No matter who you are, you probably give your dogs treats at least once every month or so. Whether it’s for training or just because they’re good puppies, most dogs get treats at least every so often.
However, dogs with sensitive stomachs may struggle with this normal part of being a dog. While they absolutely can eat treats, they may regret it later. Most of the time, it is certain treats that bother these sensitive dogs. Still, finding treats that don’t bother them can be difficult.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best dog treats for sensitive stomachs. Hopefully, in this article, you’ll be able to find something suitable for your sensitive canine.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits
Grain-free and gluten-free
Twice-baked
No GMOs
Check Price
Best Value
Merrick Power Bites Real Texas Beef Recipe
Deboned beef is the first ingredient
Inexpensive
Grain-free
Check Price
Premium Choice
The New Zealand Pet Food Co. Woof Lamb Green Tripe
Grain-free
High in protein
Only two ingredients
Check Price
Bones & Chews All-Natural Grain-Free Jerky
Crafted in the USA
Beef as the first ingredient
Inexpensive
Check Price
Smokehouse Duck & Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Only two ingredients
No common allergens
High in protein
Check Price
10 Best Treats for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
These Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits may be the best option for canines that have sensitive stomachs. They only have a few ingredients, which means that there is less of a chance that they will both your dog’s stomach. Of course, it does depend on the exact ingredients that your dog is sensitive to.
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These treats are also all-natural, grain-free, and gluten-free. They also don’t feature any GMOs, BHA, or BHT.
They are twice-baked for a crunchy flavor but are also quite soft, so even dogs that have trouble chewing should not have a problem with these treats.
Plus, they are made with human-grade ingredients. All ingredients are sourced from the USA, so you don’t have to worry about foreign chicken ending up in your dog’s food.
Pros
Grain-free and gluten-free
Twice-baked
Human-grade ingredients
No GMOs
Simple ingredients
Cons
Very small
If you’re looking to spend less money, you may want to look into the Merrick Power Bites Real Texas Beef Recipe. These treats are quite inexpensive, though they generally include less as well. The ingredients included are pretty high quality, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best option out there for every dog.
Grain-free and gluten-free
Twice-baked
Human-grade ingredients
No GMOs
Simple ingredients
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- Twice-baked
- Human-grade ingredients
- No GMOs
- Simple ingredients
Very small
- Very small
Deboned beef is the first ingredient, which is quite high-quality. However, the other ingredients are not. While potatoes are included as the second ingredient, they likely should be far higher, as there are many types of potatoes in these treats. If you added them all together, potatoes would probably be much higher on the list.
We did like that these treats were completely free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. They are also completely grain-free, which tends to upset many dogs’ stomachs.
Pros
Deboned beef is the first ingredient
Inexpensive
No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
Grain-free
Cons
High in potatoes
The New Zealand Pet Food Co. Woof Lamb Green Tripe treats are quite expensive. However, they have some of the best ingredients by far and may be suitable for many dogs, even if they have sensitive stomachs. For instance, lamb green tripe and green-lipped mussels are the only two ingredients, making these treats completely grain-free.
Deboned beef is the first ingredient
Inexpensive
No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
Grain-free
- Deboned beef is the first ingredient
- Inexpensive
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
- Grain-free
High in potatoes
- High in potatoes
Both of these ingredients are said to help with digestion. On top of the treats not upsetting your pet’s stomach, they may help your pooch eat other foods too—green-lipped mussels are particularly good at strengthening your dog’s digestive system.
Plus, these ingredients also include plenty of protein, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. While they are a treat, they also work as a dietary supplement to keep your dog healthy. There really isn’t a better treat on the market.
However, as we’ve said, these treats are quite expensive. For this reason, you may not want to give them to your pooch all the time.
Pros
Grain-free
High in protein
Contain natural prebiotics and probiotics
Contain omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin
Only two ingredients
Cons
Expensive
- Bones & Chews All-Natural Grain-Free Jerky Check Latest Price
Ingredients Beef, Chicken, Chickpea Flour, Glycerin, Salt
Protein 20%
Bones & Chews All-Natural Grain-Free Jerky are made out of mostly chicken and beef. While the name only specifies beef, chicken is the second ingredient. Therefore, these treats are not suitable for canines that are allergic to chicken. There is also some chickpea flour thrown in to help keep the ingredients together.
Grain-free
High in protein
Contain natural prebiotics and probiotics
Contain omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin
Only two ingredients
- Grain-free
- High in protein
- Contain natural prebiotics and probiotics
- Contain omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin
- Only two ingredients
Expensive
- Expensive
These ingredients are crafted in the USA, though the ingredients come from around the world. Plus, this recipe also doesn’t contain any corn, wheat, or soy.
The main draw of these treats is that they mostly contain just beef. When your dog has a sensitive stomach, it is often best to stick with just meat whenever possible. These treats fit that bill for the most part. Plus, many dogs simply like the jerky-like texture more than other options.
Pros
Crafted in the USA
Beef as the first ingredient
Inexpensive
No corn, wheat, or soy
Cons
Ingredients sourced from around the world
Chickpea flour included
- Smokehouse Duck & Sweet Potato Dog Treats Check Latest Price
Ingredients Duck Breast, Sweet Potato
Protein 20%
The Smokehouse Duck & Sweet Potato Dog Treats only include two different ingredients: duck breast and sweet potatoes. For the most part, both of these ingredients are a great option for those with sensitive digestion. Plus, with only two ingredients, these treats won’t contain anything that your dogs are typically sensitive to.
Crafted in the USA
Beef as the first ingredient
Inexpensive
No corn, wheat, or soy
- Crafted in the USA
- Beef as the first ingredient
- Inexpensive
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Ingredients sourced from around the world
Chickpea flour included
- Ingredients sourced from around the world
- Chickpea flour included
These treats only include 100% natural ingredients, which are then slow-roasted for a rich taste. They are low in fat but very high in protein. Plus, because they are only made of duck, these treats are great for dogs that are sensitive to more common proteins.
Plus, these treats are a natural source of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, and they don’t include any harmful ingredients like chemicals or preservatives.
Pros
Only two ingredients
No common allergens
High in protein
Natural source of fiber and antioxidants
Cons
Very hard (more like “chews” than treats)
- Probios Dental Chew Sticks Dental Dog Treats Check Latest Price
Ingredients Potato Flour, Potato Starch, Glycerin, Dried Chicken Liver, Dried Yogurt
Protein 5%
For dogs that also have dental problems, you may want to consider Probios Dental Chew Sticks Dental Dog Treats. These treats are specifically made for dogs with sensitive digestion that need a dental chew. For instance, on top of treating plaque, these dental treats also contain probiotics that can help with digestion.
Only two ingredients
No common allergens
High in protein
Natural source of fiber and antioxidants
- Only two ingredients
- No common allergens
- High in protein
- Natural source of fiber and antioxidants
Very hard (more like “chews” than treats)
- Very hard (more like “chews” than treats)
Therefore, they are like a probiotic supplement as well as a tasty treat.
These treats are designed for puppies and dogs over five pounds. Beyond that, they should be suitable for most breeds.
With that said, the ingredients in these dog chews aren’t great, and the protein is extremely low. For this reason, they aren’t necessarily the best option for most canines.
Pros
For dogs of most sizes
Probiotic supplement included
Treats plaque and tartar
Inexpensive
Cons
Lots of potato ingredients
Low in protein
- American Journey Peanut Butter Recipe Dog Treats Check Latest Price
Ingredients Chickpeas, Peas, Peanut Butter, Cane Molasses, Chicken Fat
Protein 16%
These American Journey Peanut Butter Recipe Dog Treats are a grain-free, crunchy delight for your canines. However, while these treats do include quite a bit of peanut butter, they are also high in other ingredients that aren’t necessarily as high-quality, such as chickpeas and regular peas. While these aren’t terrible ingredients, they are not as high-quality as some of the other ingredients on this list.
For dogs of most sizes
Probiotic supplement included
Treats plaque and tartar
Inexpensive
- For dogs of most sizes
- Probiotic supplement included
- Treats plaque and tartar
- Inexpensive
Lots of potato ingredients
Low in protein
- Lots of potato ingredients
- Low in protein
These treats are free from corn, wheat, and soy. Furthermore, they are made without any by-product meals, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
For the most part, these treats are great for training since they are small and easy. Plus, they are suitable for dogs of most sizes.
Pros
Portable
Grain-free
Free from corn, wheat, and soy
Cons
Contains some low-quality ingredients
Some ingredients may upset sensitive stomachs
As you might have noticed, the Merrick Backcountry Biscuits Real Lamb + Venison Recipe treats are quite high in protein. As you might imagine, this makes them a good choice for most felines. However, the protein is largely sourced from plants, as potato protein occurs very high on the list of ingredients.
Portable
Grain-free
Free from corn, wheat, and soy
- Portable
- Grain-free
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy
Contains some low-quality ingredients
Some ingredients may upset sensitive stomachs
- Contains some low-quality ingredients
- Some ingredients may upset sensitive stomachs
With that said, deboned lamb and beef meal do occur as the first two ingredients. Therefore, these treats aren’t all bad. Most canines do perfectly fine with both lamb and beef. Of course, if your dog is sensitive to either of these ingredients, you should look elsewhere for an appropriate treat.
On top of this, these treats are a bit more expensive than most. You’re paying more for less—and then the ingredients aren’t even the best out there.
Pros
Deboned lamb and beef meal as the first ingredients
High in protein
Free from corn, wheat, and soy
Cons
Potato protein included
Expensive
Unlike other treats on this list, the Nutri-Vet Dental Health Dog Soft Chews are specifically designed to improve your dog’s dental health. Therefore, they are designed differently. Instead of containing high amounts of meat, these treats don’t contain any meat at all. Instead, they are made with active ingredients like CoQ10 and vitamin C to help improve dental health.
Deboned lamb and beef meal as the first ingredients
High in protein
Free from corn, wheat, and soy
- Deboned lamb and beef meal as the first ingredients
- High in protein
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy
Potato protein included
Expensive
- Potato protein included
- Expensive
While they are listed as being good for sensitive digestion, it wouldn’t surprise us if some dogs were sensitive to these chews. They include a lot of artificial ingredients, like caramel color, as well as grains like barley. In fact, many of these ingredients are very high on the list.
Therefore, we only particularly recommend these treats for those dogs that really need some dental help. For your everyday needs, you probably don’t want these treats.
Pros
CoQ10 and similar ingredients included
Natural smokey flavor
Cons
Poor ingredients
No meat included
Low in protein
While the Probios Digestion Support Peanut Butter Flavor Dog Treats are specifically designed to support digestion, they do contain some pretty low-quality ingredients to do so. For instance, barley flour is the first ingredient, followed by other grains. As you can tell from the ingredient list, these treats are mostly grains and low-quality veggies.
CoQ10 and similar ingredients included
Natural smokey flavor
- CoQ10 and similar ingredients included
- Natural smokey flavor
Poor ingredients
No meat included
Low in protein
- Poor ingredients
- No meat included
- Low in protein
These treats are designed to help maintain an appropriate pH balance in the gut. In some cases, this may help your canine’s digestive sensitivity. They may also help your canine absorb the nutrients they get from other foods.
Therefore, it seems like these treats are mostly a good option for dogs with serious digestive problems (and if you’ve tried other treat options on this list). They aren’t the best for your canine’s health, though they may be one of the few treats dogs with very sensitive stomachs can eat.
Pros
Helps maintain a natural pH balance in the gut
Designed for dogs with serious digestive problems
Cons
Not much meat included
Low in protein
Very hard
Helps maintain a natural pH balance in the gut
Designed for dogs with serious digestive problems
- Helps maintain a natural pH balance in the gut
- Designed for dogs with serious digestive problems
Not much meat included
Low in protein
Very hard
- Not much meat included
- Low in protein
- Very hard
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dog Treats for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
Everyone should put in a bit of research when purchasing their dog treats. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, you’ll need to be extremely careful about the treat you decide to purchase for them. After all, not only do you want something healthy, but you also want something that isn’t going to upset their stomach.
Honestly, the only way to figure out if a treat is going to upset your dog’s stomach or not is to have them try it. While you may be able to narrow it down to certain key ingredients that your dog’s stomach doesn’t like, there will always be treats that seem to set them off for no apparent reason.
However, you can still choose treats as carefully as possible to help avoid a reaction—hopefully. When you’re looking for dog treats for sensitive dogs, the first thing you should check is the ingredient list. Here is what you should look for:
Single Sourced Animal Proteins
Many dogs are allergic to a particular kind of animal protein, while others only have issues when proteins are mixed together. A dog’s stomach may have problems digesting more than one type of protein at a time.
For this reason, we only recommend choosing foods that have one type of protein if at all possible. It may go a long way to reducing your dog’s digestion problems.
You may even want to match this protein with the food that they are eating. For instance, if your dog’s currently eating lamb food and doing fine on it, consider looking for lamb treats as well.
Easily Digestible Carbs (or none at all)
Preferably, you should choose treats that don’t have any added carbohydrates. Freeze-dried meat is a good option, for instance. However, many treats need a starch of some sort to help hold everything together.
Therefore, you should look for a highly digestible carb, like potatoes.
However, you don’t want too many potatoes, peas, or similar veggies. When fed in high amounts, these foods have been linked with heart problems. Therefore, your best bet is to choose an option that is low in these starches, if it includes them at all.
Animal-Based Fats
When at all possible, we recommend choosing treats that have added animal fats. If the treat uses whole meat, they may not necessarily need any animal fat. However, if added fat is included, you should check to ensure that it is from an animal source, such as salmon oil or chicken fat.
These fats make the food taste good, and they’re easier for your dog to digest than plant-based fats. Plus, they include the omega threes that your dog needs to remain healthy.
Fiber
Fiber is a boon to the digestive system. Most dogs with sensitive digestion could do with more fiber in their diet to help calm their stomachs. For this reason, we recommend looking for treats that have extra fiber in them.
However, don’t choose treats with low-quality ingredients just because they have fiber—you’re looking for treats that are healthy and fiber-rich.
No Artificial Ingredients
Preferably, you should avoid artificial ingredients, like colors and flavors. In many cases, these artificial ingredients are not needed in the least. Your dog does not care about what their food looks like. And, if the food needs added flavor, then it isn’t using high-quality ingredients, to begin with.
Plus, many of these ingredients can have a negative impact on our dogs, especially if they are already having a problem with their digestion. Therefore, look for treats that are all-natural and don’t contain any of these ingredients. Otherwise, your pet may have a hard time digesting them.
Probiotics
Probiotics are a great option for dogs with digestion problems. Often, it is recommended that these dogs take some sort of probiotic supplement, anyway. However, you cannot overdose on probiotics, so adding a probiotic treat likely couldn’t hurt.
Luckily, it isn’t terribly difficult to find treats with probiotics. In many cases, quality treats designed for digestion will include them.
Ingredients to Support Digestion
Often, when we’re choosing treats for a sensitive dog, we tend to focus on ingredients to avoid. However, there are lots of ingredients you should consider looking for too.
For instance, pumpkin has long been said to improve the digestive health of dogs. Therefore, you may want to consider finding a pumpkin treat to feed to your canine. (However, there is no scientific research on the actual efficiency of pumpkin in improving digestive health, so your mileage may vary heavily.)
There are lots of other ingredients that are said to help digestion too. Usually, you’ll find these added ingredients in foods that are specifically designed for digestion.
Conclusion
Finding a treat that your dog with sensitive digestion can actually eat may seem impossible. However, we hope that you found something on our list that was suitable for them. By avoiding common ingredients that can upset your dog’s stomach and adding in a few to calm it, you should be able to find a suitable treat for your canine.
We highly recommend the Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits. These treats feature very simple ingredients and are well-loved by most dogs. They are also free from things like GMOs to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach.
For something a bit cheaper, we recommend the Merrick Power Bites Real Texas Beef Recipe. These treats include beef as the first ingredient and are a bit cheaper than other options.
Featured Image Credit: Reddogs, Shutterstock
