiber, minerals, vitamins, or pre-and probiotics.
Best Canned Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach?
top 7 most nutritious recipes for sensitive dogs
1Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Food
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin salmon and vegetable entrée is formulated for adult dogs with stomach and skin sensitivity problems. Its main ingredients are salmon and turkey, which are good sources of high-quality protein. Its taste and nutritional value is enhanced by fresh fruits and vegetables like apple, carrot, potato, and green beans. Vitamins and minerals were added for good measure.
- More sensitive stomach canned dog food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredient: Chicken Broth, Salmon, Carrots, Turkey, Potatoes, Green Beans, Potato Starch, Pea Protein, Sugar, Egg Whites, Chicken Fat, Dried Whey, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Carrageenan, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Dried Apple Pomace, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid), Taurine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate)
This entrée comes in a 12-piece pack of 12.8-oz cans with an easy-pull tab. Dog owners attest to their dog’s much-improved health since being placed on Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food. This helped ease down their grumbly stomach. Their sensitivities have become so much easier to manage. Their itching, scratching, and chewing have been significantly reduced, and their hairs have even started growing back.
Senior dogs that have finicky taste even find this agreeable to them. The soft texture is especially acceptable to those with some teeth missing. A problem sometimes occurs, however, because of irregular consistency in the loaf of this best-canned dog food for sensitive stomachs. There are batches that are too stiff or crumbly, which most dogs turn their nose up to.
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Most helpful review about this best canned dog food for sensitive stomach: “My dog has pretty severe allergies: general itching all over, very itchy paws (especially back ones) that she would lick and bite at until they were red, frequent yeast growth and severe ear infections (got so bad once that it…”
2Dave's Pet Food Restricted Bland Diet
For dogs with highly sensitive stomachs, Dave’s Pet Food offers their Restricted Bland Diet recipe offers a simple and easily digestible diet of chicken and rice. This bland recipe helps soothe queasy tummies which often occurs when a dog is stressed, or ill, or undergoing changes in its environment. Its ingredients include chicken, chicken liver, rice, water, and vitamin and mineral supplements.
- More sensitive stomach canned dog food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Chicken, Water Sufficient for Processing, Brewers Rice, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selelnite, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Proteinate), Natural Flavor, Salt, Carrageenan, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement)
This dog food has a thick consistency and dogs love it. Some pet owners mix this with kibbles so that they could stretch 1 can for a couple of days. They can only say that feeding their picky dogs has never been simpler because their dogs now don’t need so much wheedling as before. Dogs with sensitive stomachs, on the other hand, are thriving on Dave's Pet Food Restricted Bland Diet. This agrees with their tummies and causes no upsets. Plus, they have beautiful skin and coat and great energy.
Another good thing they like is that this canned dog food can be bought without a prescription, which is very convenient. We find its formulation to be gentle enough for puppies, seniors, and those recovering from surgery or other ailments. It has a slight smell but is bearable otherwise. Besides, it doesn’t bother the dogs.
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3Nature's Recipe Wet Food Cuts in Gravy
If your dog is sensitive to chicken, fish, or beef, Nature’s Recipe offers this stew that’s made with cuts of lamb meat in thick gravy. It contains rice and barley, which are excellent sources of highly digestible carbohydrates. It has peas and carrots for that added boost of natural nutrients and antioxidants.
- More sensitive stomach canned dog food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Lamb, Soy Protein Concentrate, Dried Egg Product, Brown Rice, Peas, Barley Flour, Carrots, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rice Flour, Brewer’s Yeast, Salt, Guar Gum, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Inositol, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Beta-carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Malted Barley Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Rosemary Extract
This healthful blend of highly-digestible chunky meat cuts and carbohydrates in mouthwatering gravy will definitely appeal to dogs. In fact, even picky ones show an unusual interest in this best-canned dog food for sensitive stomachs. Those with a delicate stomach, tolerate Nature's Recipe Wet Dog Food Cuts in Gravy well, too. They have no stomach upsets or loose stool, whatsoever. Some dogs do seem to find the gravy too thick, but that’s easily remedied on by adding a tablespoon of warm water.
Some canned foods are so difficult to take out from their can, but this one slides off clean. The chunky meats are a bit too chunky for some dogs, but if you don’t mind mashing the pieces before serving, this isn’t an issue. You can’t beat the price, too, which is really a steal.
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4Wellness Simple Natural Wet Canned Limited Ingredient Food
This best-canned dog food for sensitive stomachs from Wellness Natural Pet Food is a wet dog food with the right blend of high-quality protein and easily-digestible carbohydrates to support dog’s health with special consideration for their food intolerances. Its ingredients include high-quality turkey meat and potatoes combined with turkey broth, flaxseeds, and vitamin and mineral supplements. It does not contain meat by-products, corn, wheat, gluten, fillers or preservatives.
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Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Potatoes, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Chicory Root Extract, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplemen
Dogs love its semi-moist texture and consistency – neither runny nor dry – making it easy to mix with other food or served as is. Some pet owners heat Wellness Simple Natural Wet Canned Limited Ingredient Dog Food before serving, and they say that it draws out a nice aroma that their dogs love.
This grain-free LID dog food has been very helpful to some dogs with problematic IBD. For some, this has been the only food their dogs could tolerate, and you know what a relief it is to find a formula that at last agrees with your dog’s sensitive condition. It has also helped immensely in issues of gas, skin allergies, and chronic diarrhea.
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5Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice
Purina Pro Plan Focus Salmon & Rice Entrée Classic has a single source of protein (salmon) for easy digestion. This makes it easier to provide dogs with nourishment while avoiding certain meats and protein sources. It also contains rice, potato protein, carrots, and vitamins and minerals for sufficient energy and overall health.
- More sensitive stomach canned dog food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Salmon, Rice, Fish, Potato Protein, Corn Oil, Carrots, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite
This canned wet dog food has been proven many times to be quite effective in solving GI and skin issues in dogs. Some dogs that were fed with Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin still had occasional throwing up episodes with that food. Fortunately, their pet owners found Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice and were quite successful with the results. Indeed, different formulas for different dogs.
Dogs find it highly palatable, and in fact, dogs that haven’t had wet food their whole life before found this yummy at first try. While the fish smell can be quite offensive to some pet owners, this has not deterred dogs from wolfing down their share during mealtimes.
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6Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Wet Food
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet chicken and sweet potato formula are specially formulated for dogs that need to avoid ingredients they’re sensitive to. This LID wet dog food makes it easier for pet owners because of its shortlist of ingredients which includes chicken, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and vitamins and minerals.
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Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Dehydrated Potatoes, Chicken Liver, Chicken Meal, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamins (L-ASCORBYL-2-POLYPHOSPHATE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN C), VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, NIACIN, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACID), Minerals (ZINC PROTEINATE, ZINC SULFATE, FERROUS SULFATE, IRON PROTEINATE, COPPER SULFATE, COPPER PROTEINATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, MANGANESE PROTEINATE, CALCIUM IODATE, SODIUM SELENITE), Calcium Carbonate, Guar Gum, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavor, Carrageenan, Potassium Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Rosemary Extract
This provides balanced nutrition, calms gastrointestinal stress, and supports healthy skin and a lustrous coat. Dogs love the deep flavor and like it so much that it’s often used to make other foods (such as prescription food for special health issues) become more palatable. A spoonful or two of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Wet Dog Food usually does the trick and helps the other food settle well.
That only emphasizes what pet owners already know, that any dog food is only good enough if your dog eats it. It’s a good thing that this nutritionally-balanced food is also topnotch in the palatability department. It’s made for all life stages, too, so if you have multiple dogs in your family, this offers you yet another benefit – simplified meal planning and preparation.
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7Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe by Nature's Variety
Your dog’s wet food couldn’t possibly get any simpler than Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Rabbit Formula from Nature’s Variety. It has one animal protein source (which is a rabbit) and one vegetable (which is peas). These high-quality ingredients are blended in with vitamins and minerals to ensure adequate nutrition. Rabbit is novel meat, so dogs that react to other more common meat types would have a better chance with this.
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Ingredients: Rabbit, Water, Rabbit Liver, Peas, Dicalcium Phosphate, Montmorillonite Clay, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Choline Chloride
Peas are not only highly nutritious (vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and K, iron, zinc, manganese, protein, potassium), but they’re also high in fiber which is very important for dogs with digestive issues. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe by Nature's Variety helps to maintain a healthier weight and regulate blood glucose, too.
Rabbits are one of the most natural prey of dogs in the wild, so it’s not so surprising why dogs find this so delicious and easily becomes their favorite meal. More important is that this formula helps with food allergies and pet owners say that it has eased down on tummy upsets and itching in their dogs.
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