Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach in Australia (2025 Guide)

Loose stools, on-and-off diarrhoea, gassiness and “mystery tummy upsets” are some of the most common issues we see in-store at ADS Pet Store. The good news? The right dog food for sensitive stomachs can take a huge load off your dog’s gut and often transforms their stool quality, comfort and energy levels.

In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk through how to choose the best dog food for sensitive stomach in Australia, what might be causing tummy troubles in the first place, and which dry, raw, air-dried and freeze-dried diets we most often see working well for sensitive tummies.

We’ll also look at what to do if your dog suddenly develops diarrhoea, when to consider vet-only prescription diets, and how to adjust feeding for puppies, adult dogs and seniors with delicate digestion and sensitive gut health.

1. Why Digestive Issues Are Becoming More Common in Australian Dogs

Compared with a decade ago, we’re seeing far more dogs with sensitive stomachs, soft stools and recurring gut upsets in Melbourne and across Australia. Some common reasons include:

• Richer, higher-fat commercial diets and treats that can trigger dog loose stool and gas.
• Multi-protein recipes that make it harder to pinpoint food triggers.
• More frequent food changes as owners search for “the perfect food”.
• Seasonal changes, stress and lifestyle shifts (moving house, new pets, daycare, etc.).

Age also plays a big role in gut resilience:

• Puppies often have very fragile digestion. Their digestive enzymes and gut barrier are still developing, so sudden diet changes or rich foods can easily trigger loose stools and upset tummies.
• Adult dogs usually develop a more stable gut and can tolerate a wider range of foods, provided we don’t constantly chop and change.
• Senior dogs tend to lose digestive efficiency again. They benefit from highly digestible protein, balanced fibre and a focus on gut health support.

If we don’t support gut health at each life stage, problems like chronic loose stools, poor coat quality, low energy and a generally sensitive gut can slowly creep in.

2. Why a Healthy Gut Matters So Much

Your dog’s gut is not just a “food pipe”. Around 70% of the immune system sits in and around the digestive tract. A healthy gut:

• Breaks down food efficiently so your dog can actually absorb their nutrients.
• Supports a strong immune system and resilience to infections.
• Helps maintain a shiny coat, normal stool quality and good body condition.
• Supports mood and behaviour – chronic tummy discomfort makes any dog cranky.

When a dog is on the right sensitive stomach dog food, many owners notice improvements within 24–72 hours: firmer stools, less gas, less grass eating and a happier, more settled dog. Over the long term, good dog gut health support can also mean fewer flare-ups of tummy discomfort.

3. Common Causes of Sensitive Stomach in Dogs

“Sensitive stomach” isn’t a diagnosis in itself – it’s a cluster of signs that something in your dog’s diet or gut isn’t quite right. Common triggers include:

• Food intolerance to certain proteins
  Chicken and beef are the most common everyday proteins in Australia, so they’re also the top suspects when GI issues, dog soft stool and gas show up.
• Too much fat
  High-fat foods and treats can overwhelm the digestive system and lead to loose stools, pancreatitis risk or recurrent tummy upsets.
• Hard-to-digest carbohydrates and fillers
  Some dogs struggle with large amounts of legumes or heavy grains, which can increase gas and stool volume.
• Multi-protein, highly processed diets
  Mixed proteins make it harder to identify what your dog is reacting to.
• Sudden food changes
  Switching diets overnight (instead of over 7–14 days) is a classic cause of acute diarrhoea.
• Stress, illness or age
  Stressful events, underlying disease, puppies and older dogs all have more fragile digestive systems.

Some dogs also experience dog diarrhoea at night after a sudden food change or a very rich evening meal. If your dog regularly has diarrhoea, vomits, loses weight or has blood in the stool, always speak with your vet – this guide is for general digestive sensitivity, not for replacing medical advice.

4. How to Choose the Best Sensitive Stomach Dog Food

Instead of jumping randomly from brand to brand, it helps to follow a clear, step-by-step approach when choosing the best dog food for sensitive stomach in Australia.

4.1 Start With a Single-Protein or Grain-Free Baseline

A single-protein food (one clearly named meat, such as kangaroo or turkey) is usually the best place to start when you suspect food-related tummy issues. It allows you to:

• Remove unnecessary potential triggers from the bowl.
• Observe how your dog responds to that one protein source.
• Use their stool quality and comfort as a guide to what “works”.

Many dogs with sensitive stomach and loose stool also do well on grain-free dog food that uses digestible carbohydrates like sweet potato instead of wheat or corn. Grain-free isn’t automatically “better”, but for some sensitive stomachs it does mean a lighter digestive workload.

From there, you can slowly rule ingredients in or out – building a picture of which proteins and carbs your dog genuinely tolerates best.

4.2 Choose Gentle Carbohydrates and Moderate Fat

For most sensitive tummies, it helps to look for:

• Gentle carbohydrates such as rice, oat groats and sweet potato.
• Moderate, not excessive, fat levels, especially if your dog has a history of loose stools or pancreatitis.
• Transparent ingredient lists with recognisable whole-food ingredients and minimal fillers.

This kind of simpler, more digestible recipe is often described as a sensitive gut dog food because it places less strain on digestion while still meeting nutritional needs.

4.3 Look for Probiotics, Prebiotics and Digestive Support

Many of the better gut health dog foods now include:

• Prebiotics (like FOS, MOS) to feed beneficial bacteria.
• Postbiotics and fermentable fibres to support gut lining integrity.
• Digestive aids such as yucca extract for stool odour and consistency.

These extras don’t replace good core nutrition, but they can help nudge a fragile digestive system back in the right direction and support long-term dog stomach sensitivity.

4.4 Change Food Slowly and Monitor for 7–14 Days

Whatever food you choose, switch over gradually across 7–14 days. Watch for:

• Stool firmness and frequency.
• Gas and bloating (more or less?).
• Vomiting, appetite and overall comfort.

If things steadily improve, you’re on the right track. If they worsen, it’s time to review the ingredient list and possibly change direction. Keeping a simple stool diary for dogs with sensitive stomach and diarrhoea can help you and your vet see patterns more clearly.

5. Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach in Australia (2025 Picks)

Below are some of the formulas we most often see working well for dogs with sensitive stomachs in Australia. Remember that every dog is different – your vet’s advice and your own observations are always key.

5.1 Royal Canin Digestive Care – For Stool Quality and Digestive Comfort

The Royal Canin Digestive Care range is designed specifically to support digestive comfort and stool quality. In Royal Canin’s own testing, it helped up to 97% of dogs develop ideal stools – neither too soft nor too hard.

Key features:

• Highly digestible proteins to reduce the workload on the gut.
• An “ideal balance” of fibres, tailored to your dog’s size (larger dogs are more prone to soft stools, smaller dogs to constipation).
• A careful cooking process to make nutrients easier for the body to access and absorb.

Digestive Care is a strong option for dogs who struggle with inconsistent stool quality, dog loose stool or gassiness and need a reliable, everyday diet that focuses clearly on gut comfort. For more detailed nutritional information, you can also visit the Royal Canin Digestive Care official website.

5.2 Prime100 Single Protein Diets – Gentle Elimination-Friendly Feeding

Prime100 SPD (Single Protein Diet) is a go-to range when we’re working through suspected food sensitivities that show up as tummy issues.

Why it works well for sensitive stomachs:

• Single, clearly named proteins such as kangaroo, turkey and salmon.
• Gently cooked or air-dried options that are highly digestible.
• Suitable for elimination-style feeding where you’re trying to identify triggers.

For dogs with sudden but mild diarrhoea (and no red-flag symptoms), Prime100 Chicken & Brown Rice Fresh Dog Roll is often used as a very simple, soothing diet that’s gentle on the digestive system while you monitor recovery.

5.3 LifeWise Biotic Skin & Gut – Supporting the Gut Microbiome

LifeWise Biotic formulas are designed not just as food, but as functional diets that actively support the gut and microbiome. They typically feature:

• Digestible carbohydrates such as rice and oat groats.
• Specific prebiotics and postbiotics to support gut lining repair and a balanced flora.
• Carefully balanced mineral and vitamin profiles to support whole-body health.

These foods can be especially useful for dogs with chronic soft stools or those recovering from a period of digestive upset, under professional guidance.

5.4 Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach – High Digestibility and Consistency

Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach is a highly digestible, vet-endorsed option that focuses strongly on:

• Proven digestibility for better nutrient absorption.
• Fibre profiles chosen to support regular, well-formed stools.
• Consistent quality from batch to batch – a big advantage for sensitive dogs.

It’s a strong choice for adult and senior dogs who need a stable, predictable formula with an emphasis on gentle digestion rather than novel ingredients.

5.5 Air-Dried Options – Prime100, ZIWI Peak and Eureka

Air-dried dog foods sit somewhere between raw and kibble. They’re usually:

• Rich in meat, providing highly bioavailable protein.
• Lightly processed to preserve nutrients.
• Low in unnecessary fillers, which can support cleaner digestion for some dogs.

Brands such as Prime100 Air Dried, ZIWI Peak and Eureka offer air-dried recipes that can work well for sensitive stomachs when introduced gradually and fed in appropriate portions, often as small meals throughout the day.

5.6 Raw Dog Food – Big Dog and Proudi

For some dogs, a well-balanced raw dog food can be very gentle on the gut thanks to its natural moisture content and minimal processing.

Two Australian brands that stand out are:

• Big Dog Raw Pet Food – including Sensitive Skin and various single protein recipes like turkey and kangaroo that can be helpful for sensitive tummies and dogs with ongoing stomach sensitivity.
• Proudi – offering clean, single-protein raw recipes (e.g. whitefish, turkey, kangaroo) with high meat content and minimal extras.

If you’re considering Big Dog as your raw dog food for sensitive stomach, you can also explore our in-depth Big Dog articles for more detail on formulas and feeding:

• Big Dog Raw Pet Food Review: Australia 2025
• Big Dog Raw Food Feeding Guide: Australia 2025
• Big Dog Raw Food Comparison Guide 2025

Raw diets are not appropriate for every household or every dog, but when done correctly and introduced slowly, they can reduce stool volume and improve stool quality for some sensitive stomach dogs. Always thaw, store and handle raw food carefully, and consult your vet if your dog has any underlying medical conditions.

5.7 Freeze-Dried Dog Food – Lightweight and Easy on the Gut

Freeze-dried dog food is another excellent option for sensitive stomach dogs because it’s:

• Lightly processed, preserving much of the natural structure of the ingredients.
• High in animal protein with controlled fat and simple ingredient lists.
• Easy to rehydrate, making it gentler on the digestive tract.

Popular options include:

• K9 Natural Freeze-Dried – high meat, high moisture once rehydrated, often well tolerated by sensitive stomach dogs.
• Frontier Pets – fermented ingredients and gentle processing to support digestion and gut health.
• Furfresh – Australian freeze-dried recipes with a focus on digestible meats and simple ingredient lists.

Freeze-dried diets can be fed as complete meals or mixed into existing food as a topper to improve palatability and nutrient density without overloading the digestive system.

For sensitive stomach dog treats, freeze-dried single protein treats (like chicken breast, lamb, fish or venison) are often the safest bet. They’re typically low in fat, free from additives and easier on the gut than heavily processed biscuits or rich chews.

6. When Regular Sensitive Stomach Diets Don’t Work: Vet-Only Options

If your dog’s tummy troubles don’t improve despite careful diet selection, slow transitions and good feeding practices, it may be a sign of a deeper issue such as:

• Adverse food reactions (food allergies or intolerances).
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI).
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

In these situations, vets often turn to prescription diets such as Royal Canin Hypoallergenic.

Royal Canin Hypoallergenic – Hydrolysed Protein Vet Diet

Royal Canin Hypoallergenic is formulated specifically for dogs with adverse food reactions (AFR), including those showing both digestive and skin signs. It features:

• Hydrolysed soy protein isolate with low molecular weight peptides to reduce the likelihood of triggering immune reactions.
• Digestive support to help regulate gastrointestinal transit and support a balanced digestive flora.
• EPA/DHA and skin barrier nutrients to help maintain a healthy gut and skin barrier.

It is recommended in cases of diagnosed food allergies, IBD, chronic diarrhoea and certain chronic skin conditions. Because it is a therapeutic veterinary diet, it should only be used under your vet’s guidance, with regular check-ups to monitor your dog’s ongoing health.

For full nutritional details and veterinary usage information, please refer to the Royal Canin Hypoallergenic official website. For more technical reading on chronic gastrointestinal disease in dogs, veterinary professionals may also refer to the WSAVA global gastrointestinal guidelines.

7. Sudden Diarrhoea: What to Do

7.1 Possible Causes of Sudden Diarrhoea

Even dogs with normally robust digestion can sometimes develop sudden diarrhoea. Common triggers include:

• Sudden food changes – switching to a new brand or flavour overnight instead of gradually over 7–14 days.
• New or very rich treats – especially fatty chews or snacks they’ve never had before.
• Quality issues with a particular batch of food – for example, food that has gone slightly rancid, become moist or was stored improperly, which can lead to acute gastroenteritis.
• Scavenging something inappropriate – raiding the bin, eating something off the street or picking up dropped human food.
• Sharply changing weather conditions – some sensitive dogs react to sudden cold snaps or heavy weather changes with stress-related diarrhoea.
• Infections and acute gastroenteritis – which can cause watery diarrhoea, mucous in stool and sometimes blood in the stool.

Some dogs with dog vomiting and diarrhoea together may have eaten something inappropriate or developed an acute infection. If your dog is bright, still drinking and the diarrhoea is mild and recent, some simple home steps can help. But if there is blood, severe vomiting, obvious pain, or your dog seems very unwell, contact your vet promptly.

7.2 Immediate Gentle Feeding Strategies

For mild, sudden diarrhoea without red-flag symptoms, you can often help the gut settle by switching temporarily to a very gentle, low-risk diet:

• Prime100 Chicken & Brown Rice Dog Roll – a simple, highly digestible commercial option many owners use as a “reset” food while monitoring recovery.
• Boiled chicken breast and white rice – home-cooked, low-fat and gentle on the stomach (short-term only, as it’s not complete and balanced long term).

Helpful guidelines:

• Feed small, frequent meals instead of large portions. This reduces the burden on an irritated gut.
• Consider adding a dog-safe probiotic or vet-recommended digestive supplement to help rebalance the gut flora.
• In some adult dogs, a short period of light fasting (for example, skipping one meal) can allow the gut to rest – but this is not suitable for puppies, toy breeds, very underweight dogs or dogs with certain health conditions.
• Always provide plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration.

If stools start to improve over 24–48 hours, you can gradually transition back to your dog’s regular sensitive stomach diet, still feeding smaller portions at first and building up slowly.

For a more general veterinary overview on what to feed during mild diarrhoea episodes, many vets also refer owners to evidence-based guides such as PetMD’s article on what to feed a dog with diarrhoea (in addition to personalised veterinary advice).

7.3 When to See a Vet Immediately

Contact your vet as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

• Blood in the stool or very dark, tar-like stools.
• Repeated vomiting or inability to keep water down.
• Severe lethargy, collapse or signs of pain.
• Signs of dehydration (sunken eyes, sticky gums, reduced urination).
• Diarrhoea lasting more than 48–72 hours without improvement.
• Sudden diarrhoea in puppies, senior dogs or dogs with known medical conditions.

In these cases, home management is not enough – your dog needs a professional examination and potentially tests, fluids or prescription treatment.

8. Feeding Tips for Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

• Keep changes slow – any new food should be phased in over 7–14 days.
• Avoid “buffet” feeding – stick to a consistent diet rather than mixing many brands and treats.
• Feed appropriate portions based on your dog’s weight, age and activity, using the feeding guide as a starting point.
• Use small, frequent meals for very sensitive dogs, puppies and some seniors.
• Store food properly – sealed containers, cool dry place, and respect the best-before date.
• Match the diet to life stage – puppies, adults and seniors all have different digestive needs and energy requirements.

Over time, this consistent, gentle approach usually gives the gut the stability it needs to settle down and reduces the frequency of sensitive stomach flare-ups.

10. Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Sensitive Stomach Dog Food

Supporting a sensitive stomach is less about chasing the most fashionable diet and more about:

• Choosing simple, digestible recipes with clear ingredients.
• Matching the diet to your dog’s age, size and health.
• Making changes slowly and giving the gut time to respond.
• Working with your vet when signs are severe, persistent or complicated.

Whether you end up with a single-protein kibble, a digestive care formula, a raw or freeze-dried diet, the goal is the same: comfortable digestion, consistent stools and a happy, energetic dog.

If you’re based in Melbourne, you’re always welcome to chat with the team at ADS Pet Store Moorabbin or explore our range of sensitive stomach dog foods online. We can help you narrow down options, arrange fast local delivery across Melbourne suburbs, or organise Click & Collect from our warehouse-style store.