What is Gastrointestinal Dog Food? Info and Veterinarian Product Picks

Tummy troubles are no fun for dogs. And that goes double for pet parents, especially if there’s a stinky mess to clean up. However, here’s some hopeful news for both pets and parents. Depending on the cause, gastrointestinal dog food could be an effective treatment option for your dog’s digestive upset.

Healthy digestion in dogs can go awry for various reasons, from dietary imbalance to food allergies or medical conditions. Your veterinarian can help you get to the root cause of your dog’s digestive issues. And if they recommend a gastrointestinal (GI) diet for your dog, here’s what you need to know before you switch.

What is Gastrointestinal Dog Food?

GI dog food — also known as dog food for sensitive stomachs — is specially formulated to be easy on a dog’s digestive tract. These diets contain easily digestible ingredients that deliver a variety of benefits, such as:

• Rice and/or oatmeal provide carbs for energy and fiber for stool quality
• High-quality animal protein (e.g., chicken, turkey) to promote digestion
• Omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce gastritis or gut inflammation
• Prebiotics to feed healthy gut bacteria
• Probiotics to replenish healthy gut bacteria

Foods for dogs with gastrointestinal problems are available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription. Your vet may recommend one over the other, depending on what’s causing your dog’s stomach issues. In some cases, a vet may recommend an OTC gastro dog food first, then switch to a prescription food if the OTC version doesn’t resolve a dog’s GI symptoms.

Gastrointestinal Dog Food: How It Helps

Gastrointestinal food for dogs can help relieve uncomfortable symptoms often associated with digestive issues, including: 

• Gas
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Reduced appetite
• Itchy skin (due to food allergies)

A veterinarian may recommend this type of food when a dog is experiencing persistent GI symptoms or has a chronic GI condition that could benefit from the food. These chronic conditions include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Food allergies: an allergic reaction to a specific ingredient, commonly an animal protein like chicken
• Food sensitivity or intolerance: difficulty digesting any ingredient

Gastrointestinal dog foods usually aren’t recommended for short-term tummy problems like acute vomiting. In these cases, a veterinarian may suggest a bland homemade diet that includes unseasoned, stomach-soothing ingredients like plain, boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, and canned pumpkin.

In addition to relieving GI symptoms, a gastrointestinal diet for dogs has many other benefits:

• Easy on the GI tract 
• Improves stool quality
• Supports immune health
• Reduces gut inflammation
• Restores healthy gut bacteria
• Provides complete and balanced nutrition

Even if you think your dog could benefit from gastrointestinal canine food, it is always best to talk to your veterinarian first. Your vet will review your dog’s medical history and perform a physical exam. They will also perform diagnostic testing to determine what’s causing your dog’s GI issues and decide if gastrointestinal food would be appropriate for your dog.

Dog Food for Gastrointestinal Health: 7 Vet-Recommended Picks

Many gastrointestinal dog foods are available, so deciding on just one can be challenging. Remember, though, that there’s no one “best” food for dogs with gastrointestinal problems. We recommend the formulas listed below, all providing complete and balanced nutrition.

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin, a brand well known for high-quality dog food, offers a range of gastrointestinal formulas to help support healthy digestion. This low-fat diet is an excellent option for dogs with pancreatitis because the condition makes it difficult to absorb fat. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry for Dogs contains a reduced level of fat and enhanced levels of essential fatty acids, plus a tasty mix of highly digestible proteins, balanced dietary fibers and prebiotics to support a healthy gut.

Highlights

• Low fat
• Contains two types of fiber (soluble and insoluble) to improve stool quality and promote healthy digestion
• Contains omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics, and highly digestible proteins
• Additional gastro diets available: Royal Canin Gastrointestinal High Fiber,  Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie

Things to Consider

• Available only with a veterinary prescription
• Pricier than OTC GI dog food diets

Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dry Dog Food

The digestive tract contains billions of microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome. When these elements work together, they help ensure healthy digestion. When they get disrupted, dogs often experience GI upset.

This Hill’s diet is specially designed to help restore a healthy gut microbiome and promote healthy digestion. It is recommended for dogs with GI issues that respond well to fiber. 

Highlights

• Contains an ingredient technology — ActivBiome+ TM — that promotes good gut health
• Has omega-3 fatty acids and two types of fiber (soluble and insoluble)

Things to Consider

• Requires a veterinary prescription
• Pricier than OTC GI dog food diets

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog HA Hydrolyzed Dry

Animal proteins are a great source of essential nutrients dogs need to thrive. However, they can also be a common source of food allergies in dogs.

Thankfully, a process called hydrolysis can break animal proteins down into pieces so small, they won’t trigger an allergic reaction. This diet from Purina contains hydrolyzed proteins and is a great option for dogs allergic to animal proteins.

Highlights

• Highly digestible
• Contains hydrolyzed proteins that won’t trigger an allergic reaction
• Formulated for puppies and adult dogs
• Two flavor options: chicken flavor and vegetarian

Things to Consider

• Requires a veterinary prescription.
• Pricier than OTC GI dog food diets

Hill’s Prescription Diet Dog i/d Canned Stew

Gastrointestinal dog foods are also available as wet food. This Hill’s diet is packed with nutritious ingredients that support healthy digestion for dogs with tummy issues, including omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and dietary fiber. It also contains antioxidants, which support immune health, as well as vitamins and electrolytes.

Highlights

• Easily digestible
• Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to reduce inflammation
• Antioxidants to support a healthy immune system
• Fiber to improve stool quality and digestion
• Tasty chicken and vegetable flavor

Things to Consider

• Requires a veterinary prescription.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog EN Gastroenteric Dry

This diet from Purina is full of ingredients to support your dog’s digestive and immune system, including prebiotics, antioxidants, and high-quality protein. It is also highly digestible and has a great flavor for dogs.

Highlights

• Highly digestible
• Prebiotics to feed healthy gut bacteria and support a balanced gut microbiome
• Antioxidants to support the immune system
• High-quality animal protein
• Fiber to improve stool quality and promote healthy gut motility

Things to Consider

• Requires a veterinary prescription
• Pricier than OTC GI dog food diets

Royal Canin Puppy Gastrointestinal Diet Dry

Puppies, like adult dogs, can have sensitive stomachs. However, if you’re looking for puppy food for sensitive stomach, it’s important to remember that not all GI diets may fit the bill.

Puppies’ dietary needs differ from those of adult dogs. So you’ll need a GI diet that’s specially formulated to support the unique nutritional needs of growing pups.

This diet from Royal Canin is specially formulated for puppies with long- and short-term GI issues. It is high in fat and calories to support your puppy’s healthy growth and development and is easy on the tummy.

Highlights

• High in fat and calories to support a puppy’s development
• Prebiotics to promote a healthy gut microbiome
• Fibers to improve stool quality and gut motility
• Omega-3 fatty acids to reduce gut inflammation
• Tasty 
• Highly digestible, high-quality animal proteins
• Vitamins and electrolytes to support development and a healthy immune system

Things to Consider

• Only for puppies.
• Requires a veterinary prescription
• Pricier than OTC GI dog food diets

Gastro Diet for Dogs Buying Guide

Here are some tips to follow when choosing a dog food for gastrointestinal problems: 

• Always consult with your vet. Your vet will determine whether a gastrointestinal food is appropriate for your dog and can recommend some foods to consider. 
• Read the label carefully. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets nutritional standards for all pet food. Check the label to ensure the diet provides complete and balanced nutrition for your dog’s life stage, according to AAFCO. Also scan for ingredients that support healthy gut function, including high-quality animal proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotics.
• Transition slowly to the new food. Your dog’s digestive system will need at least a few days to adjust to the new diet. Start with a ratio of about 25 percent new food to 75 percent old food, then gradually increase the ratio until your dog is eating only the new food.
• Be patient. You may not see improvement in your dog’s GI symptoms right away. Give the diet some time and be sure to monitor your dog’s symptoms. If the symptoms don’t improve, talk with your vet about trying another GI food.