As you may know, allergies are pretty common in dogs. Approximately, 1-2% of all dogs have a food allergy, and as many as 25% of dogs with skin problems have a food allergy too. When you also consider dogs with inhalant or environmental allergens (such as pollen or mold), then you're looking at a considerable size of the canine population that's suffering from allergies. Because food allergies can show themselves in various ways, and dogs with sensitive stomachs may have to deal with flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation - we wanted to create a blog that provides information on what to look out for. And as this condition makes it difficult to feed a pet, and can lead to malnutrition and chronic pain in dogs, knowing how to feed a dog with a sensitive stomach is important in relieving these symptoms, and helping them to live a healthier life.
The Healthy Dog Poop Chart - Colour & Consistency
One of the best ways to determine whether your dog has a sensitive stomach, is to look at his/her dog poo, as shown in our healthy dog poop chart below. If you've been wondering what does dog poop look like, or what dog poop means, then this dog poop chart is worth checking out:
Every dog is different, and therefore, your dog’s normal, healthy poo may differ to that of another dog. However, as a general rule:
- Colour: Dog poo should be chocolate brown.
- Consistency: Healthy dog poo should be compact, moist and hold its shape when picked up. If the poo is runny or watery, this could be a sign of intestinal upset. Similarly, if the poo feels too hard or dry, they may be suffering from dehydration or constipation.
- Size: Dog stools should be log-shaped and maintain their form. In general, dogs should produce poos around the same size as the food portions they are eating. If droppings are round, it’s an indication that your pet is dehydrated.
- Frequency: The number of times your dog poos each day should be consistent – whether that’s once or five times per day. If they go from being a regular once-a-day-er to needing to go four or five times, they could be having some digestion problems and need to see the vet.
What's more, you can tell if your dog has a sensitive stomach by keeping an eye on how often they become constipated or suffer from diarrhoea.
Dog constipation can be caused by various factors, including:
- Too much or too little dietary fibre.
- Not enough exercise.
- Blocked or infected anal glands.
- Excessive self-grooming (if there is dog hair in the stools).
- Not enough grooming (if there is matted hair around your dog’s back end).
- Objects such as gravel, bones, plants or plastic caught in the intestinal tract.
- A side effect of medication.
- Dehydration (a possible symptom of more serious diseases).
Dog diarrhoea, on the other hand, can be caused by:
- A seemingly stressful event such as adopting a new dog, the arrival of a new family member, or a new house.
- Quickly switching to a new dog food.
- Eating food designed for humans.
- New medication.
- Drinking water from a puddle or stagnant pond.
- It could also be an indicator of another disease or infection.
Beyond this, is the colour of dog poo, the shape of it and consistency. If you notice any differences in what your dog’s poo typically looks like – for example, there is blood in it – then we recommend seeking the advice of your vet immediately.
The Burgess Sensitive Dog Food Range
The first step in reducing dog stomach sensitivities is to simplify their diet. Getting rid of as much unnecessary ingredients as possible will make these meals easier to digest for the dog, and also potentially pinpoint the biggest offenders. Our Burgess sensitive dog food is perfect for dogs who suffer from sensitive stomachs. Our recipes don’t contain any of the typical offending ingredients such as beef, eggs, dairy products, wheat or soya, yet still provide great quality and taste. Including highly digestible fish and meat proteins, our sensitive dog food range also includes prebiotics, beet pulp and rich sources of omega 3 to help maintain a healthy digestion, skin and coat condition. Our hypoallergenic food includes lots of natural ingredients that can be fed as part of a prescription diet, and intestinal health can see great benefit.
At Burgess, our sensitive dog food range includes:
- Sensitive Puppy Turkey & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Salmon & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Lamb & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Turkey & Rice
When it comes to feeding your dog, understanding their life stage is of the utmost importance. Your puppy, adult dog and mature pet will have various nutritional, environmental and physical requirements, and changes in diet will be required to keep your pet dog healthy at every stage. Their breed also determines the type and amount of dog food you should be feeding your pet too.
When it comes to feeding puppies, you should always start by feeding the recommended amount on the pack. Overfeeding your puppy can harm growth and cause problems in their joints, while underfeeding can lead to malnutrition. Regular visits to your vet for a weigh in and general health check will help ensure healthy growth.
For adult dogs, this depends on their size, breed and activity level. The feeding guides on Burgess Sensitive are based on the weight of the dog with an average activity level. If you dog is losing or gaining weight you can feed differing amounts to keep your dog in the correct condition. We would advise regular weight checks and body condition scores. If you are unsure what amount of food to feed your dog, please ask your vet or contact our consumer care team.
Lactating bitches require a significant increase in food to allow them to produce milk for their growing puppies. This means that they could have up to three times the normal daily amount. Feeding Burgess Sensitive Puppy to nursing mothers will help them get all the nutrients they need in a smaller daily portion. This also allows the puppies to introduce themselves to the dry food, potentially helping with the weaning process.
You may be thinking, ‘Where can I find sensitive stomach dog food?’ or, ‘Where can I find sensitive dog food for puppies?’ At Burgess, our range provides pet food for dogs of all ages, and we recommend:
- Sensitive Puppy Turkey & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Salmon & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Lamb & Rice
- Sensitive Adult Dog Turkey & Rice
To learn more about what dog poop can tell you, and for more information on our dry dog food for sensitive stomachs, we encourage you to browse our selection or call us on 01405 862241 today.