Many pet parents face the challenge of managing dogs with digestive issues, skin concerns, food intolerances, or allergies. What’s more challenging is identifying the cause of these issues and finding the best solution.
The good news?
By understanding food sensitivities (more commonly known as “intolerances”) and allergies, you can make better choices for your furry friend’s health and well-being.
One effective option when it comes to choosing the right food for sensitive stomachs in dogs, as well as food allergies, is a single protein diet. We’ll share more about that shortly…
First, what’s the difference between food sensitivities and food allergies?
You may have heard these terms used interchangeably, but they refer to different conditions:
- Food allergies: When a dog develops a food allergy, their immune system identifies something in the food as harmful. This will trigger an inflammatory response, with symptoms including: itching, hives, ear infections, as well as gastrointestinal issues.
- Food sensitivities: A sensitivity (or intolerance), on the other hand, occurs when the digestive system has difficulty processing certain ingredients. This leads to symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhoea, or vomiting.
If your dog has ongoing digestive issues, but no skin problems or ear infections, they’re more likely to have a sensitive stomach. If skin reactions accompany digestive upset, it may be an allergy.
In either case, however, a single protein diet may be the answer to your dog’s dietary dilemma!
How to identify common triggers of food allergies and sensitivities:
The most common triggers are: proteins (the main culprits being chicken and beef), dairy ingredients, and grains.
While some proteins can cause gut unrest, it’s certainly not to say that dogs should go without it. So, it’s important to identify the source of the issue, not simply to rule out meat altogether. After all, canines are carnivores, so they need protein in their diet.
In order to find out what the trigger of your dog’s reactions may be, a veterinarian-supervised elimination trial – using a novel protein diet – is the safest and best course of action. How it works is, ingredients are systematically removed to pinpoint the cause of the reaction.
Once you know what the cause of the allergy or sensitivity is, you can then start the process of sourcing the most appropriate diet for your dog.
More about how a single protein diet works:
In short, a single protein diet isolates one protein source.
For dogs, single protein sources like chicken, fish, duck, and lamb are what their bodies are built to consume. Before they were domesticated, this is what they would have eaten in the wild. This is why many pet nutrition experts recommend feeding single protein diets as sensitive stomach dog food.
Additionally, single protein diets (SPD) are considered low allergen. This essentially means you’re limiting the chance of your dog experiencing digestive discomfort or an allergic reaction.
While there are countless dog food options on the market, it’s important to know exactly what to look for beyond the labelling.
So, let’s dive deeper and list the most important elements to consider.
What to look for when choosing food for sensitive stomachs in dogs:
- Single protein source: Many dogs with sensitive stomachs may have an adverse reaction to certain proteins. A single protein diet reduces the chance of triggering allergies or digestive issues.
- Limited ingredients: The general rule of thumb is the same as it is when looking at the best food for us humans. The first ingredient listed on the packaging is the main one. In the case of dog food, it should be a protein source. Thereafter, the fewer ingredients the better.
- High-quality ingredients: Dog food that’s rich in highly digestible ingredients is easier on the stomach, promoting smoother digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Australian made: Locally made food ensures fresh ingredients and home grown proteins. You’ll also be supporting local business too.
- Vet recommended: Choosing a food that is recommended by veterinarians ensures that it meets the specific dietary needs of dogs with sensitive stomachs.
With the understanding that food ingredients are the main cause of digestive & skin irritations in dogs, Australian business Prime100 set out to provide ready-made meals that steer clear of allergens and dietary red flags.
So, they teamed up with industry leading expert dermatologists, vets, and nutritionists to create complete Single Protein Diets (SPD™).
Check out this clip from TV show, Bondi Vet, explaining how Prime100’s Single Protein Diet is ideal for dogs with sensitivities:
Why Prime100 is the answer when searching for food for sensitive stomachs in dogs:
- Made in Australia with fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers
- Produced in HACCP audited human-grade facilities
- AAFCO compliant
- All recipes are preservative free
- All recipes are gluten free
- Promote healthy bone and joint support
- Supplemented with: taurine for heart function, prebiotics, postbiotics, vitamins and minerals, essential Omega 3 and 6
Keen to try Prime100’s single protein diet options? Get a FREE sample!
