8 Foods to Avoid for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs

This article shows you the 8 Foods to Avoid for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs.

Does your dog have a sensitive stomach? Certain foods could be making their symptoms worse without you even realizing it.

Most dogs can eat regular dog food just fine, including fresh, homemade meals with healthy protein, grains, and fiber. However, some dogs suffer from sensitive stomachs and often experience bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

For an official confirmation, you need to talk to your vet. They can examine your dog and determine whether or not they have a sensitive stomach.

Once you know your dog has a sensitive stomach, you’ll want to learn what foods to avoid. Some foods can definitely trigger digestive issues, and in this post, we’ll cover the eight common foods that dogs with sensitive stomachs should avoid.

Avoiding these foods can help prevent diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive issues. It will make a big difference in your dog’s comfort and health!

1 Full Fat Dairy Products (Milk, Cheese, Ice Cream)

Most dogs can handle dairy just fine. Information that all dogs are lactose intolerant is a myth, as many studies have been done in the past ten years proving that dogs’ digestive systems evolved along with humans and that they can handle dairy just fine.

However, if your dog is lactose intolerant, never give them dairy products, and please talk to your vet about their diet.

If you’re interested in the study about dogs eating dairy, you can check out this link.

Now, back to dairy. Full-fat, sugary, and ultra-processed dairy is one of the most important foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

The main reason is that the combination of sugar and fat is horrible for dogs, and on top of that, dairy can trigger gas and bloating.

Think of foods like ice cream, frozen yogurt, full-fat creamy desserts, whipped cream, and other fatty, sugary treats! This includes chocolate milk, milkshakes, and homemade desserts with lots of cream. Dogs should avoid sour cream, too.

Better options:

2 Fatty or Fried Foods (Bacon, Sausage, French Fries)

Fatty foods like deep-fried meat, french fries, nuggets, and processed meats like bacon are really bad for dogs with digestive issues and sensitive stomachs, as they can cause digestive issues.

In addition, high-fat foods increase the risk of developing pancreatitis, a very serious health condition that requires professional medical help and treatment.

Now, I’m not saying that every dog will develop pancreatitis if they eat bacon, but it’s important to understand the risks.

High-fat foods are hard to digest, which puts them in the group of foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Even dogs that don’t have a sensitive stomach won’t be able to handle too much bacon or ham.

Dogs can experience greasy stools and even vomiting! There’s usually temporary lethargy after eating too many fatty foods.

Fatty foods that you should avoid include spicy sausage treats like Chorizo, beef jerky, bologna, ham, and Spam, and ultra-processed meats like pepperoni, Slim Jims, and salami.

Better options:

3 Spicy Foods

Now, you probably know that you should treat all spicy foods as foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Just like people avoid hot and spicy food that can trigger indigestion and heartburn, dogs need to avoid it, too, for the same reasons.

Spices like chili powder, hot paprika, and foods like jalapeños can irritate your dog’s stomach lining and cause serious, though temporary, issues.

Hot and spicy food causes vomiting and very unpleasant diarrhea in dogs. In addition, you can expect excessive drooling, restlessness, and overall distress.

While it’s doubtful that your dog will eat jalapeños on their own, you need to be careful not to share your chili, stews, or any other cooked meal with lots of spices. Anything like chili, curry, or hot burritos should be off-limits.

Better options:

4 Processed Meats (Salami, Hot Dogs, Deli Meats)

The main problem with processed meats is the amount of sodium! We love them for their taste, dogs adore them, and while they are okay as an occasional indulgence for us (who can resist pepperoni pizza?), they should be off-limits for dogs.

Since processed and deli meats are full of sodium, fat, preservatives, and additives like colors and flavors, they belong to the group of foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Not all processed meat is bad. Some of it won’t have artificial colors or flavors like artificial smoke! Nevertheless, dogs with sensitive stomachs can experience thirst, lethargy, and upset stomachs when they eat too much-processed meat.

And don’t think that hot dogs or sausages are better, as they are also high in sodium and should be avoided!

Better options:

5 Wheat or Corn-Based Products

It’s important to remember that most dogs can eat wheat or corn. Most dogs can eat regular kibble that contains these products just fine!

However, if your dog has difficulty digesting grains like wheat or corn and often has gas or bloating, then you need to look at them as foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Your vet is the best person to talk to about special diets and intolerance to certain food groups. But if your dog has chronic loose stools, gas, and bloating after eating kibble with these grains, then it’s best to avoid them.

Make sure to take your dog to the vet to find the cause since it’s bad to eliminate an entire food group without a 100% professional and tested reason.

And avoid giving your dog cornbread, sandwiches, wraps, and baked goods.

Better options:

6 Sugary Foods (Cookies, Candy, Sweetened Snacks)

Dogs shouldn’t eat sugar!

Regardless of whether or not they have a problem with a sensitive stomach, dogs shouldn’t eat sugary treats like cookies, biscuits, or cake—and that includes homemade baked goods!

And, if they have a problem with a sensitive stomach, cookies, and cakes will make things much, much worse.

The main reason is that these processed baked goods have a horrible combination of sugar and fat. Whether that’s butter or vegetable fat, the combination of those two can cause upset stomachs and digestive issues.

Not to mention that eating sugar, candy, and sweets can cause dental problems and diabetes over time.

Avoid all candy, sugary treats, cookies, cakes, homemade banana bread, apple and pumpkin pies—anything that has dough, sugar, and fat!

Better options:

7 Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, are extremely dangerous for dogs. Xylitol is toxic and dangerous, and you should avoid it at all costs!

However, other artificial sweeteners can cause digestive upset in dogs. You can find them in sugar-free desserts, some spread, “healthy” alternatives to common sugary treats, and zero-carb products.

These products can cause bloating, gas, vomiting, and diarrhea. They may be labeled healthy, but they are ultra-processed foods!

Avoid all products labeled “sugar-free” or “low calorie,” especially if they have artificial sweeteners like xylitol.

Better options:

8 Raw Vegetables That Cause Gas (Broccoli, Cauliflower)

Some raw vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts, are high in insoluble fiber and can cause gas, bloating, or stomach discomfort in dogs.

You should avoid these veggies if your dog has a sensitive stomach! While they are safe in moderation, you should opt for lighter options that won’t cause excessive bloating and, to be frank, really smelly farts!

It’s also a good idea to avoid too many raw veggies, even though they are usually okay for most dogs. Think carrots, celery, cucumber, and any crunchy veggie.

If your dog seems uncomfortable, watch for symptoms like excessive gas, stomach rumbling, or a hunched posture that indicates stomach pain.

It’s best to cook or steam the veggies before sharing to avoid these issues. Cooking will reduce the fiber, while you’re still going to provide them with all the good nutrients.

Better options:

On top of cutting out foods that aren’t great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, there are a few other ways to keep their digestion on track. Try to stick with a consistent diet—switching up their food too quickly can lead to an upset stomach.

Smaller, more frequent meals are also a good idea since they’re easier to digest than one big meal. If you want to introduce something new, take it slow and add it gradually to see how your dog handles it.

And if their symptoms don’t get better or you’re feeling unsure, it’s always smart to check in with your vet for advice on what to feed them.

By avoiding these 8 common foods, you can help your dog with a sensitive stomach feel more comfortable and reduce digestive issues.

8 foods to avoid for dogs with sensitive stomachs

Category	Foods to Avoid
Full-Fat Dairy Products	Chocolate milk, ice cream, frozen yogurt, full-fat creamy desserts, whipped cream, sour cream, etc.
Fatty and Fried Foods	Nuggets, fish sticks,  hash browns, French fries, bacon, ham, spicy sausages (e.g., Chorizo), etc.
Spicy Foods	Chili powder, hot paprika, jalapeños, chili, curry, hot burritos, stews with lots of spices, etc.
Processed Meats	Salami, hot dogs, deli meats, sausages, pepperoni, Slim Jims
Wheat or Corn-Based Products	Cornbread, sandwiches, wraps, tortillas, baked goods
Sugary Foods	Cookies, biscuits, cake, banana bread, apple pie, pumpkin pie, candy, sugary treats
Artificial Sweeteners	Products containing xylitol, sugar-free gum, sugar-free desserts, spreads, healthy alternatives
Raw Vegetables That Cause Gas	Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts

Start with small changes to your dog’s diet and monitor their response to ensure they’re getting the care they need.

Do you have any go-to tips for managing a dog’s sensitive stomach? Share them in the comments below!

Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have this list of foods handy!

Love, life, and fur forever!

This post showed you the 8 Foods to Avoid for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs.

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