Signs, symptoms and causes
Dogs of all ages and breeds can suffer from sensitive stomachs. Obvious signs include vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea. Lack of appetite, hypersalivation, and excessive gas are also symptoms.
Some dogs are born with a sensitive tummy - you might notice from an early age they struggle to digest food and have abnormal stools. Other times, the condition is a result of illness or lifestyle factors.
If you’ve ruled out the above potential causes, chances are the food they’re eating is highly processed and full of carbohydrates.
What’s wrong with carbohydrates?
Dogs and cats have no biological requirement for carbohydrates, which is a problem because most commercial dog foods are packed with them!
Not only do carbohydrates put stress on the digestive system in the form of gut irritation and inflammation, they’re also more likely to remain in the colon because they’re difficult to break down entirely.
What’s the best dog food for sensitive stomachs?
A meat-rich, carnivorous diet provides the right amino acids and digestive enzymes, with no fillers like carbohydrates.
If you want the convenience of kibble, you might want to consider a raw alternative diet like ZIWI Peak®. Our gentle air-drying process helps protect those nutrients while being easy to store and serve.
What else can help?
- Limited ingredient diet: When transitioning a dog with a sensitive stomach, start with a single protein - and only introduce another when the gut has had time to adjust.
- The power of green tripe: Most ZIWI Peak recipes contain species-appropriate green tripe - a natural probiotic which helps with gut health.
- Wet vs. air-dried food: Wet foods could help with constipation as they contain more moisture and fiber.
Sources:
http://rawfed.com/myths/digestible.html
http://thewholedog.org/artcookedfood.html
https://wagwalking.com/condition/sensitive-stomach/
https://healthydogma.com/11-ways-carbs-hurt-your-dog/
