Your dog is unique from head to tail, and that includes his gut! While many dogs can chow down on just about anything, maybe your pup can’t—or at least, not without everyone downwind noticing. Dogs get gassy when their food is not properly digested, and if your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach, you might need to get a food that reflects that.
Here are our reviews for the best foods for gassy dogs. We hope that one of these foods will meet your needs.
Poor food quality is the biggest reason for gas in dogs, and Nom Nom’s Turkey Fare is a perfect solution. This easily digestible food is freshly prepared in small batches and delivered right to your door. Nom Nom’s team of health experts formulate each recipe to help your pooch get every nutrient he needs without the filler and additives that are part of traditional dog foods. This food uses brown rice as its only grain, bypassing the fillers like corn and soy that often cause gastric issues in dogs. It also doesn’t have any other common gas causers, like peas or beans. It is high in protein and has a healthy amount of fat for your dog. This makes it the overall best dog food for gassy dogs.
Nom Nom runs through a subscription service, so once you set it up, the food is delivered to you automatically, in the amount and frequency that you choose. Because it’s a fresh food, it is a slightly more expensive option. But we think its the best overall dog food for gassy dogs.
If fresh food isn’t something you’re interested in, American Journey’s Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato is the best food for gassy dogs for the money. This recipe uses food from a single protein source, salmon, and leaves out grains that are common causes of digestive issues. It is at least 25% crude protein to fuel your dog and promote healthy muscle development, making it a great choice for active dogs. Although this recipe avoids most of the common allergens and sensitivities, it does contain peas and chickpeas among its primary ingredients, which are currently being studied for links to heart conditions in dogs.
If dry food is your dog’s favorite, Spot & Tango’s Unkibble is changing the game. This dry food uses fresh meats and real veggies that will keep your pup full and happy without fuss. Their Cod and Salmon recipe is the perfect premium option for the gassy dog, with carbs mainly coming from sweet potato and tapioca, not traditional grains, and no other ingredients that are associated with gas. Spot & Tango uses a subscription model that sends food straight to your door on the timetable you choose. If you want the benefits of natural ingredients and small-kitchen food but don’t want to deal with the hassle of freezing and thawing fresh food, Unkibble makes a great alternative. However, it is pretty pricey for a dried dog food, so it might not be the best choice for everyone.
Pros
Delivered right to your door
Benefits of fresh food without the hassle
No gas-causing ingredients
Cons
More expensive option
4. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice
Salmon, rice, barley, fish meal, canola meal, beef fat
Food Type:
Dry
Life stage:
Puppy
Not all dogs wait until they’re grown up to get gassy. Purina Pro Plan’s Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach food understands this. This dry food uses natural, easy-to-digest ingredients like salmon and rice to make sure your growing pup gets the nutrition he needs without the tummy trouble. It is full of probiotics and prebiotics that promote gut health and support the immune system. It also has a puppy-oriented formula with high levels of calcium, phosphorus, omegas, and fatty acids that help support your pup’s development at all stages. One drawback of this food is that some dogs struggle with digesting fish, so it won’t solve all digestion issues.
Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
Food Type:
Dry/grain-free
Life stage:
Adult
Taste of the Wild High Prairie dog food is another great option for dogs with grain-sensitive stomachs. It has a variety of proteins from water buffalo to chicken, providing a great range of flavors and nutrients. Instead of grains, this food uses vegetables like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peas to fill out their food. It also is packed with nutrients that help with digestion, including fatty acids, chelated minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics. These help boost your dog’s health. If your dog is prone to allergies outside of grains, this food might not be ideal because of the wide variety of ingredients. Some dogs are also sensitive to peas, so this food isn’t ideal for all dogs.
Pros
High-quality animal proteins
Grain-free carbs, fresh fruits, and vegetables
Healthful ingredients like fatty acids, chelated minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics
Cons
Dogs with allergies might prefer limited-ingredient food
Contains peas
6. Taste of the Wild Ancient Mountain with Ancient Grains
Grain-free foods aren’t ideal for every dog, and Taste of the Wild Ancient Mountain is a great whole-grain option that avoids gas-causing fillers and ingredients. This food uses a single protein source, lamb, alongside a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables and less common whole grains like sorghum and millet. These grains are full of healthy nutrients while avoiding some of the common sensitivities that affect dogs. This food option is full of vitamins and minerals that will promote health. It also has dog-formulated probiotic and prebiotic strains that support healthy digestion and decrease the likelihood of digestive issues. It’s free from ingredients like peas and legumes that can cause digestive problems and free of artificial colors or flavors. Although this isn’t ideal for grain-sensitive dogs, it’s a great choice for most dogs, whether they have sensitive stomachs or not.
Pros
Contains single meat protein source
Non-filler whole grains
Probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants help with digestion
Cons
Not ideal for grain-sensitive dogs
7. Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Formula Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach formula is a grain-free dog food option that’s a novel alternative to most traditional dog foods. It is packed with probiotics and natural ingredients associated with better gastrointestinal health, like ginger and chicory root. It is also enhanced with important vitamins and minerals for all-around good health. This dry food has a limited ingredient list that avoids many common allergens and sensitivities and is grain-free.
Unlike most healthy dog foods, this food’s primary protein source is egg, not meat. Although we don’t generally recommend dog foods without meat, some dogs with allergies and sensitivities may do better on a meat-free diet. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and your dog still has stomach problems, this unusual choice might be worth trying.
Pros
Contains probiotics and stomach-calming ingredients
Limited ingredient list
Grain-free for easier digestion
Cons
Protein comes entirely from eggs, not meat
8. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Duck & Potato Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food
Deboned duck, potatoes, pea starch, peas, pea protein, duck meal
Food Type:
Dry/grain-Free
Life stage:
Adult
Sometimes less is more, and Blue Buffalo understands that. Their Basics Limited line, including their Duck & Potato recipe, has limited ingredient lists to make it easier to avoid allergies and sensitivities. This recipe contains only one animal ingredient source, duck, so it’s a great choice if your dog has trouble with some kinds of meat. It also is free of any gluten-containing grains, replacing them with easily digestible potatoes and supplemented with lots of healthy vegetables, minerals, and nutrients.
One ingredient that it does have is peas, which are not always the best choice for gut health. This recipe is also lower in protein and higher in carbohydrates than all others on this list; that is why it is placed last. Although this might not be the best choice for every dog, it’s another limited-ingredient option.
Pros
Single protein source
Limited ingredient list
Full of healthy nutrients
Cons
Contains peas as major ingredients
Lower in protein
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Foods for Gassy Dogs
What Nutrition Does My Dog Need?
Dogs are happiest when they have a balanced diet that gives them the energy they need for an active life. All dogs need a mix of proteins, fats, and carbs. Protein is your dog’s main source of fuel and should come mostly from meat sources. Dog foods should have a lower amount of fat, about half the amount or less. Puppies and very active dogs need more fat and protein, while sedentary or elderly dogs should eat less.
When you are shopping for dog food, look for dog foods that are full of wholesome, natural ingredients. Nutrients are processed better when they are part of a natural ingredient, not an additive. Look for dog foods with meat as the first ingredient and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Why Is My Dog Gassy?
Gas and other gastrointestinal issues stem from your dog’s diet and eating habits, but there isn’t one cause. Many dogs are gassy because they eat too quickly or overeat. Human foods are another common source of gas, especially spicy foods, and dairy products. Other dogs are especially sensitive to the fillers in cheap dog foods, like corn, wheat, and soy. Certain ingredients like peas, chickpeas, and beans are associated with higher levels of gas.
Your dog might also have an undiagnosed sensitivity or intolerance. Possible ingredients include many grains and protein sources found in dog foods. A limited ingredient diet or a switch to a different type of food can help with digestive issues. You can also promote gut health by buying dog food with probiotics and prebiotics.
Should I Go Grain-Free?
Over the past few years, grain-free foods have become common on store shelves, but the research on them is mixed. A recent FDA study showed that grain-free diets are correlated with a higher frequency of some health problems, especially heart diseases. But the results are still inconclusive as there are other factors to consider. In addition, most grain-free diets don’t have more protein or fewer carbs than comparable dog food; they just switch out the grains for starchy vegetables like potatoes. Whole grains are associated with good health in dogs. However, some dogs have sensitivities to grains that make a grain-free diet the best option. If your dog has stomach sensitivities, switching to a grain-free diet might be a good choice.
Chelsie is a freelance writer who is passionate about helping owners and pets live their best lives. She resides in rural Alberta, Canada with her husband and two sons, and is currently a pet parent to four horses, four cats, and a border collie.
