Is Blue Buffalo good for dogs with sensitive stomachs

Sensitive stomach in dogs: Vet's guide to causes and treatment

The term sensitive stomach in dogs is heard quite a lot, particularly when describing those animals that have repeat episodes of diarrhea. These dogs are usually otherwise well in themselves but seem to be prone to tummy troubles.

Some owners know to steer clear of certain foods for their pet as it can cause issues, turning to specially devised food or specific dog treats for sensitive stomachs instead, whereas the cause is less clear in other dogs.

In this article, we will explore sensitive stomachs in more detail as well as how to help your pet.

What is a sensitive stomach in dogs?

Dogs are known for being quite hardy and will have a go at gobbling most things! But some dogs cant seem to handle sudden changes in diet, rich foods or too many treats. These dogs are usually classed as having a sensitive stomach. This is a very broad and non-scientific term, but one that both vets and owners use regularly.

It is important, however, to rule out that there is no underlying cause for your pets digestive problems first, particularly if they suffer from symptoms regularly. There are many causes ofan upset stomach in dogs so get your pet checked over by a vet before assuming he just has a sensitive stomach. Animals with parasite infections or pancreas issues can all present in a very similar way.

Symptoms of a sensitive stomach in dogs

The symptoms of a sensitive stomach could include:

• Repeat episodes of loose stools (from soft, hard to pick up faeces through to liquid diarrhea)
• Excessive mucus in the stools
• Blood in the stools
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Increased flatulence
• Increased burping
• Changes in appetite

These symptoms may occur due to a specific trigger, such as a sudden change to a new brand of dog food, or they may seemingly occur at random.

What causes a dog to have a sensitive stomach?

The most common cause of a sensitive stomach in dogs is their diet. Some dogs cant handle a sudden change in diet, so swapping food brands or flavours, feeding table scraps or giving too many treats can cause problems.

Some animals may have developed afood sensitivitymeaning they are intolerant, or even allergic, to certain ingredients. Beef, milk and chicken are thethree common food allergies in pets, but your dog may be sensitive to others.

Unresolved parasite or bacterial infections can make your dogs stomach more sensitive, meaning he may be fine on bland food but flares up again when hes given something a little harder to digest.

What dog breeds are prone to sensitive stomachs?

Any type of dog can have a sensitive stomach, but some breeds seem more prone than others. The following breeds are seen regularly in veterinary practice with digestive complaints:

• German Shepherd Dogs
• Labrador Retrievers
• Miniature Schnauzers
• Irish Setters
• Poodles
• Cocker Spaniels
• Shar Peis

How to help my dog's sensitive stomach?

If your dog is having repeated bouts of stomach upset, or has ongoing loose stools that never seem to resolve, then the next step is to see your vet.

Your vet will start by examining your dog, checking for issues like weight changes, abdominal pain or a raised body temperature. Depending on their findings they may suggest some further tests.

Faecal samples can be useful to look for infectious causes of loose stools like parasites and bacteria. Blood samples may be recommended to look at your pets overall health status, as well as any organ malfunctions that could be causing issues (such as liver disease, orexocrine pancreatic insufficiency).

Sometimes diagnostic imaging is required such as X-rays or ultrasound scans, to look for any signs of tumours (particularly in older animals), foreign bodies or markers ofinflammatory bowel disease. A biopsy of your dogs digestive tract may be advised too.

Your vet may decide that adietary trialis a good idea, trying your pet on a control diet for a period of time to see if his symptoms resolve.

What food can I give my dog for a sensitive stomach?

Even if your dog is already on thebest dog food,you may need to consider feeding something else, particularly whilst his tummy is upset.

Bland, easy to digest food is usually advised such as wet or dry food specifically designed for dogs with upset stomachs. These prescription sensitivity diets can generally be purchased from your vet, but also from pet shops and online.

If you are looking for homemade dog food ideas for sensitive stomachs then you could try feeding cooked chicken, cooked white fish or boiled rice for a couple of days which is easy to digest. Its important to recognise that this is not a long-term solution, however, as it will lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Is dry food or wet food better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

It is not usually whether the food is dry or whether it is wet that causes the problem, but rather the ingredients that each contains. If you are feeding a prescription sensitive stomach food then either the wet or the dry version of that diet should be fine to give your pet, depending on their preference.

Do puppies grow out of sensitive stomachs?

Some puppies can appear to have sensitive stomachs before their digestive tract matures. Symptoms can be caused by sudden changes in diet (a common mistake), the stress of moving to a new home and too many treats. Its important to make sure that your puppy has no underlying causes of disease though, so get him checked out if his symptoms persist or if he appears unwell.

Summary

Its important to make sure there are no underlying causes for your dogs tummy troubles, so get him checked out by a vet. Sensitive stomachs do occur in dogs, and many can be managed through diet, but be certain you have ruled out things like parasites, bacterial infections and organ malfunctions first!

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth item is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The next ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is tomato pomace which can be a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

After the natural flavor, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Blue Buffalo Life Protection product.

With nine notable exceptions

First, this food includes pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

Next, we find alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

We also note the use of alfalfa nutrient concentrate, a vitamin and mineral-rich extract made from alfalfa.

Even though it contains over 50% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

In addition, pea fiber is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

Next, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.¹

So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.

Additionally, dried yeast can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

Whats more, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

This recipe also includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Taurine is also found in this product. Taurine is an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Which means this Blue Buffalo product line contains

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, pea products, alfalfa products and dried yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Who makes Blue Buffalo and where is it made?

Blue Buffalo is owned by U.S. food company, General Mills. All of the brands dog food products are produced in the United States.

Blue Buffalo owns and operates 2 manufacturing facilities. One is located in Joplin, Missouri and the other in Richmond, Indiana. The company also outsources a number of its other products to co-packers that are also located in America.