So, your dog has been diagnosed with colitis. Colitis is a condition of a dog’s colon, the large intestine, or bowels. It is a common, inflammatory disease that is the main cause of diarrhea. Watching the stress and discomfort your dog is experiencing can be torture for his owner. You want to remedy the situation so you can play and be a happy team again.
Your vet may have suggested some superior quality foods to provide your pup with the proper diet. The choice is up to you, however. Deciding on a food that will be pleasing to your dog’s palate is crucial. If he won’t eat it, it’s useless. The other principal factor is price. If the cost is not within your budget, you need other options. The questions are many. Do I buy grain-free, hydrolyzed, or low-fat? We hope this review of our pick for the best dog foods for colitis is helpful.
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for dogs with colitis. The diet is formulated with ActivBiome technology to kick start gut bacteria, ease digestion and support absorption of nutrients. The prebiotic fiber and fatty acids will provide your pup with the proper nourishment for gastrointestinal health and better-quality stools. This tasty diet is available in small bites for pets with chewing difficulties.
The cost may be a bit high for those of you that may have a tight budget and it does require approval from your vet, so keep this in mind.
Pros
ActivBiome+ technology
Better stool quality
Available is large and small sized kibble
Dogs like the taste
Cons
Expensive
Needs vet approval
2. Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food – Best Value
Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Formula Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for colitis for the money. At an affordable price, you can feed your dog a grain-free diet with limited ingredients that may irritate a sensitive stomach. The diet is formulated with egg protein to ease digestion. It contains omegas for healthy skin and coat and vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition. It does not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Some reviewers have said their dogs get gas, and some won’t eat it. In addition, there are some studies that suggest a possible link between grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs. Before feeding your pet a grain-free or specialized diet, talk to your veterinarian.
Pros
Affordable
Eases digestion
Promotes healthy skin and coat
No artificial colors or flavors
No preservatives
Cons
Fussy eaters won’t eat it
Some dogs may experience gas
Grain-free
3.Blue Buffalo GI Support Dry Dog Food– Premium Choice
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes
Protein content:
24%
Fat content:
12.0%
Calories:
344/cup
Our review of foods for dogs with colitis found Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food as our premium choice. The diet is formulated to meet a dog’s nutritional needs at all stages of life. It provides ingredients that are easily digested by puppies and adult dogs alike. The protein, fats, and carbohydrates help his body absorb nutrients to aid in digestion. The immune system is supported by ingredients like cranberries and blueberries.
Some reviews reported difficulty chewing for small dogs or senior dogs with dental issues. The Blue Buffalo diet does require vet approval and is a bit costly.
Pros
Dogs like the taste
Good for all ages
Easily digested
Cons
Vet approval needed
Expensive
Chewing difficulty for senior and small dogs
4. Royal Canin Puppy GI Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies
Our review of the best food for puppies with colitis is Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Puppy Gastrointestinal Dry Dog Food. The Royal Canin can be given to your pup for a long or short period of time. The tasty, rehydratable food is high in fat and calories. Just add a little warm water to his kibble, and your puppy can easily move on to adult food. Feeding your puppy small portions will protect his sensitive stomach and provide healthy digestion. The fatty acids from fish oil are gentle on the GI tract, and the dietary fibers support digestion for improvement in the quality of his stool.
If your dog has GI issues, you will need veterinary approval for this product, and the cost may put a dent in your wallet.
Pros
Can be moistened with warm water
Improvement in stool quality
Easy on the digestive tract
Cons
Expensive
Vet approval needed
5. Royal Canin Adult GI Low Fat Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dog Food is our vet’s choice for dogs suffering from colitis. The goal of this diet is to relieve inflammation in the gut to ease digestion. The omega-3 fatty acids also help with digestion. It is a tasty diet for dogs that have an intolerance or difficulty digesting fat. The ingredients contain dietary fibers for better quality stool and healthy digestion. For an occasional treat, there are gastrointestinal treats available also.
The low-fat ingredients can be hard to digest, resulting in gut inflammation in some dogs. The formula does require veterinary approval. Like other prescription diets, it can get a bit expensive.
Water sufficient for processing, pork by-product, pork liver, brewer’s rice flour, corn grits
Protein content:
6%
Fat content:
1.43%
Calories:
350/can
One of our picks for the best dog foods for colitis is Royal Canin Veterinary Adult Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food. The soft loaf is a wet dog food that can be given to your pet short or long-term. The soft diet can be especially desirable to a dog that has difficulty chewing kibble. With proteins and prebiotics for healthy digestion and stool, the low-fat ingredients may be a desirable choice for your pup. For dogs that have difficulty digesting fat, it will provide him with calories sufficient for his needs. The level of fiber has been adjusted to accommodate the lower fat content. Fiber provides energy for maintaining a healthy weight.
Unfortunately, if you have a picky eater, this may not be for you. It requires vet approval and can put a dent in your budget.
Pros
Soft for dogs with chewing difficulties
Can be used for short or long periods of time
Improves the quality of stool
Low fat
Cons
Picky eaters may not like it
Not budget-friendly
Vet approval required
7. Hill’s Prescription Diet Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food
One of our picks for the best dog food for colitis is Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Original Flavor Dry Dog Food. The diet contains hydrolyzed protein, which has been used for dogs with skin allergies and inflammatory bowel disease. The specialized protein helps to reduce reactions to proteins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. Along with improved digestion, the ingredients help to relieve skin irritation and maintain a healthy coat. The nutrient-specific formula helps to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Like other veterinary prescribed diets, the Hill’s z/d formula is on the expensive side. If your dog refuses to eat it, you may be left “holding the bag.”
Pros
Contains hydrolyzed protein
Improves skin and coat
Improves the quality of stool
Helps prevent kidney stones
Cons
Veterinary approval required
A bit pricey
Picky eaters may not eat it
8. Purina Pro Plan Gastroenteric Low Fat Dry Dog Food
Our review found that Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Dog Food works well for dogs with colitis. While most dogs do not have a problem digesting fat, a low fat diet may lessen the bouts of diarrhea for your pet. The diet contains ingredients that are high quality and prebiotic fibers to help relieve your pet’s diarrhea. You may want to try this formula if the high and moderate fat formulas are not helping your dog. This low-fat, pea-free diet with grain may be your answer if your dog has problems digesting fat.
The reviews are mixed when it comes to taste, however. For a costly veterinary diet, dogs don’t seem excited about the taste or they just won’t eat it at all.
Pros
Low fat
Helps reduce risks of diarrhea
Pea free
Cons
Expensive
Veterinary approval necessary
Some dogs don’t like the taste
9. Blue Buffalo Diet Novel Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Deboned alligator, peas, pea starch, alligator meal, pea protein
Protein content:
22%
Fat content:
14%
Calories:
372/cup
One of our picks for dog foods for colitis is Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet NP Novel Protein Alligator Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. For those of you that prefer to feed your dog grain-free food, this may be the one. Your dog is sure to love the flavor of alligator meat without experiencing the negative reactions linked to foods like chicken and beef. It is also free of preservatives and artificial flavors. For a healthy immune system, the diet includes antioxidants and vitamins, along with cranberries and blueberries. Your dog’s skin and coat will also be supported by the omega-3 fatty acids.
This is a grain-free diet and contains peas. As previously stated, some studies link heart disease with grain-free diets. The formulation is expensive and does require vet approval.
Pros
Minimizes reactions to food
Contains alligator
No artificial flavors or preservatives
No beef or chicken
Cons
Veterinary approval required
Expensive
Contains peas
10. Purina Pro Plan Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Dry Dog Food
Corn starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, coconut oil, partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with TBHQ, powdered cellulose
Protein content:
18%
Fat content:
8.0%
Calories:
314/cup
Our final pick for a dog food for colitis is Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Dry Dog Food. Formulated with the help of researchers, veterinarians, and nutritionists specifically for dogs and growing pups. This is a vegetarian diet with hydrolyzed protein to aid your pet in the digestion process. The specialized diet is chicken and pea-free and is suitable for all breed sizes.
Some reviewers find the kibble to be too hard for senior dogs or ones with chewing difficulties. This is a key factor to consider since the food is on the pricey side and requires veterinary approval.
Pros
Developed with the help of vets, nutritionists, and researchers
Contains hydrolyzed protein
Pea-free
Cons
Vet approval required
Kibble may be too hard for some dogs
Expensive
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Foods for Colitis
Dogs suffering from colitis will show signs of urgency, straining, and blood or mucus in his stool. In some cases, your dog may experience a lack of appetite or appears to be lethargic. The inflammation results in decreased water absorption and diarrhea.
Causes and Treatment of Colitis
While stress colitis is one of the major bowel diseases in dogs, trauma, infections, parasites, primary inflammatory bowel disease and allergic colitis can cause acute or chronic diarrhea in dogs. Once your dog is diagnosed with colitis, your vet may prescribe medication along with a specialized diet. In most cases, the inflammation will go away or be kept under control.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
