Choosing a suitable food for your puppy can be overwhelming. How do you know which one to pick? Like humans, puppies are all unique, and some will have different dietary requirements. While some puppies may be able to eat various foods, others have more sensitive stomachs that can be easily upset by a diet change.

How do I know if my puppy has a sensitive stomach?

Puppies with sensitive stomachs might have persistently soft or runny stools, vomit regularly (particularly after mealtimes), or have bad flatulence or a noisy tummy. A few unfortunate puppies could experience all of these problems.

Bear in mind, though, that a vast number of different factors can cause these symptoms. This means it’s essential to work closely with your veterinarian to determine whether the cause of your puppy’s symptoms is dietary-related or something else altogether.

How do I know if my puppy’s food is upsetting their stomach?

Puppies with a sensitive stomach will often experience symptoms due to a change in food, being fed at an unusual time, or sometimes just eating too quickly. If, however, your puppy has had digestive troubles from day one, how do you know whether their food is to blame or something else entirely?

Other causes of an upset stomach in puppies include:

Parasites

The breeder should have regularly wormed your puppy since birth, and it is crucial to ensure that you continue with a regular worming routine once you bring your puppy home. Your veterinarian will advise you on the best product for your puppy.

Change in Routine

Any sort of stress has the potential to give your puppy an upset stomach, and coming to a new home for the first time and being away from mum and littermates is undoubtedly a stressful time for your puppy. Once they have been with you a few days and seem settled in their new home, any dietary upsets should subside.

Disease

Your veterinarian will want to rule out any illness or disease that might be affecting your puppy’s gut. If your puppy seems unwell in any way, then contact your veterinarian immediately.

What is the best food to feed my puppy if they have a sensitive stomach?

First and foremost, whichever diet you choose to feed, it is vital to select one designed for puppies. Puppies have different nutritional requirements from adult dogs, and specially formulated puppy foods will ensure your puppy has all the nutrients he needs for healthy growth and development.

Which puppy food you choose depends on your puppy’s food sensitivities. Choosing a dog food for sensitive stomachs can be a minefield. There are many different commercially available foods designed for puppies with sensitive stomachs. These have a range of names, including “sensitive” or “digestive care.” Essentially, they are all specially formulated so that puppies will find them easier to digest.

Does your puppy have an allergy?

If your puppy has an intolerance or allergy to a specific ingredient, then eliminating this ingredient is the most obvious step. This exclusion might be easier said than done, as it can sometimes be tricky to work out what exactly is your puppy’s allergy. Your veterinarian might suggest feeding a prescription food as a diet trial.

Once his digestive upset has resolved, you can then reintroduce ingredients into their diet one by one to see if there is a reaction. This process can be time-consuming, so it might be easier to trial your puppy on food with entirely different ingredients from their current food. This method is unlikely to tell you what your puppy is allergic to, but it might be quicker to find him a type of food that agrees with them.

Be patient!

Bear in mind that your puppy’s gut can take a while to recover, even once you feed your dog a suitable diet, and it might take several weeks for your puppy’s digestive issues to resolve completely. 

Is wet or dry food better?

Specially formulated foods for sensitive stomachs will usually come in dry and wet forms. Either one is suitable for your puppy’s sensitive tummy, and which one you choose will come down to your (and your dog’s) preference. It is worth noting that feeding exclusively wet food can make your puppy more prone to dental disease in the future so try to incorporate some dry kibble into their diet if you can.

Can supplements help my puppy’s sensitive stomach?

Certain supplements can help your puppy’s digestion. Probiotics and prebiotics can help maintain healthy gut flora and help resolve digestive upsets more quickly. Other supplements such as pumpkin can help by providing an added source of fiber. Consult your veterinarian before adding supplements to your puppy’s diet, as some types of supplements could do more harm than good.

What else can I do to help my puppy’s sensitive stomach?

If your puppy is wolfing down his food, then puzzle feeders or slow feeders can help slow them down! Depending on their age, puppies should be eating three to four small meals a day, rather than a large amount of food just once or twice daily. Keeping to a routine and feeding your puppy roughly the same times each day can also help regulate their digestion.

Conclusion

Puppies can have sensitive stomachs for various reasons, and it isn’t always a straightforward problem to solve. If your puppy has digestive troubles, then the first thing to do is get them checked by a veterinarian. The doctor will advise you on worming your puppy and ruling out any illness that your puppy might have. 

If your puppy has a sensitive stomach, then finding suitable food will help to make them a much happier pup. It will also mean less cleaning up after your doggy!

Written by Gemma Cliffin MRCVS
Gemma is an experienced small animal vet who combines her love of writing with working in practice. Since her graduation from the University of Liverpool in 2014, she has worked in a wide variety of roles including first opinion practice, as a night vet, and as a locum vet.