Top 5 Best Foods for German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs (2024 Review)

Looking for the Best Foods For German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs?

Perfect! You’re in the right place.

In this Digdoggy.com guide, you’ll learn:

  • The top 5 foods for German Shepherds with Sensitive Stomachs
  • How to pick the right foods for dogs with sensitive stomachs
  • Different types of dog foods to choose from

And much more!

image of Veterinarian examining German Shepherd dog with sore stomach.

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to read our buying guide and choose the best German Shepherd foods for sensitive stomachs.

ImageProduct
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American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
  • High protein
  • Grain-free
  • No Wheat No Soy
  • High protein
  • Grain-free
  • No Wheat No Soy
View on Amazon
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Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula
  • Real meat
  • Trusted and sustainable sources
  • Real fruits and vegetables
  • Real meat
  • Trusted and sustainable sources
  • Real fruits and vegetables
View on Amazon
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food
  • Natural ingredients
  • Mimics your dog's ancestral diet
  • Features high-quality real meat
  • Natural ingredients
  • Mimics your dog's ancestral diet
  • Features high-quality real meat
View on Amazon
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Large Breed Dog Food
  • Sourced from real chicken
  • Reduced calorie formula
  • Contains fruit and vegetables
  • Sourced from real chicken
  • Reduced calorie formula
  • Contains fruit and vegetables
View on Amazon
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Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food
  • 30% protein and 20% fat ratio
  • Includes amino acids
  • Live probiotics
  • 30% protein and 20% fat ratio
  • Includes amino acids
  • Live probiotics
View on Amazon

Our Overall #1 Rated Pick

Updated On January 19, 2022 

Our overall number one top pick is the American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Deboned protein-rich salmon is the first ingredient and also includes fruits and vegetables, omega-3, and 6 fatty acids.

Being free of corn, wheat and soy makes this perfect for preventing food allergies and encouraging healthy digestion.

Each bag contains 32% crude protein and contains prebiotic fiber that nourishes the bacteria found in the intestine for easier digestion.

Our dogs seem to love the taste when dry or with added ingredients and the kibble doesn’t crumble away like some others we reviewed.

Many customers shared they experienced a noticeable improvement in their German Shepherd’s skin and coat when trailing this food.

What's In This Guide?

Our Top 5 Best Foods For German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 foods for sensitive stomachs. Or keep reading to discover more bout our top picks

  1. American Journey Grain-Free Oven-Baked Recipe
  2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula
  3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food
  4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Large Breed Dog Food
  5. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food

What Are The Different Types Of Foods For German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs?

The best types of dog foods for German Shepherds with sensitive stomachs include:

  • Limited ingredient dog food (LID – limited ingredient diet)
  • Hypoallergenic dog food
  • Prescription GI dog (gastrointestinal) food

Limited ingredient dog food (LID)

This type of food has a limited number of ingredients that your dog is exposed to within their diet.

However, limited ingredients do not mean the food will always contain the appropriate ingredients for a dog. So how do you decide? Check the label for what’s inside.

A study in 2017 by NCBI (the US National Library of Medicine) discovered over 33% of nonprescription limited ingredient dog foods to contain ingredients that were not listed on their label.

There is no set number for how little ingredient a dog food must contain in order to be labeled ‘limited’.

It instead indicates the food should contain a lesser number of ingredients than what can be found in regular dog foods.

Hypoallergenic dog food

Hypoallergenic dog foods work by eliminating the risk of intolerances, which in our case refers to sensitive stomachs.

They are specifically formulated to help with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, wind, bloating, and loss of appetite.

There are many great reasons to switch your dog onto a hypoallergenic diet such as minimizing arthritis, obesity, and heart problems.

These food are also made with delicious natural flavors that may include rabbit, fish, alligator, venison, bison, or kangaroo.

Note, ‘hypoallergenic’ does not mean grain-free and some hypoallergenic dog foods will likely still contain large proportions of grains.

Prescription GI (gastrointestinal) dog food

Prescription GI diets are only available when prescribed by vets to help in aiding the intestine back to normal in is little

These recipes will typically include hypoallergenic and limited ingredient designs. 

Prescription dog foods cover a range of illnesses such as Gastrointestinal Issues, kidney issues, cancer, diabetes heart t disease, and dental issues.

A few of the most popular prescribed dog foods are Hill’s Prescription Diet, Royal Canin Veterinary, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets.

What Should You Look For In High-Quality Dog Foods For German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs?

Here are a few things to look out for when buying dog foods for dogs with sensitive stomachs:

Labels

The FDA requires USA manufactured pet foods to clearly list all the ingredients used in a product. The three ingredients I check for are protein, fats, and fibers.

Depending on the age of your dog, you’ll be looking for:

  • Proteins (18% – 25% for adults) and (18% – 29% for pups)
  • Fats (minimum of 5.5%)
  • Fiber (2% – 4% for a healthy diet)

Probiotics

Probiotics are friendly bacteria. Dogs have billions of these microorganisms which live in the stomach working to prevent disease and promote health.

The purpose this serves include:

  • Making nutrients and vitamins
  • Breaking down food
  • Building strong immunity

Reading the labels of dog foods is a way to identify products containing probiotic properties.

While hard to remember, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus all improve stool quality, and dog diarrhea.

Just look out for those words on the back of food bags!

Complete and Balanced

A complete and balanced diet is specifically formulated to contain all ingredients known to be necessary for a healthy dog’s diet.

For example, the food will contain all the vitamins and minerals needed to prevent diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies.

This encourages healthy digestion.

Our Reviews Of The Best Foods For German Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs

Pick #1: American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

The American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe is filled with fiber, antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals that support optimal growth and improved health.

What makes it perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs is that it’s grain-free, corn-free, soy-free, and wheat-free.

It also has omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that are needed for optimal skin and coat health.

For enhanced immune health support, the recipe includes a host of fruits and vegetables, including carrots, blueberries, and dried kelp for fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

Pros

Cons

Pick #2: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula

The High Prairie Canine formula depends on buffalo, lamb meal as well as chicken to provide a delectable mixture of white and red meat for your canine friend.

What’s special about this dog food is that it is available in three distinct sizes.

Taste of the Wild is a reputable brand in the dog food industry and has used a natural recipe for this particular food.

It includes protein sources such as bison and buffalo as opposed to other common meat protein options.

It also includes sweet potatoes and peas which are great sources of digestible energy.

There are also omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that support both coat and skin health.

Whereas the vegetables and fruits at their disposal offer much-needed antioxidants that fend off disease-causing pathogens and bacteria.

It also includes dried chicory root, which provides prebiotic support and promotes healthy digestion.

The ingredients available in this dry dog food are not only from sustainable and trusted sources, but are also free from artificial colors, fillers, corn, wheat, or preservatives.

The formula is highly digestible and nutrient-dense, with a unique K9 strain probiotic blend offering a great boost to your pooch’s digestive health.

Pros

Cons

Pick #3: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food

Blue Wilderness offers incredible dry puppy food that is among the best choices for small German shepherds.

A formula designed to satisfy your pup’s natural love for meat, this protein-dense puppy food includes a real chicken that will accelerate strong muscle growth.

Blue dry dog food features only the finest natural ingredients enhanced with essential minerals and vitamins.

A safe option as it doesn’t contain poultry by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

It contains Blue Buffalo’s exclusive LifeSource Bits.

Which is a precise blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and vitamins, to support your pet’s immune health, life stage requirements as well as a healthy oxidative balance.

To help fuel your young pup’s active lifestyle, the formula contains healthy carbohydrates such as peas and potatoes.

It also features omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to help support your young pooch’s skin and coat health.

Pros

Cons

Pick #4: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

The German shepherd is a breed with a propensity for heftiness.

Extra weight should be lost as soon as possible to avoid complications from hip dysplasia among other related health issues.

And if yours is overweight, you’ll need to provide her with good nutrition that may help shed some unwanted weight.

To achieve this, you will need a food that has higher protein, lower carbohydrates, and fewer calories.

Blue Buffalo Large Breed Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food boasts natural and potent ingredients that will certainly solve the issue of excess weight on your pooch.

Not only does this food contain a sufficient amount of protein for energy, but also features chondroitin and glucosamine for joint and bone support as your pup loses weight.

Large breed dog foods usually feature a few extra calories, but this particular dog food essentially cuts out those extra calories so your pet burns fat fairly faster.

High-quality protein from real chicken helps your pup build and maintain healthy muscle.

Pros

Cons

Pick #5: Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food

The Purina Pro Plan is a fantastic dog food equipped with all the essential nutrients for your skinny pup to build and maintain a healthy body weight.

Though fairly expensive, it is worth your hard-earned cash. It is a top-notch recipe that offers lots of nutrients in a single package.

The recipe is fine-tuned to boost strength and endurance with 30% protein to build muscle from real chicken as the first ingredient and 20% fat for energy.

It is enhanced with essential amino acids, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, as well as glucosamine for healthy joints and mobility.

It provides a complete and well-balanced diet for dogs of all ages and activity levels, including canine athletes and working pets.

The recipe is uniquely formulated to help optimize oxygen metabolism to support endurance during a workout.

And also features DHA and EPA omega-3 and -6 fatty acids improved skin and coat health.

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs that my German Shepherd’s stomach is sensitive?

Check to see if your GSD swallows a lot and is licking his lips. You can tell that your dog feels sick if he doesn’t eat.

Classic signs of a sensitive stomach include nausea, diarrhea, and intermittent loose stools. Once you notice these signs on your GSD, chances are, he has a sensitive stomach.

What makes sensitive stomach dog food different from regular dog food?

Dog food formulated for sensitive stomachs are easier to digest than normal dog food.

Recipes for German Shepherds with sensitive stomachs are gentle on your doggo’s digestive system.

Easily digest ingredients include extra minerals such as zinc and fatty acids Omega 6 which also help promote a healthy coat and nourish his skin.

What could have caused my GSD’s sensitive stomach?

Dietary indiscretion is the primary cause of a sensitive or upset stomach.

Also, a German Shepherd’s sensitive stomach could also be caused by intestinal blockages, parasites, tumors, ulcers, overeating, and food allergies.

Our Top Pick: American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Our Top Pick is the American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe.

If your lovely pup is always active, this recipe will keep her engaged throughout the day!

The addition of both sweet potato and chickpeas allows for slow-release energy, which implies your four-legged friend will have endless energy all day long.

Final Thoughts On Foods For german Shepehrds with sensatve stomachs

Sensativetomahs require a diet that offers limited ingredients, a well-balanced diet, as well a good source of proteins, fibers, and fats.

Above 18% protein, 2% fiber, and 5.5% fats are what you should look for on dog food labels. Note, you should always read the label.

And if you’d rather save time, lookout for a complete and balanced diet as these foods contain all the essential nutrients for healthy digestion.

Leon Angus

Leon Angus

Leon Angus is a London, UK-based blogger with a plan to improve the pet industry one post at a time. He is the senior editor at Dig Doggy and oversees every piece of content before publish to ensure the highest quality and most thorough research has been carried out.

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Leon Angus

Leon Angus

Leon Angus is a London, UK-based blogger with a plan to improve the pet industry one post at a time. He is the senior editor at Dig Doggy and oversees every piece of content before publish to ensure the highest quality and most thorough research has been carried out.

About Dig Doggy

DigDoggy® is a free resource for dog owners, with everything from expert product reviews to trusted pet care advice.

All of our reviews and recommendations are based on unbiased research by our editorial team. Read more about us.

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