Breed Advisor is reader supported! This page contains affiliate links, that at no additional cost to you, may earn a small commission. Find out more here.
After careful analysis, our top recommended dog food for loose stools and diarrhea is Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet.
It’s specifically formulated to be easily digestible and for dogs with a sensitive stomach. Furthermore it’s got a low fat content (12%) and limited ingredient list, which can help your dogs stools return to normal as soon as possible.
Click here to find the best price today!
If your dog has ongoing diarrhea or shows symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, or weight loss then you should always consult your veterinarian for advice. If the stools are just occasionally a bit loose but otherwise well, then you might want to look out for one or more of the following when trying a new diet for your pet.
Gut-friendly bacteria known as probiotics can help improve digestion and will compete with more harmful bacteria for space in the guts. Prebiotics are usually a type of fiber that acts as a nutritious source of food for these friendly bacteria, helping them to thrive.
An ideal amount of fat would be 5-15% for a dog with a sensitive or upset stomach. This will help make the food easier to digest. Plus, in some cases, feeding a very high-fat diet could trigger serious issues like pancreatitis, which causes symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain as well as diarrhea.
Low residue diets are fiber restricted, making them very easy to digest. The nutrients become more readily available, and the lower volume of fiber also helps reduce the volume of stools your dog passes. This can be useful if your dog is passing multiple loose stools a day.
Using a diet specifically for sensitive stomachs can be a good idea. These diets tend to be high in nutrients and easy to digest ingredients such as chicken, egg, and rice, which are less likely to cause stomach irritation.
All of our dog food suggestions are carefully selected by professionals. We extensively research the products to check if they’ve been approved by governing bodies before making recommendations. You can read more about our stringent review standards here. And remember, always consult your veterinarian first, before changing your dog’s food.
Wellness Simple LID Grain-Free is a high quality food that focuses on a recipe with very few ingredients with the objective of discouraging skin and stomach sensitivities and supporting good digestion. Natural ingredients are used whenever possible to ensure optimal nutritional content for dogs to enjoy.
Turkey is the main ingredient in this food, a meat that is rich in amino acids to support a healthy body. Wellness Simple LID does not include any grains, glutens, or wheat in its recipe, all items commonly linked to poor stool quality and stomach distress in dogs.
Prebiotics and probiotics have been included in this recipe to support good healthy digestive processes. Flaxseed also plays a starring role as a food that boosts health benefits for the development of good skin and coat quality.
A diet rated among the best dog foods for loose stools, it’s hard to go wrong with Wellness Simple LID.
For a diet that earns high marks in both nutrition and value for a family’s dog food dollar, Purina Pro Plan Adult is one diet that will not disappoint. This exceptional quality food has been carefully formulated to provide a vital help to dogs that suffer from skin and stomach sensitivities. Whole salmon is the primary ingredient, a meat that is easy to digest and that is rich in essential fatty acids to help repair damaged skin.
Though not a grain-free formula, Purina Pro Plan Adult’s carbohydrates are taken from whole grains that are known to be soothing to distressed stomachs. This diet, considered to be one of the best foods for dogs with loose stools, contains no corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or flavors.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is an excellent quality diet that has been specifically formulated for its ease of digestibility. One of the best dog foods for loose stools on the market today, Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream is a fish-based formula that includes smoked salmon as well as ocean fish meal to provide a powerhouse punch of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
This diet is free from grains, making use of fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber and antioxidants to boost immunity and support digestion. Chelated minerals have been added to ensure adequate absorption of key nutrients.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream contains no grains, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Instinct LID Grain-Free is a diet that has been carefully calibrated with a restricted list of foods to promote optimal digestion and to discourage skin and stomach sensitivities in dogs. Instinct LID’s formulation includes only one protein: lamb meal. This high quality meat is easy for dogs to digest.
To encourage excellent coat quality, this diet has been enriched with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Antioxidant-dense fruits and vegetables have also been included to increase fiber content and assist with the development of a strong immune system.
Considered to be one of the best dog foods for loose stools, Instinct LID is free from grains, dairy, eggs, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
I and Love and You Nude Food Simply Sea Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a diet that ranks among the best foods for dogs with loose stools for its emphasis on premium quality nutrition. This grain-free food is rich in high quality proteins taken from a variety of ocean fish to ensure ample servings of vital omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
A proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes known as HAPPY TUMMEEZ PLUS has been included to support excellent digestion and reduce abdominal discomfort. Superfoods such as flaxseed, coconut oil, and turmeric play important roles in this diet to boost the food’s overall nutritional profile.
Over the course of their lifetimes, nearly all dogs will succumb to loose stools or diarrhea at some point in time. There are many different reasons why a dog’s stool quality may be less than optimal. Most commonly, loose stool can be attributed to a number of typical factors including overeating, swallowing inappropriate items, and ingesting things that may have been contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Some dogs suffer from loose stools because their digestive system is not functioning optimally. This could be a result of poor nutrition or excess amounts of such items as sugar, fat, or salt in a dog’s diet, placing strain on the dog’s pancreas and other internal organs.
If bacteria is the culprit behind poor stool quality, an infection may develop which can negatively impact a dog’s ability to process and effectively utilize their food. When this occurs, owners are at risk of contracting the infection from their dogs as well. One of the mostly common side effects of a bacterial infection is diarrhea.
However, poor stools are sometimes indicative of food intolerances. Typically, when this is the case, the diarrhea or loose stool is also accompanied by other signs such as inflamed skin or abdominal discomfort.
Other common causes for loose stools include stress, emotion, fear, or physical or emotional trauma.
Loose stools can be a great cause for concern, and owners are right to take the first signs of it very seriously. Most often, poor stool quality is accompanied by a number of other signs including:
If any of these items occur in conjunction with the loose stool, it is important to contact a veterinarian for assistance as dietary changes are unlikely to completely resolve the problem.
Unless there is an underlying condition of a more serious nature at play, most loose stool problems can be alleviated with the correct diet. The best dog foods for loose stools are properly balanced with the appropriate amounts of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and key ingredients to promote good digestion, healthy gut flora, and overall health.
Care must be taken to avoid common allergens such as corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives which can aggravate the gastrointestinal tract and lead to inflammation of the bowel and poor stool quality.
Fluid digestion is key to achieving optimal stool quality in dogs. To promote this, prebiotics and probiotics are highly recommended in dogs suffering from this condition. These important supplements help with establishing healthy gut flora to assist the dog with breaking down its food for ease of elimination.
The correct portion size of the best food for dogs with loose stool is every bit as important as the ingredients that go into it. To ensure the dog receives the appropriate meal size, it is wise to use the suggested serving size on the bag as a guideline. The dog’s weight, age, and activity level will help provide a baseline measurement to begin with.
This can be adjusted until the dog’s appetite is satisfied and its weight is maintained satisfactorily.
Dogs with loose stool still need a minimum of 18 percent of an easily digestible protein and 5 percent fat once fully mature to maintain optimal health. Puppies require slightly higher percentages of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat with higher amounts acceptable as well. Care should be taken not to allow either fat or protein levels to be too extreme as this can also lead to poor stool quality.
Since proper diet is the main thing owners can do to prevent loose stools from occurring, selecting the correct food to promote good digestion is very important. Fluid digestive processes are key to proper elimination, and thus, it is recommended that any food for dogs suffering from poor stools should contain prebiotics and probiotics to aid with gut health.
There are also several natural foods that have proven to be effective at helping firm up loose stools. These can be added to a high quality diet or fed on their own. They include pumpkin, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and bananas.
The quality and type of protein is very important in the best dog foods for loose stools. It is best to select a meat that is easy to digest and that is included in its whole form or a meat meal if possible. Experts agree that by-products and plant-based proteins such as wheat, corn, and soy can cause intestinal flareups and should be avoided.
Carbohydrates are important to any diet, but they should form a far lesser part than proteins and fats. The best carbohydrates are high in fiber and rich in antioxidants and can be whole grains, fruits, or vegetables.
Healthy fats are the building blocks that ensure excellent coat and skin and quality and also fuel a dog’s metabolism and energy levels to enjoy an active lifestyle. These are best taken from animal sources such as chicken fat or oily fish.
Water is also a key component in maintaining good digestion. It is important for owners to be certain their dogs have access to clean supply of drinking water at all times.
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in a dog food for loose stools:
Before you go, save up to 50% on your pet supplies…
SEE TODAY'S BEST DOGGY DEALS ON AMAZON.COM! No Thanks
