Does my puppy need sensitive dog food? Six of your most common sensitive puppy food questions answered.

Puppies! Full of life, lots of energy, and bundles of fun. They bring love, with a bit of mischief and destruction, to any home. Giving them the best start is essential to building a happy, healthy life for the both of you.  

Your dog’s diet is a key part of their health throughout their life. From puppy, to adult, and through to their senior years, your dog will need a food that supports their needs as they grow. With so many brands, and types of dog food out there, it can be hard to know which to choose! We’re here to help answer your questions if you think you might have a sensitive puppy on your hands, and help you choose which puppy food is best for your dog. 

We’ll be covering: 

• How do I know if my puppy is sensitive? 
• What do I do if I think my puppy has sensitivities? 
• What is sensitive dog food? 
• What is the best sensitive puppy food? 
• How much should I feed my puppy? 
• When should I switch my puppy to adult dog food? 

How do I know if my puppy is sensitive? 

When choosing the best puppy food for your dog it’s a good idea to ask the breeder or rescue centre you picked them up from what kind of food they’ve already been given. Sometimes they will be able to tell you if they’ve picked up on the signs that your puppy might have a sensitive stomach.  

Any breed of dog can have sensitivities. Therefore, it’s good to know how to tell if your dog has a food sensitivity. Here are some key signs that your puppy might be having trouble with their digestion or be experiencing sensitive skin: 

• Drooling – when dogs feel nauseous, they produce more saliva 
• Vomiting 
• Increase flatulence and/or diarrhoea  
• Gurgling sounds from their tummy  
• Being put off their food or avoiding eating  
• Becoming lethargic and avoiding moving around as much. This could be a sign that they’re uncomfortable  
• Frequent scratching and itchy skin 
• Red skin and/or fur loss 

Dog poo happens!

While this is the less glamourous side of owning a dog, your puppy’s poo can tell you a lot about their digestion. The ideal dog poo should be a chocolate brown colour, compact, and moist. They should also be going to the toilet regularly.  

If you notice your dog’s poo has changed colour, is runny or too hard and dry, or they are going more or less frequently than normal, this can be a sign that they are having trouble with their digestion.  

What do I do if I think my puppy has sensitivities? 

Any of these signs could be an indicator that your puppy is a sensitive dog. However, they could also be the symptoms of other illnesses that require treatment. Burgess Pet Care’s in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes advises: 

“If you think that your dog might have sensitive digestion, always take them to see their vet. They will be able to make sure that these symptoms are not a sign of another illness or condition. If they do have sensitivities, such as sensitive digestion, your vet will be able to recommend the best course of action. This normally involves moving your puppy onto a hypoallergenic puppy food that has been formulated to support young dogs with sensitive digestion.” 

What is sensitive dog food? 

Sensitive dog food is food that has been designed to help support dogs with sensitivities, such as a sensitive stomach. If your vet advises you that your puppy has sensitivities and needs a sensitive puppy food, it is likely that they will need a sensitive dog food for the rest of their life. Therefore, it’s important to know what to look for! 

Good quality sensitive dog food will contain digestible ingredients to help your puppy digest their food and get all of the essential nutrients they need. It will also be made without the typical ingredients that are known to cause sensitivities in dogs. Gentle carbohydrates, like rice, will provide lots of essential energy, with prebiotics to support good bacteria in their gut. 

What is the best sensitive puppy food? 

Throughout their life, your dog’s needs will change. As a result, they’ll need the best dog food for their life stage. As a puppy, they’re full of energy, and growing every day. Therefore, their food needs to help them as they develop, as well as support your puppy’s sensitivities 

Looking for great puppy food for sensitive stomachs? Burgess Sensitive Puppy is rich in tasty turkey and has been designed with your sensitive puppy in mind. Our recipe is made without many of the typical ingredients that can upset your puppy’s stomach, including wheat, maize, beef, soya, eggs, and dairy.  

With a new look, Burgess Sensitive Puppy has the same great taste. It’s been taste approved by our sensitive puppy, Belle! Suitable for nursing mothers and puppies from 6 weeks up to 12 months old, our recipe is: 

• Hypoallergenic puppy food – Made without many of the typical ingredients known to cause sensitivities 
• Made with calcium to support growing bones 
• Helps to grow a glossy, shiny coat with fish oil and vitamin A 
• Prebiotics support good bacteria in the gut  
• Antioxidants and vitamins are included to help support developing immune systems 
• And importantly Burgess Sensitive Puppy helps to form solid poos! Yucca and beet pulp help with stool formation and reduce odour 

Unsure whether to make the switch? Burgess Sensitive dog food has excellent reviews and with free and fast delivery on orders of £10, get your food bowls filled today >>  

How much should I feed my puppy? 

The amount you feed your puppy will depend on a number of factors, including: 

• Lifestyle: Are they an active dog? Breeds such as English Springer Spaniels and Labradors are more high energy breeds, in comparison to breeds such as Bichon Frises and Pomeranians.  
• Size: Large dog breeds, such as Dalmations and Irish Setters, will need more food compared with their smaller counterparts, like the Jack Russell.  
• Age: As your puppy gets older and reaches adulthood, they will need more food to cater for their changing needs. 

There is a handy puppy feeding chart on the back of the Burgess Sensitive Puppy food pack that owners can use as a guide for their puppy. As well as weighing out their daily food allowance, it is a good idea to regularly weigh your dog throughout their life, including when they are young. This will give you a good indicator as to whether they need more or less food. If you have any concerns, it is always best to seek the advice of your vet.  

The PFMA also has a handy Pet Size-O-Meter for dogs, that gives great advice on the best body condition for your dog >> 

How many times a day you feed your puppy will also depend on their age. For puppies between 2 and 6 months of age, split their daily food allowance over three or four meals each day. From six months old, start to split their daily food allowance over two meals. Always ensure fresh, clean water is available for your puppy.  

When should I switch my puppy to adult food? 

Generally, you should stop feeding puppy food when your dog reaches 12 months old. While they’re a puppy, they need a puppy food that will support their development. Most dogs will reach adulthood at 12 months. After this, their growth will slow down and their needs will change, and their food needs to support this. For example, puppy food is too high in protein and contains more fat than is needed for adult dogs. Large breeds of dog are classed as adults between 12-18 months, so will need to stay on their puppy food for a little bit longer. Your vet will be able to advise you as to when your dog is ready  to switch from a puppy food to adult dog food. 

For sensitive dogs, the Burgess Sensitive adult food range is here to support them throughout their adult years. Designed to keep your dog healthy on the inside and out, our recipes are made without many of the typical ingredients known to cause sensitivities in dogs.  

In tasty salmon, lamb, and turkey, Burgess Sensitive adult dog food is: 

• Hypoallergenic  
• Helps to build strong bones and joints 
• Contains prebiotics to support good bacteria in the gut 
• Helps to form solid poos! Important for sensitive dogs 
• With antioxidants and vitamins to support your dog’s immune system 
• Helps to grow a glossy, shiny coat 

When transitioning from puppy to adult dog food, it is important to do this gradually to help avoid a stomach upset. Over a period of 7-10 days, slowly mix their puppy food with the new adult dog food. Each day, increase the proportion of their new food, until, by day 10, they are eating a full portion of adult kibble.