Dog digestive issues can make daily life difficult, and sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint the root cause. A sensitive stomach requires, among other things, slow changes and highly digestible fibres. In this blog post, our veterinarian Henna explains what to consider when feeding a dog with a sensitive stomach.
You're always welcome to contact our customer support (hello@alvarpet.com) for further questions and advice, and you can start by creating a personalised feeding recommendation for your dog! There are also various specialised diets for dogs suffering from digestive problems and gut diseases, which a veterinarian can recommend after further investigations.
Digestibility of food
One of the most important factors affecting the health of the digestive tract is the digestibility of the food. This means that the food is easily broken down by the digestive enzymes, and the nutrients are absorbed effectively.
Digestibility is influenced by the quality of the ingredients used and the overall recipe. The digestibility of ingredients can be improved using various methods, such as heating, which changes the structure of the ingredient into a more digestible form (an example from a home kitchen would be boiling potatoes).
A dog eating highly digestible food will have firm stools in reasonable amounts. Alvar's foods are made with highly digestible ingredients.
Fibres as a Supporter of Gut Health
Fibres are indigestible carbohydrates that do not provide energy but serve many other important functions.
- Insoluble fibers act as "broom-like" cleaners for the intestines, helping to maintain gut movement.
- Soluble, gel-forming psyllium balances the gut content, softening or firming the stool mass as needed.
- Fermentable fibers also serve as prebiotics, supporting the health of the gut microbiota.
These fermentable fibers undergo a beneficial fermentation reaction, producing metabolic products that nourish both the gut bacteria and the cells of the gut lining. Prebiotics are fibers that support the well-being of the gut microbiota and other non-digestible carbohydrates.
Alvar's kibble contains various fibers such as psyllium, beet fiber, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS). The fibers in grains like oats and barley beta-glucan also contribute to the dog's gut health.
In addition to fibers, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for sensitive stomachs due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Food's Fat Content
The appropriate fat content of food for a dog with a sensitive stomach depends on the cause of the stomach issues. If the symptoms are more stomach-related, such as heartburn-like symptoms (burping, lip licking, excessive salivation, and general discomfort), it is often best to choose food with a lower fat content.
If the issue is more related to intestinal digestibility problems, such as large amounts of loose stool, it may be helpful to select food with a slightly higher fat content, as fat is highly digestible. Smaller portions can also reduce the strain on the digestive tract.
Food Sensitivities and Allergies
Sometimes, digestive symptoms are caused by food sensitivities. In such cases, the solution may lie in simplifying the diet and avoiding ingredients that have previously caused issues. In addition to the main food, attention should also be paid to treats, chews, and food scraps. If necessary, food allergies should be investigated with the help of a veterinarian.
Keep these in mind when looking for the suitable diet for a dog with a sensitive stomach
Slow Changes!
For dogs with a sensitive stomach, it is especially important to change their diet slowly, allowing the digestive system to adjust to the new food. For example, fermentable fibers, which are beneficial, can initially cause loose stools in a dog that is not used to them, so patience is key when changing the diet. In a nutshell, food should be switched gradually over a period of 1-2 weeks, slowly adding more of the new kibble to the old food. We’ve written a blog post here about how to switch foods and how to manage common issues that may arise during the transition.
Feeding Schedule
Sometimes, digestive issues may be influenced by the number of daily feedings and their timing. The best feeding schedule for your dog can be found through experimentation: some dogs with sensitive stomachs may do better with multiple smaller meals per day, while others may fare better with fewer meals, giving the digestive system less to work with at a time.
Dr. Alvar Digestion+ dry foods
Our range includes several recipes designed with the above principles in mind, and we typically start by searching for a suitable option for our sensitive-stomach dog clients.
