7 Best Dog Treats For Sensitive Stomach
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Dogs don’t tend to be too picky when it comes to treats – if it fits in their mouth, they’re happy to gobble it down. Unfortunately, your dog’s stomach may have a different opinion.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, the wrong treats could trigger a bout of diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive gas. No one wants that.
The best treats for dogs with sensitive stomachs are made from simple, whole-food ingredients. High-quality proteins and other easily digestible ingredients are the key to a healthy and tolerable treat that won’t irritate your dog’s stomach.
Compare Best Dog Treats For Sensitive Stomach
|
Overall Best
1. ORIJEN Ranch-Raised Beef Formula Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Treats |
Best Biscuit
4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Grain-Free Duck Biscuits Dog Treats |
Best Dental Treat
5. Get Naked Digestive Health Grain-Free Dental Stick Dog Treats |
Best For Training
6. Merrick Power Bites Real Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Dog Treats |
Best Limited Ingredient
7. The Honest Kitchen Beams Ocean Chews Cod Fish Skins Dehydrated Dog Treats |
||
|
Treat Type
Freeze-dried |
Treat Type
Chewy |
Treat Type
Jerky |
Treat Type
Biscuit |
Treat Type
Dental stick |
Treat Type
Chewy |
Treat Type
Chewy |
|
Flavor
Beef |
Flavor
Turkey |
Flavor
Chicken |
Flavor
Duck |
Flavor
Chicken |
Flavor
Salmon |
Flavor
Fish |
|
Top 3 Ingredients
Beef, beef liver, beef tripe |
Top 3 Ingredients
Sweet potato, oat, rice |
Top 3 Ingredients
Chicken, organic cane sugar, vinegar |
Top 3 Ingredients
Duck, chicken meal, potatoes |
Top 3 Ingredients
Dried potatoes, vegetable glycerin, gelatin |
Top 3 Ingredients
Deboned salmon, potatoes, peas |
Top 3 Ingredients
Dehydrated codfish skins |
Before we get into the details of our recommendations, let’s take a closer look at the subject of sensitive stomach in dogs and whether dog treats might be able to help.
Symptoms Of Sensitive Stomach
Dogs have an amazing ability to digest things that don’t even remotely resemble food. My dog Archie, for example, loves to snack on mulch and he’s been known to mow down a patch of grass like a cow. Every once in a while, however, something simply won’t agree with him.
For some dogs, digestive upset is a common occurrence. If you notice symptoms occurring shortly after your dog eats, he may well have a sensitive stomach.
Common symptoms of sensitive stomach in dogs include:
- Loose stools or diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Excessive gas
- Increased salivation
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
Dogs have the potential to develop food allergies or sensitivities to specific ingredients, but they can also react to changes in their dietary routine.
If your dog experiences frequent upset stomach, it’s worth bringing the issue up with your veterinarian. Your vet may recommend testing to rule out underlying digestive problems like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Sensitive stomach is often linked to your dog’s diet, but it can also be triggered by stress and anxiety. If you’ve altered your dog’s diet to soothe his sensitive stomach, you should change his treats as well.
What To Look For In Dog Treats For Sensitive Stomach?
While only 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake should come from treats, it’s still worth making sure the treats you select are nutritious. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, it’s even more important that you choose carefully.
The best dog treats for sensitive stomach are made with a short list of digestible ingredients. They should be rich in protein with healthy sources of animal-based fat. Dietary fiber and probiotics support your dog’s digestive system and may reduce symptoms like diarrhea and gas.
Carbohydrates shouldn’t make up the majority of your dog’s diet, but nutrient-rich options like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can provide natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals.
When shopping for dog treats, avoid recipes that contain corn, wheat, and soy as well as those that contain vaguely named animal by-products. Choose a recipe that doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives and avoid low-value fillers.
Now that you have a better understanding of what sensitive stomach looks like and how to choose the right treats for your dog, let’s get into our top picks.
Our Top Picks For The Best Dog Treats For Sensitive Stomach
The following dog treats are top-rated products that have earned a reputation for flavor, quality, and easy digestibility.
ORIJEN Ranch-Raised Beef Formula Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Freeze-dried
- Flavor: Beef
- Top 3 Ingredients: Beef, beef liver, beef tripe
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Rich in protein from muscle meat and organs
- Gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition and flavor
- Very expensive
- Some dogs dislike the freeze-dried texture
In fact, this recipe contains a very short ingredients list, almost exclusively comprised of beef ingredients. In addition to fresh beef, this recipe contains both beef liver and beef tripe. The only other ingredient is mixed tocopherols used as a natural preservative.
Being a single source protein formula, these Orijen freeze-dried treats are an ideal choice for a sensitive dog. Aside from beef, it’s free from other allergens. Should your dog be sensitive to beef, however, Orijen offers other options including duck and fish as well as a Tundra recipe featuring goat, venison, wild boar, and an assortment of other proteins.
Orijen gently freeze-dries their treats to preserve nutrition and flavor. Some dogs may dislike the freeze-dried texture, but it’s hard to beat the quality of these treats.
Shameless Pets Turk It Easy Calming Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Chewy
- Flavor: Turkey
- Top 3 Ingredients: Sweet potato, oat, rice
- Contains a single source of animal protein
- Formulated to promote relaxation and calm
- Made with 33% upcycled ingredients
- Heavy in plant ingredients
Shameless Pets offers a limited selection of high-quality dog treats made with natural ingredients. This recipe features turkey as the primary flavor and single source of protein.
These Turk It Easy Calming Treats are formulated to promote calmness through the use of six active ingredients: hemp seed powder, thiamin (B1), chamomile, valerian root, passionflower, and Suntheanine (L-theanine). These ingredients work together to help soothe the central nervous system, helping your dog relax.
Shameless Pets is a very eco-friendly brand. In fact, 33% of the ingredients in this formula are upcycled. The ingredients are also responsibly sourced to help reduce food waste.
Full Moon Chicken Jerky Human-Grade Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Jerky
- Flavor: Chicken
- Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, organic cane sugar, vinegar
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made with a single source of quality animal protein
- Contains just four simple ingredients
- Chewy texture is satisfying for many dogs
- May be too chewy for some dogs
- Fairly expensive
They feature a short ingredients list with just four inclusions, the primary ingredient being fresh chicken. These tasty treats offer a single source of animal protein which makes them incredibly digestible. If your furry friend is sensitive to chicken, Full Moon has pork and beef recipes as well.
Full Moon’s human-grade dog treats are made from cage-free chicken raised on family farms in the USA. They’re free from hormones and steroids and the treats are slow-cooked to preserve nutritional integrity.
Packed with protein and rich in chicken flavor, these jerky treats have a satisfyingly chewy texture. They’re relatively low in calories as well, with under 50 calories per treat.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Grain-Free Duck Biscuits Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Biscuit
- Flavor: Duck
- Top 3 Ingredients: Duck, chicken meal, potatoes
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Two high-quality sources of animal protein
- Digestible formula made with limited ingredients
- Crunchy texture and rich flavor appeals to dogs
- May be too large for small dogs
- Difficult to break into pieces
These Blue Buffalo treats are made with a limited list of natural ingredients. Fresh duck and chicken meal are the top two ingredients, making these treats protein-rich and flavorful. Chicken fat provides a rich source of essential fatty acids while flaxseed helps balance the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.
This recipe is free from by-product meals, fillers, and artificial additives. If your dog has a chicken allergy, Blue Buffalo offers additional flavors like salmon and turkey.
Get Naked Digestive Health Grain-Free Dental Stick Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Dental stick
- Flavor: Chicken
- Top 3 Ingredients: Dried potatoes, vegetable glycerin, gelatin
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Designed to scrape plaque and tartar from the teeth
- X-shaped design helps reach into the back of the mouth
- Relatively short list of digestible ingredients
- Supplemented with fiber and probiotics for digestive health
- Some dogs dislike the flavor
- Small size may be too long for small dogs
These dental dog treats from Get Naked are not only designed to support clean and healthy teeth, but they’re formulated for digestive health as well.
Available in two sizes and multiple quantities, these dental sticks feature a classic x-shaped design which helps scrape plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth. By choosing a size appropriate for your dog’s breed, you can ensure that he chews the treat for at least 5 minutes to enjoy optimal dental benefits.
These dental dog treats have a fairly short list of main ingredients including digestible options like potatoes with protein-rich chicken. They’re supplemented with dietary fiber to promote regular digestion and probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome.
Merrick Power Bites Real Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Chewy
- Flavor: Salmon
- Top 3 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, potatoes, peas
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Bite-sized and low in calories, perfect for training
- Soft and chewy texture with plenty of fish flavor
- Contains some dairy
These soft and chewy treats from Merrick make for great training treats. They’re bite-sized and low in calories with just 5 calories per treat. Your dog will love the rich salmon flavor and you’ll like that they contain a single source of animal protein.
Merrick Power Bites are free from artificial additives as well as corn, wheat, and soy. They’re enriched with omega fatty acids to support your dog’s skin and coat as well as fiber to support healthy digestion.
It’s worth noting that these treats do contain a little bit of dairy, so you may want to avoid them if your dog is sensitive to dairy. Merrick also offers these training treats in different flavors for dogs with food allergies. Look for beef, rabbit, or chicken treats as an alternative.
The Honest Kitchen Beams Ocean Chews Cod Fish Skins Dehydrated Dog Treats
Product Info
- Treat Type: Chewy
- Flavor: Fish
- Top 3 Ingredients: Dehydrated codfish skins
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made with a single ingredient
- Easily digestible recipe
- Rich fish flavor and chewy texture
- Fairly expensive
- Strong fish aroma
These limited ingredient dog treats from The Honest Kitchen contain just a single ingredient: dehydrated codfish skin.
Packed with protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, these treats have an irresistible fish flavor and chewy texture. The flavor and aroma are likely to appeal to even picky eaters and the single-ingredient formula is highly digestible.
Not only is this recipe free from many common allergens, but it is human-grade and free from by-products, fillers, preservatives, and GMO ingredients.
Final Thoughts
An easily digestible diet is the best option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Processed carbohydrates and artificial additives can upset your dog’s stomach and they’re not as nutritious as whole foods like animal-based protein, whole grains, and vegetables.
The simpler your dog’s diet, the less likely he is to have a negative reaction. If your dog has specific allergies or sensitivities, simply find a dog food and treats free from those ingredients.
As you make changes to your dog’s diet to support healthy digestion and relieve symptoms of sensitive stomach, remember to go slow. Sudden dietary changes are only likely to make your dog’s digestive issues worse. If your dog has a negative reaction to the new treats, try another from the list above.
