Dealing with an upset stomach can be exhausting for both you and your dog. Finding the correct diet for your furry friend is essential for their overall health and well-being, which is why searching for the best dry dog food for loose stools is so essential.
Loose stools can stem from several issues: if your dog has severe diarrhea, you should take him to the vet immediately as there could be a serious problem, and the sooner it is caught, the easier it is to treat.
To help you through this time-consuming task, we have put together a list of the best dry dog food for loose stools available. So treat your furry friend with the best food possible while alleviating their discomfort.
Eight of the Best Dry Dog Food for Loose Stools
The following eight dog foods were selected due to their quality ingredients and efficiency:
1. Instinct Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Instinct limited ingredient dog food is the perfect grain-free meal for your poor pooch. By using only one protein and one vegetable, Instinct has created a gentle combination that is soothing and will not upset your dog’s stomach.
If your dog has loose stools, this brand is an excellent choice as it effectively calms most digestive problems.
The Ingredients Include:
- Canola Oil
- Lamb Meal
- Tapioca
- Peas
- Pea Protein
2. Royal Canin Digestive Care
Royal Canin is an internationally renowned pet food brand used by veterinarians around the globe. They have an outstanding product containing quality ingredients packed full of digestible proteins, prebiotics, and dietary fibers, called Royal Canin Digestive Care.
While their recipe is effective, it does contain cornmeal and chicken by-products that some dogs are allergic to, so it is best to give your dog a tester and see the reaction. If all goes well, you will see a considerable difference in the consistency of your dog’s stool.
The Ingredients Include:
- Chicken meal
- Brewers rice
- Chicken fat
- Corn gluten meal
- Brewers rice flour
3. Taste of the Wild
Packed full of rich, gorgeous ingredients, Taste of the Wild will satisfy most pets. It is grain-free and the perfect solution for loose stools.
This formula is full of probiotics and prebiotics to increase the number of good bacteria in your dog’s digestive system. Not only will it help with digestion, but it will also improve your furry friend’s overall wellbeing, resulting in healthy skin and a glowing coat.
The Ingredients Include:
- Smoked Salmon
- Sweet potatoes
- Ocean fish meal
- Potatoes
- Peas
4. Hill’s Science Dry Dog Food – Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Hill’s Science Dry Dog for food Sensitive Stomach & Skin is formulated out of the best ingredients that are easy on the tummy and a treat for your pooch. It works on several digestive issues, so it will be efficient in treating loose stool.
There are few ingredients, which makes it is safe to use on dogs with food allergies. However, if you are nervous about the ingredients, consult with a veterinarian before purchase.
This product is packed with essential vitamins like C and E and Omega-6 fatty acids to ensure a healthy digestive system.
The Ingredients Include:
- Chicken
- Chicken meal
- Yellow peas
- Cracked pearled barley
- Brown rice
5. Blue Buffalo Basics
Blue Buffalo Basics is a fan favorite due to its ability to minimize digestive problems. It’s designed to tackle multiple digestive issues and is very effective at eradicating loose stools.
This product is free of:
- Corn
- Wheat
- Soy
- Dairy
- Eggs
The Ingredients Include:
- Deboned Turkey
- Potatoes
- Turkey Meal
- Pea starch
- Peas
6. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet
This product is one of the best on the market and approaches digestive issues by using the minimalist approach. It is formulated out of excellent ingredients for digestion and caters to dogs with moderate-severe stomach issues.
Wellness simple limited ingredient diet is gluten-free and also excludes artificial flavors & colors as well as preservatives. It also contains probiotics and prebiotics and, when used for 7 – 14 days, should correct any stomach problems.
There are multiple flavors to choose from, which include duck, turkey, salmon, and lamb.
The Ingredients Include:
- Deboned turkey
- Turkey meal
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Dried ground potatoes
7. I and Love and You Nude Food Grain-Free Simply Sea Dry Dog Food
I and love and you nude food grain-free simply sea dry dog food is a mouthful but describes their product to a tee. They pride themselves on the premium quality nutrition provided to their clients and concentrate on using ingredients to aid in healthy digestion.
Their secret weapon is using foods like flaxseed, turmeric, and coconut oil to increase the nutritional value of their food, while the blend of probiotics and prebiotics play a role in settling the stomach and improving digestion.
Not only does this brand correct loose stools, clients reported that their dog’s energy levels increased, their skin stopped itching, and their coats have a healthy shine.
The Ingredients Include:
- Whitefish
- Herring meal
- Menhaden fish meal
- Chickpeas
- Peas
8. Natural Balance – Best Dry Dog Food for Puppies
Natural Balance is the perfect food choice for your little bundle of fur. Their kibble is the right size for puppies and contains a good amount of protein and minimal carbohydrates. Protein is vital for a young dog’s development.
This product provides the perfect balanced diet, which will decrease the risk of your pup getting allergies or an upset stomach. In addition, there are no artificial foods or colors in their food, providing your pooch with a clean and healthy diet.
The Ingredients Include:
- Potatoes
- Duck meal
- Duck
- Potato Protein
- Canola Oil
However, there are many problems related to this diet as well:
- The formula of the diet has recently changed, which has reduced the interest of many dogs in the food.
- The diet composition changes when shifting to Wellness Simple LID resulted in weight loss in some dogs.
- Change in composition of the diet leads to gastrointestinal issues in some dogs as well.
Are Loose Stools Common in Dogs?
Most pet dogs will experience loose stools at some point during their lifetime. The causes of the loose stools are varied and may depend on several factors. Usually, using the best dry dog food for loose stool helps to remedy the situation.
However, most dog owners struggle to select the best options from various food choices during their dog’s illness. Therefore, we went one step ahead and compiled a complete list of the best options available in the market.
How to Select the Best Dry Dog Food for Loose Stool
Nearly all dogs experience diarrhea and other issues during their lifetimes that can cause loose stools. However, the underlying reason for loose stools may be quite varied.
Your selection of the proper diet for your dog would be based on the vet’s identification and formal diagnosis of this underlying issue.
For example, if the dog is experiencing food allergies from a certain ingredient in his current diet, the food selected to overcome loose stools would have to exclude that ingredient. A common example is where dogs suffer allergies from grains.
Similarly, some dogs may have a low bacterial count in their digestive system, creating an imbalance in the food-breaking process. For such dogs, their best dry dog food for loose stools will be one that contains prebiotics and probiotics. These bacteria will help ease their digestion manifold.
Finally, there may be an underlying food intolerance as well. The vet may diagnose the intolerance by looking for signs like inflamed skin, abdominal discomfort, and stool composition in such cases.
The dog may experience fever, fatigue, vomiting, blood in the stool, and dehydration due to these issues.
Other Facts to Consider Regarding the Best Dry Dog Food for Loose Stools
Certain other factors must be considered in this regard as well:
- The fat content should be either low or moderate. Such composition makes the food easy to digest and can reduce symptoms of pancreatitis and abdominal pain in the dog.
- Fiber restricted, low residue diets can be digested easily by your dog. Always select food options that have low residue fiber content. It can help your dog pass multiples stools daily.
- A sensitive stomach requires very specific dietary options to ensure that food can be digested properly. In such cases, take the vet’s advice on the foods you must avoid when feeding your dog.
- You may consider I and Love and You Nude Food and Instinct LID Grain-Free diet as well. These products are known for their specialized composition that can reduce the gastrointestinal issues your dog faces. This way, the symptoms of loose stools can be dramatically reduced.
Final Thoughts
Buying the best dog food for loose stools can be challenging as there are so many brands to choose from. Always look for a grain-free brand, as these options usually contain more natural ingredients instead of artificial fillers.
When it comes to finding the right food for your dog’s loose stools, always look for limited ingredients; you want something bland as not to upset your pooches stomach any further.
If your dog is a fussy eater, you are in luck as any of the eight brands mentioned on the above list are excellent, and you have a wide variety of choices. Go through each product until you find one that your fur child enjoys.