Getting the right puppy food will shape your puppy's future eating habits. It can be challenging to identify what food is going to give your pet the best nutrition and be right for their tummies. Some poor pups can inherit congenital stomach sensitivities and certain dog breeds are more affected by dicky digestion than others. Finding the best puppy food for sensitive stomachs will not only save a fortune in vet bills, but it will also enable your fur baby to thrive and enjoy a completely normal life.
Nobody wants their puppy to have an upset stomach so we've rounded up the best dry food for puppies and one-or-two wet options that are hypoallergenic and formulated for wholesome nutrition. Pugs, Golden Retrievers and Boxer dogs can produce a lot of gas, whether young or old. In this instance, wet dog food is a good option as it gently works its way through the digestive system and doesn't put a strain on the intestines.
Best puppy food for sensitive stomachs at a glance:
• Best sensitive puppy food for medium breeds: Hill's Science Plan Perfect Digestion Medium Breed Dry Puppy Food Chicken
• Best premium wet puppy food for sensitive stomachs: Lily's Kitchen Complete Wet Puppy Food Chicken Dinner
• Best dry puppy food for tailored nutrition: AVA Optimum Health Medium Dry Puppy Food
• Best hypoallergenic wet puppy food: James Wellbeloved Complete Wet Puppy Dog Food Pouches Lamb in Gravy
Additionally, we've included lots of advice in the FAQs below about the benefits of dry dog food, puppy weaning and what happens when your puppy has an underlying stomach sensitivity.
If your puppy is showing symptoms of chronic vomiting and diarrhoea it needs immediate attention from a vet.
Best puppy food for sensitive stomachs
Best sensitive puppy food for medium breeds
www.petsathome.com
Hill's Science Plan Perfect Digestion is designed for medium-size breeds. The ActivBiome+ formula helps nourish and maintain healthy digestion. This dry food contains easy-to-digest ingredients for small stomachs. Additionally, a blend of high-quality proteins, gentle carbs and probiotics will help your puppy reach its full potential. Hill's Science has a brilliant range of dog foods for small, medium and large breeds, catering for sensitivities, puppies and senior dogs.
Customer review: "I was slightly wary of our young bullspringer trying a new food as she is both picky and has a slightly delicate stomach. From opening the bag she has regularly wolfed down a couple of bowls a day even fetching her empty dish a few times. Much to my relief there have been zero stomach issues and she now has a lovely shiny coat and is in peak condition."
Pros
- Expertly balanced nutrition
- Lots of sensitive products in the range
Cons
- None
| Food type: | Dry kibble |
| Quantity: | 2.5kg or 14kg |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
| Ingredients: | Maize, chicken and turkey meal (chicken 16 per cent; total poultry 25per cent), animal fat, digest, maize gluten meal, brown rice (4 per cent), brewers and rice, barley, oats, minerals, ground pecan shell, flaxseed, dried beet pulp, dried citrus pulp, fish oil, vegetable oil, vitamins, dried cranberries. ActivBiome+ prebiotic blend (4 per cent): Ground pecan shell, flaxseed, dried beet pulp, dried citrus pulp, dried cranberries. |
Best premium wet puppy food for sensitive stomachs
If your puppy is having tummy problems and prefers wet food, we recommend Lily’s Kitchen Complete Wet Puppy Food Chicken Dinner. Coming in a pack of six cans, this “Chicken Dinner” for puppies is your ultimate go-to meal. Packed with healthy veg and botanicals, this will help your puppy with its stomach upset. Wholesome, tasty and complete, this Puppy Recipe is a winner. Not a fan of chicken? Check out the Turkey and Duck option on Amazon where you can Subscribe and Save.
Customer Review: “I've fed my English setter on (and other quality foods) this from aged about 10 weeks to very recently when he reached 13 months of age. He's quite a picky eater but nearly always wolfed it down. Sadly, I won't be buying any more because he's now almost fully switched to adult food. It's a great start for puppies.”
Pros
- Grain, dairy and wheat-free
- Health, natural ingredients
- Botanicals to aid digestion
Cons
- Some customers report damaged cans from Amazon
| Ingredients: | Fresh chicken, potatoes, carrots, vitamins and chelated minerals, salmon oil, golden rod, nettle, aniseed, celery seed, rosehips, marigold petals, cleavers, seaweed, alfalfa, milk thistle, dandelion root, burdock root |
| Suitable for: | From weaned puppies to around 12 months – depending on the breed |
| Food type: | Wet dog food |
Best dry puppy food for tailored nutrition
www.petsathome.com
The AVA Optimum Health Medium Dry Puppy Food is gentle dry food for your pup. This particular 15kg is suitable for medium breeds, however, Pets At Home stocks 2kg bags for small and large breeds, too. AVA’s dry food is made from gentle, natural ingredients that are hypoallergenic and completely free of wheat gluten, soya, pork and dairy. Made with quality protein, AVA ensures improved digestive and immune health. This food will aid your puppy’s growth and development.
Customer Review: “When we got our rottweiler puppy, he was on Royal Canin. We were recommended AVA by Pets At Home and I've never looked back. He loves this food and it's packed full of goodness. I found he had loose stools on Royal Canin but since changing to AVA he has been absolutely fine. Highly recommend to anyone with dogs with a sensitive tummy.”
Pros
- Hypoallergenic wheat-free recipe
- Calcium promotes oral health
- Tailored shape and size for your pet
- Full of nutrients to aid growth and development
Cons
- Only chicken variety
- Contains egg and grains
| Ingredients: | Chicken (meal, fresh, fat, gravy), brown rice, maize, beet pulp, whole dried egg, salmon oil, brewer’s yeast, minerals, pre-biotic fructooligosaccharide, beta-glucans, pre-biotic mannanoligosaccharides, yucca extract, glucosamine, chondroitin, cranberry extract, green tea extract, pomegranate extract, rosemary extract |
| Suitable for: | Medium breed puppies (6 weeks to 1 year) |
| Quantity: | 2kg bags for small and large breeds are available |
| Food type: | Dry kibble |
Best hypoallergenic wet puppy food
Hypoallergenic wet dog foods are made from ingredients that are less likely to cause allergies and intolerances, as well as using highly digestible single proteins. James Wellbeloved Complete Wet Puppy Dog is an excellent choice for pets with sensitive tummies or allergies from birth. Made from natural ingredients, with added vitamins and minerals, including Omega 3 oils to help promote a healthy, glossy coat. These are tasty meals, free from added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Customer review: "I have a malamute puppy and after searching for such a long time I finally found a product with only positives. Honestly couldn’t recommend this enough , he absolutely loves it. I mix half wet and half kibble from the same brand with a pump of salmon oil (salmon oil only once a day). Firm stool, gives him lots of energy and he always begs for more."
Pros
- Great for fussy dogs
- Full of moisture
Cons
- Smaller portions
| Food type: | Wet |
| Flavour: | Lamb (or Turkey) |
| Quantity: | 10 x 150g pouches |
| Ingredients: | Lamb, rice, minerals, dried carrots, dried peas, dextrose, dried beet pulp, sunflower oil, linseed oil, alfalfa, seaweed, fish oil, tomato powder |
Best superfood puppy food
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
Now you can even get your hands on puppy 'superfood' - yep, you read that right. Pooch and Mutt Puppy Complete Superfood is packed full of prebiotics, natural ingredients and supplements. This puppy food will make your pup's tummy feel good. These are enhanced natural foods that are worth the investment. Subscribe and save to make this a cost-effective and convenient option.
Customer review: "This is perfect for two small chihuahua puppies. Full of quality ingredients and apparently very easy for them to eat, digest and - importantly - get rid of!"
Pros
- Rich in antioxidants
- Grain-free and junk-free
Cons
- Only one flavour
| Type of food: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 1.5kg or 7.5kg |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
| Ingredients: | Dried chicken, sweet potato, potato, pea starch, chicken fat, chicken gravy, peas, salmon oil, brewers yeast, chamomile, cranberry, seaweed, fructo-oligosaccharides, mannan-oligosaccharides, glucosamine, yucca schidigera, blackcurrant, kale, spinach, rosemary, rosehip, pomegranate, olive extract |
Best dry dog food for sensitive puppies
www.petsathome.com
This complete dry food is perfect for little puppies who are bounding with energy. Royal Canin Mini Puppy Food contains poultry and rice in a small kibble form, so it's easily chewed and digested. Give your pup a good start in life by providing them with food to help support their immune and digestive system. Added Vitamin E and a probiotic will support their natural defences and gut health. It is recommended that you give this to puppies between two to 10 months old.
Customer review: "My little jack russell puppy is very fussy, I have wasted so much money on foods he wouldn't eat, but Royal Canin is always eaten. I can see why it smells nice and is not all dry like most foods, think I would eat it myself if I was a pup."
Pros
- Breed-specific
- Great for early years
Cons
- Designed for mini breeds so you may want to look for an alternative if you have a larger breed
| Food weight: | 2-8kg |
| Flavour: | Meat |
| Ingredients: | Dehydrated poultry protein, rice, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate, maize, beet pulp, maize flour, hydrolysed animal proteins, maize gluten, minerals, fish oil, soya oil, fructo-oligo-saccharides, hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), yeasts extracts (source of betaglucans), marigold extract (source of lutein) |
Best mid-range sensitive puppy food
www.petsathome.com
This James Wellbeloved Complete Dry Puppy Food is naturally hypoallergenic and has a blend of dietary fibres making it good for your pup's tum. This is a good all-around puppy food with substance and good value for money - plus it's made in the UK.
Customer review: "My whippet puppy loves the particular food, it's a great size for her to chew I love the fact as she's a grazer and I can leave this food down and she can come and eat whenever she feels like it, without the worry of it going off."
Pros
- Great for grazing dogs
- Excludes common allergens such as beef, pork, soya, eggs, dairy and wheat
Cons
- Not ideal for dogs who eat quickly
| Type of food: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 2kg |
| Flavour: | Turkey and rice |
| Ingredients: | Turkey meal, brown rice, naked oats, white rice, pea protein, turkey fat, whole linseed, turkey gravy, sugar beet pulp, alfalfa meal, pea fibre, seaweed, sodium chloride, fish oil, chicory extract, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, yucca extract, green tea extract, rosemary extract, pomegranate extract |
Best meat and rice puppy food
Harringtons Puppy Food Rich in Turkey and Rice is a dry puppy food that's packed with omega 6 and 3 oils. Plus, it has no soy, wheat or dairy so it's all good for those sensitive stomachs. This dry dog food is available on Amazon's Subscribe and Save so it's ideal if you're feeding more than one pup and need to buy in bulk.
Customer review: "Very good value and quality dog food. My pomeranian puppies love it and the odour isn’t as bad as other brands. The biscuits are very small so it’s very good for ‘toy dog’ size."
Pros
- Great value
- Tasty
Cons
- Small range
| Type of food: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 10kg |
| Flavour: | Turkey and rice |
| Ingredients: | Turkey and meat meals, rice, maize, maize protein, oats, peas, poultry fat, beet pulp, poultry gravy, linseed, salmon oil, minerals, seaweed, FOS, yucca extract |
Best for bulk buy
www.petsathome.com
Suitable for pups over eight weeks old, Wagg's brilliant complete, sensitive food contains a tasty doggie staple: Chicken and rice. Not only is this wheat-free for gluten-free pups, but it contains no added dairy, soya or artificial colours. Plus, Wagg Complete Wheat-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food offers immune and digestive support with added vitamin E. The yucca extract helps to reduce odours. This is a favourite of ours, and it’s made in the UK.
Customer review: "My dog seems very settled on this food she gets an upset stomach a lot and so far this food is working great."
Pros
- Wheat-free
- Affordable
- Offers immune and digestive support
Cons
- Made in a factory that handles wheat
| Quantity: | 12kg |
| Suitable for: | All dogs from four weeks |
| Ingredients: | Cereals, meat and animal derivatives (25.5 per cent including 4 per cent chicken), vegetables, derivatives of vegetable origin, oils and fats, minerals, yeasts, citrus extract, yucca extract |
| Food type: | Dry kibble |
Best puppy food subscription
tails.com
Try now and get 50 per cent off your first box. 27,000 puppies and counting are benefitting from Tails.com specially tailored dog food subscription. Puppies will receive fortnightly boxes of Tails.com Puppy Food until they are 14 weeks old. If your puppy has a sensitive stomach, they may benefit from the high-quality protein, salmon oil, zinc, prebiotics and minerals that goes into Tails.com kibble. Grain-free food is available too. In addition, Tail.com offers lots of support in the form of a blog and training videos.
Customer review: "My dog has never been so healthy and happy with her food. She used to leave a lot of food and turn her nose up at dry food especially. Now she eats her whole bowl and her stomach is more settled. I would prefer to have my delivery on a specific date each month rather than a four day delivery window but the customer service team are great and I would highly recommend Tails."
Pros
- Tailored nutrition for your dog
- Quality ingredients
Cons
- May not solve all puppies' stomach sensitivities - sample before you commit
| Food type: | Dry kibble |
What to look for in puppy food for sensitive stomachs:
Just like babies, puppies need specially formulated food that supports their growth and development. Adult dog food is just too rich for puppies. The best puppy food is packed with good-quality protein, carbohydrates, omega-3 oils, zinc, calcium and antioxidants. Protein will help keep your pup feeling full and carbohydrates will give them energy.
For pups with sensitive stomachs, grain-free dog food is best with rice providing the carbs. Switching to puppy food for sensitive stomachs (hypoallergenic) is also less likely to trigger an allergy or intolerance because it's grain-free and contains an easily digestible single source of protein. By finding foods that your dog can digest and sticking to that diet, their stomach sensitivity should not impact their life.
FAQs
How do I wean my puppy?
A puppy is weaned from its mother's milk to solid food as soon as it begins to develop teeth. Weaning tends to happen at three to four weeks. At the same time, puppies should start drinking water. To introduce your pup to food, make a gruel from puppy milk replacer mixed with a small amount of solid food. It should be the consistency of porridge. Feed puppies three times a day up until six months, when they can be fed twice a day. Gradually reduce the amount of liquid in the gruel until your puppy can eat their wet or dry food without diluting it. Generally, they should be eating completely solid food by seven to eight weeks.
What are the signs that my puppy has a sensitive stomach?
Symptoms that show your puppy has a sensitive stomach include loose stools, diarrhoea, nausea, bloating, flatulence, constipation, rapid breathing and licking their lips to indicate discomfort.
What should I do to soothe my puppy's sensitive stomach?
Initially, a dog will need to fast for 24 hours to allow their digestive system to calm down. Make sure fresh water is available. Next, try a simple diet of chicken and rice. After a few days, introduce a probiotic supplement to improve their gut health. Take them to the vet immediately if your pet shows any signs of deterioration.
Longer term, you could try an elimination diet to discover exactly what your pet is reacting to. Equally, this is a worthwhile process to discover what foods your dog can digest. Stick to those foods and their sensitive stomach should no longer be an issue.
What should I do if my puppy has a chronic sensitive stomach?
If symptoms such as chronic vomiting and nausea persist, there may be a more serious underlying health issue that requires veterinary attention.
A puppy should be getting check-ups at the vets so you should tell your vet what the symptoms are, when they started and how they are progressing. Your vet will do a full physical examination to check your puppy's body condition and assess if they are absorbing nutrients from their food. In addition, there may be a blood test, analysis of a stool sample and potentially an endoscopy to look for any blockages.
A treatment plan will be formulated depending on test results. In most chronic cases, an anti-vomiting medication is prescribed. Longer term, transitioning your pup onto a food that's designed for sensitive stomachs is the best way forward. Your vet will advise on the most appropriate food, depending on your pet's sensitivity.
The PDSA has comprehensive guidance on food allergies in dogs, as well as other causes of stomach sensitivity.
What are the benefits of dry puppy food?
Dry dog food is handy for dogs who don't wolf everything down at once, as it can be left out for longer periods of time. It is also much more economical, as it comes in bigger packaging and has a longer use-by date. You can also buy dry food (or kibble) in different sizes that suit your dog. These days, dry dog food is packed with better ingredients and more nutrients than ever before. They are also now formulated to contain a certain percentage of protein and fats necessary for dogs to be their healthiest.
Here's a round-up of some other benefits:
• It has a long shelf life.
• Great for pups who love to graze instead of eating all their dinner in one go.
• Dry dog food is easier to buy in bulk, meaning that this is a less expensive option.
• Bags of kibble require less packaging than cans of food, leading to less rubbish being created.
• Specially formulated dry dog food is effective at reducing plaque accumulation and gingivitis in teeth.
If you have a pet who eats too quickly (potentially leading to them vomiting or even choking), getting them a slow-feeder dog bowl that can be used with dry food easily will be a great option.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things cats and dogs. In her other life Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.