Best long term food for large dogs with sensitive tummys??

Question

When i first purchased my lab puppy he was passing soft (but not runny) stools, i asked the vet about it and he recommended changing food and feeding a bit less, which i did and it became better. Although his stools are still on the softer side. I now have a golden puppy and have weened her on to the same food, her stools are also now a bit on the soft side. I am feeding pets at home own brand for large breed puppys as recommended by a friend with labs. The ingredients are good but i wonder if anyone can recommend a different brand or have any advice??? Apart from being worried about the dogs it is real hard to clear up properly after them??????????/

Answer 1

You should be feeding a food with whole, identified ingredients, no by products, meal, or 'meat' (unidentified animals) and no corn or wheat as a top 5 ingredient and no gluten ever!

Try foods like nature's variety, solid gold, natural balance, neuman's organic, merrick, and others.

Make sure to SWITCH brands every 6 months or less. Keep in mind that the ONLY testing done for the safety of dog foods is the AAFCO standard which only tests food for 6 months so small deficiencies in the diet may not show up until feeding the food for much longer. And in all honesty, the AAFCO standard just indicates the dog didn't die or lose significant weight while on the diet. It really doesn't speak to the issue of whether the food is good or not.

Try looking for a food that has real, identified meat as the first (and preferrably more!) ingredient such as this wellness lable:
Lamb, Lamb Broth, Lamb Liver, Ocean Whitefish, Ground Whole Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Flaxseed

Remember that the education your vet received on nutrition was very limited and all studies are funded by the big commercial pet food manufacturers who are using leftover and non-human grade ingredients to sell you a cheap food. Do your own research, come to your own conclusions. Try www.whole-dog-journal.com to start learning more.

After doing much research i switched my sensitive stomach dog to raw food and he's been much, much better. No late night emergencies running outside.

Answer 2

The type of food that suits a sensitive dog really varies from dog to dog. I have my two dogs on seperate brands because they react differently . You will only find out by trial and error.

I advise that you don't change brand as that can trigger sensitivity and long term diarrhea etc. Instead - try feeding them a little less. Soft stools are a very common sign of overfeeding - the dog can't absorb the nutrients.
Also, don't leave food down for them all day - make sure they have regular and limited meal times.
Try sprinkling a little wheatabix on their meals - it helps bulk things up a bit.
Good luck!

Answer 3

These are the best in my opinion: 1.Nutro Natural Choice Chicken Meal, Rice & Oatmeal Formula Canned Food for Sensitive Stomachs 2.Pinnacle Holistic Duck & Potato Dry Dog Food These food formulas contain rice, a highly digestible, gentle ingredient for pets with sensitive stomachs. The unique blend of natural fibers helps nourish the gastro-intestinal tracts. It can also help the pet with excess gas, a rumbling stomach, occasional soft stools or vomiting.

Answer 4

Hi Jade,

I had this same problem with my welsh springer, after much trouble I discovered Hills Nature's Best and he's been doing well on it for 2 years now. My dog still does the odd cowpat like stool but usually when he's eaten something he shouldn't or been spoilt with treats from other people! Hope this helps.

Answer 5

you should try feeding your dogs on hypo - allergetic foods, something like James Wellbeloved, its the best u can get on the market and all the ingrediants are natural and this food is designed for dogs with sensitive tummys, and u can get it in a range to feed all ages and sizes. you will get this brand of dog food in any good pet shop and it comes in round £30 a bag, but that lasts me 3 weeks and i am feeding a deerhound.

hope this helps, please let me no

Answer 6

I have a lab with a sensitive tummy too, i tried him on loads of stuff and in the end i tried bakers complete (they do puppy and adult) he has been on it for months and this is the longest he has been without a stomach upset! i warn u tho my sisters dog is on it too and both dogs have smelly wind! but strangely it never follows with any tummy upset and they are both really fit and healthy dogs.
i know puppys seem to take a while for their tummys to settle
and become strong tho so he may get better with age.

Answer 7

For my own lab and several rottie crosses I tend to like the Lamb and Rice diet. My lab had a pretty solid stomach(could handle anything anytime sort of stomach), my rottie crosses on the other hand had sensitive stomachs, which the Lamb and Rice was good for, easy for them to digest.

Answer 8

I am having this problem have asked lots of people some of the recommendations are Burns Hill Science diet and Chappie. Hope it sorts its self out for you and the dogs

Answer 9

I feed my dog Canidae and it seems like a really good food. I cannot tell you about his poo becaue that is not something I really pay attention to. I live on a private road so I just open the door and he goes and does his thing in the woods where I never have to see it.

Answer 10

I think the best food is autarky this is because it is made up of lots of vegatables also some of my friends use it as their dogs have weak stomachs and they all said their dogs are alot better after eating autarky. you can buy a special puppy one aswell.