The 7 Best Canned Wet Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs

No amount of prior knowledge can prepare dog parents for the distress that comes with having a pooch with a sensitive stomach. The frequent visits to the vet, or the stress of seeing your dog uncomfortable are difficult. And having a dog with a sensitive stomach can be emotionally and financially exhausting.

As much as a sensitive stomach is a common problem among dogs, dogs can sometimes make themselves sick by eating too fast. Make smaller portions of their food to determine if this is the case. You want to also look out for allergic reactions to certain ingredients, diarrhea, excessive flatulence, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, and loss of appetite. 

In addition, some dog breeds are more susceptible to stomach sensitivity than others. If you have a Labrador, Yorkie, Great Dane, shih-tzu, boxer, collie, or an Irish setter, then you need to pay even more attention to your canine. 

Whatever the case, you should always talk to a veterinarian if you have any concerns your dog may have a sensitive stomach. They’ll be able to spot the issue and guide you toward the best course of action, be it the proper medication or a dietary adjustment for your dog.

Generally, highly digestible proteins, carbohydrates, and low-fat foods can help your dog feel better. There are many brands out there with relatively different product offers, so how do you know the best fit for your pooch? Our comprehensive review is here to the rescue, and we hope it helps in your search for the best canned wet food for your dog.

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Dog Food for the Best Canned Wet Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs

#1 Best Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin Chicken and Vegetable Entrée Canned Dog Food

The Hill’s Science Sensitive Stomach and Skin Chicken and Vegetable Entrée is our top recommendation for the best canned wet food for your dog with a sensitive stomach. This product is not just grain-free, but also contains natural fibers for easy stool pick-up. With easy-to-digest natural components like carrots, green peas, oat fiber, green beans, and vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, you can be confident that your dog will experience optimal digestion and skin nourishment.

This product is suited for adult dogs aged one to six years with sensitive stomachs. However, it can’t be given to puppies, mature adult dogs, or pregnant or lactating dogs. 

A family of four tried this for their two-year-old Labrador retriever with a sensitive stomach. After two weeks of eating this food consistently, the family is overjoyed to have discovered a canned food that she eats happily, and that appears to be helping with the sensitivity.

A few reviewers reported that their dogs didn’t like this food. One said that their dog experienced vomiting and lethargy after eating it.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin Chicken and Vegetable Entrée Canned Dog Food

Best Overall

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Vegetable Entrée Canned Dog Food

• Contains natural fibers for easy stool pick-up
• Easy-to-digest natural components
• Suited for adult dogs aged 1 to 6 years
• Can be given to puppies, mature adult dogs or pregnant or lactating dogs

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2. Best for Gastrointestinal Tract: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food

For dogs who may have trouble digesting fat, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is a tasty, digestible low-fat food with a pleasing texture. 

The gastrointestinal (GI) system of your dog ensures that food is correctly digested and that the nutrients required for good health are extracted, thereby supporting the rest of the body.

Whether mild or acute, symptoms of gastrointestinal issues in dogs should be addressed with seriousness and a visit to the vet. This is where the Royal Canin product comes in. 

The support of digestive health is provided by a combination of highly digestible proteins, balanced fibers including prebiotics, and EPA and DHA. These also ensure that your canine buddies get enough calories to meet their daily needs. While the prebiotics help to regulate the good bacteria in the gut, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish oil support and calm the GI system.

Since it’s a veterinary diet product, you can’t purchase it without a prescription from a vet. 

Based on a vet’s recommendation and prescription, a user got this for her shi tzu that needed to be placed on a low-fat diet. The dog’s owner said, ‘’I was terrified when my pooch started losing weight without eating much. However, I’ve noticed drastic changes (including solid stools and healthy weight gain) since the vet prescribed this.”

The main customer complaint was that this food is expensive.

Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food

Best For Gastrointestinal Tract

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Loaf Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz, case of 24

• a tasty, digestible low-fat food with a pleasing texture
• a veterinary diet product, you can’t purchase it without a prescription from a vet
• the prebiotics in the food help to regulate the good bacteria in the gut
• ensures that your canine buddies get enough calories to meet their daily needs

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3. Best For Puppies: Canidae Pure Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

Canidae Pure Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is the best wet food for puppies with tummy sensitivity. It’s a limited-ingredient recipe formulated with four main ingredients including real chicken and peas to give your growing pooch the nutrition they require. 

Canidae Pure chicken recipe is a grain-free pâté style food made without soy, wheat, or corn that could harm your dog. It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals, and a wholesome combination of antioxidants to promote healthy joints, skin, and coat, as well as probiotics to aid a healthy immune system and digestive system. 

However, you have to be careful when opening the can. There’s a small lip around the can, and some food could get stuck there.

After reading reviews from other dog parents, a tester decided to get this for their three-month-old Havanese puppy. It’s now their pup’s favorite, and it’s easy to see the results. Soft, shiny coat, stools are okay, and no vomiting.

Pros and Cons of Canidae Pure Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

Best for Puppies

CANIDAE PURE Puppy Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

• a grain-free pâté style food made without soy, wheat, or corn that could harm your dog
• a limited ingredient recipe formulated with 4 main ingredients
• packed with vitamins, minerals, and a wholesome combination of antioxidants to promote healthy joints, skin, and coat
• probiotics to aid a healthy immune system and digestive system

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4. Best Value: Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon, & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Besides being a viable grain-free option, Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon, & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Canned Dog Food formula costs less than other available options. While the first ingredient is line-caught Alaskan cod, this nutritious grain-free wet dog food is complemented with salmon, sweet potatoes, and natural prebiotic fiber. What’s more? The fish in this recipe is carefully sourced from MSC-certified fisheries.

It also has extra vitamins and minerals to provide balanced nourishment, thus making it a perfect option for your furry baby’s tummy troubles.

This highly proteinaceous wet food contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, so you can be sure that your best friend gets only the nutrition required for a happy stomach. 

‘’My toothless, 12-year-old dachshund can only eat this product without developing diarrhea. Her stools won’t be too solid or too loose because it has the proper quantity of fiber,” a user noted.

Although this product has great value, you might want to avoid it if your dog has allergies because of its use of multiple protein sources. In fact, a few reviewers were distressed that chicken is the ingredient in this “cod and salmon” food, since chicken is a common food allergen for dogs.

Pros and Cons of Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon, & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Best Value For Money

Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

• a viable grain-free option costs less than other options around
• the fish in this recipe is carefully sourced from MSC-certified fisheries
• no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• might want to avoid it if your dog has allergies because of its use of multiple protein sources

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5. Premium Option: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Wet Dog Food

Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Wet Dog Food is a fantastic high-end solution for your pup’s digestive problems, especially if you’ve tried everything else or you just want to show your pet extra, tender loving care. Hill’s ActiveBiome+ ingredient technology, which is infused into this recipe, controls essential gut bacteria in the microbiome to improve overall digestive health and nutrition absorption.

Ginger, omega fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber are all part of the digestive mix, which caters to your dog’s gastrointestinal health and bowel movements. 

A veterinarian prescribed this for a poodle who often has tummy issues and loose stools. The pet parent couldn’t be happier to share the progress, “Hills i/d low fat is a big hit. My dog enjoys it and no longer experiences stomach issues.”

 Although this meal is a fantastic choice for the majority of sensitive gastrointestinal issues, it is not the most friendly to allergic reactions because it contains common allergens, such as cornstarch, chicken, and egg whites. Keep in mind that this canned food has a unique recipe that necessitates veterinary approval for usage, which makes it more difficult to purchase.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Wet Dog Food

Premium Option

Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Low Fat Rice, Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog Food

• Hill's ActiveBiome+ ingredient technology, which is infused into this recipe, controls essential gut bacteria in the microbiome
• Ginger, omega fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber are all part of the digestive mix
• Not the most friendly to allergic reactions because it contains common allergens, such as cornstarch, chicken, and egg whites
•  Has a unique recipe that necessitates veterinary approval for usage

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6. Best For Small Dog Breeds: Merrick Lil’Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Plate

Merrick Lil’Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Plate is another great choice for fur babies with sensitive stomachs. The gravy meal is a fantastic alternative for many puppies since its first ingredient is real, deboned chicken and it has no gluten fillers. 

Thanks to the omega fatty acids, prebiotics, vegetables, and essential minerals in this product, your little puppy is guaranteed to enjoy improved digestion, balanced nutrition, healthy skin and coat, and increased hip and joint performance.

A user fed this to his Pomeranian, which didn’t particularly enjoy the larger canned food that required refrigeration for her subsequent meals. In his words, “I’m glad to have found a well-portioned product that works.”

This product is easy to use, but it has plastic packaging which may put off environmentally conscious dog parents.

Pros and Cons of Merrick Lil’Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Plate

Best For Small Dog Breeds

Merrick Lil' Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Wet Dog Food Pint-Sized Puppy Plate, 3.5-oz tub, case of 12

• Alternative for many puppies since its first ingredient is real, deboned chicken and it has no gluten fillers
• Easy to use, but it has plastic packaging which may put off environmentally conscious dog parents
• Omega-fatty acids, prebiotics, vegetables, and other essential minerals in this product
• Improves digestion, balanced nutrition, healthy skin and coat, and increased hip and joint performance

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7. Best For Allergic Dogs: Natural Balance Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula

Made with unique venison as a protein source, Natural Balance Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula limited-ingredient diet is a good option for canines that have allergies to typical meats. While sweet potatoes substitute for grains included in regular dog diets, the limited ingredient list can help to reduce allergens.

Also, it’s abundant in the vitamins B6 and B12, which are essential for a healthy immune system, metabolism, and gastrointestinal function throughout life. However, it lacks some digestive aids, such as omega fatty acids and prebiotics, which can soothe sensitive stomachs. Plus, it doesn’t list venison as the first ingredient.

“We made a recent switch to this product, and it’s been excellent. My two doxies gobble it down in seconds!”’ a user enthused.

Pros and Cons of Natural Balance Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula

Best For Allergic Dogs

Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

• Made with unique venison as a protein source
• Abundant in the vitamins B6 and B12, which are essential for a healthy immune system, metabolism, and gastrointestinal function
•  It lacks some digestive aids, such as omega fatty acids and prebiotics, which can soothe sensitive stomachs
• Sweet potatoes substitute the grains normally found in a regular dog's diet

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

The ideal canned/wet food for dogs with sensitive stomachs will vary from dog to dog. But two key criterion can help you choose: short ingredient list and low-fat.

Short Ingredient List

Before buying wet canned food for your dog with tummy troubles, be sure to check the ingredient list. Ideally, wet foods for sensitive stomachs contain only vital ingredients that are easy to digest. A product with a long list of ingredients should raise suspicion because it could complicate issues.

Low-Fat

Consuming excess fat can cause severe gastrointestinal problems such as pancreatitis in dogs. Thus, make sure you go for products that are low in fat.

Is Prescription Dog Food Necessarily “Better”?

You may wonder why you need a veterinarian’s prescription to purchase certain dog foods. Here’s the thinking behind this practice:

Veterinarians must prescribe certain therapeutic diets because, depending on the disease being addressed, these foods may contain levels of nutrients below what is legally allowed to be sold for a healthy pet without that medical condition.

Cailin Heinze, Veterinary Nutritionist, Cummings Veterinary Medical Center

Because these nutrients are in different proportions than typically recommended, vets need to monitor pets that are on these diets carefully. Moreover, if the pet has a health condition that prompted the vet to recommend the diet in the first place, they should be closely monitored for that.

Do prescription diets work? The short answer is “Maybe.” Some dogs respond well to prescription diets and some don’t. The bottom line is that the best diet for your dog is the one that resolves their symptoms without compromising their overall health in any way. And to ensure that, you will need to work closely with your veterinarian.