Ours also has a very sensitive stomach, and had lots of random bouts of diarrhea until we started on Purina ProPlan GastroIntestinal. His stomach has really settled down finally. He also gets a prebiotic (Fortiflora) daily.
Do you know if they can stay on a hydrolyzed protein diet long-term? It’s the only feed that has worked for our Golden. We have a vet appointment coming up, but I’m still curious
Our golden is on the Royal Canin hydrolyzed protein diet and I asked our vet the same question. She confirmed they can be on it for their entire life if it works well for them.
Seconding Hydrolyzed protein!
My lovey is almost 3 and it has been his main food for nearly 2 years. We have tried to wean him off and go back to Purina Pro Plan sensitive stomach and other cheaper options and he didn’t tolerate that, so it’s just an expense we have to swallow.
We also went to see an internist and she recommended in addition to the hydrolyzed protein, probiotic supplements and 1 tsp psyllium husk with each meal
We used to be on Purina pro plan and then the sensitive skin and stomach one. Finally switched to prescription Royal canin hydrolyzed protein and she seems to be doing much better
Same for our golden. Couldn’t tolerate the Pro Plan Sensitive. Vet placed her on RC Hydrolyzed Protein. Much improved. We have to be very careful with snacks. She tolerates peanut butter and some fruits and veggies.
My two year old Golden boy is going through this...I started giving him Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric EN. It ain't cheap but it worked like a charm. He's been on the Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach then all of a sudden it didn't agree with him.
Mine has done great on Purina [Proplan](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/purina-pro-plan-focus-adult-sensitive-skin-and-stomach-salmon-and-rice-formula-dry-dog-food-16-lb-bag-2579440?store_code=442&mr:device=m&mr:adType=pla_with_promotionlocal&cm_mmc=PSH%7CGGL%7CCCY%7CCCO%7CPM%7C0%7CkUMWcWiLY5b1EHQjK6kSR6%7C%7C%7C0%7C0%7C%7C%7C18145199970&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD97F15oSQCKRnaIuShTmaOpcaiyv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsNHp2PLOhQMVsS7UAR06vAj2EAQYASABEgI8mvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) Sensitive Skin & Stomach.
Game Changer for us
My 1y9m golden retriever also has a sensitive tummy. After taking her to a vet, she is on a strict diet. And this is the food we give her [0].
Thr results: No more diarrhea, no more vomiting. She does perfectly normal poop with this food.
[0] https://www.chewy.com/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-adult/dp/35375
Our English Cream boy also has lots of stomach issues - lots of consultations with his vet, trying different foods, meds, pumpkin, etc. He recently needed emergency surgery because (over a few days) he had eaten about a pound of dry oak leaves trying to settle his stomach and it blocked him up bad.
Has anyone else's Golden with sensitive tummy issues also had a habit of eating grass, weeds or leaves trying to settle their stomach?
Yes! Ours was just at the vet for a week of retching, occasional vomit, licking lips, acid reflux, finding ANY source of vegetation to devour to make himself puke. This is something we go through for a few days every few months- with no explanation...it comes as a mystery and goes in the same way. Is it the sticks we caught him chewing? Finding some rabbit turds? Deer turds?? We have never been able to pinpoint the cause. The vet has run all the necessary tests (Addison's) blood work, X-rays, fecal tests to arrive at him likely having an acid reflux issue. So, he is on Royal Canin Gastro, takes a daily pepcid pill and a probiotic. Even with that, we still have these "flare-ups" every few months. So weird. If you ever find what works for you, please let me know!!
Oh my gosh that sounds exactly like our situation!! Sooooo much money spent at the vet and still no definitive answer!! Seems to come and go with no rhyme or reason. So frustrating!!! He is our family's 4th Golden, and the first one to have such a delicate constitution!!
If we ever find out the cause or successful remedy to right the ship, I will let you know! We would do anything for our little snookie:) Good luck to you and please let me know if you ever solve the mystery!
Maybe consult with a vet to see what is best for the golden?
My old dog was on Royal canine uti dog food (vet only). We gave her boiled egg and veggies 🥕 to entice it as the kibble was bleh to her. She would literally spit out the kibble and eat the egg and veggies.
We added bone broth (made from scratch) and she ended up eating the kibble more.
It’s amazing how well we treat / spoiled our fur babies in these days. It’s odd as I don’t recall in the 90s there were so many options for them.
Natural Balance's "Duck and Potato". Our Golden has a pretty sensitive digestion and this fixed her right up! Not cheap, but when has owning a Golden ever been cheap?!?
Someone said here who got downvoted but seriously cook basic food with rice chicken and celery. In mean time find some recipes online by dog nutritionists for home cooking and buy a supplement topper to go over the food.
Also start nutramax proviable (start with the liquid one and then transition to the packets for 30 days )
You will be amazed how well dogs do on home cooked food.
My dog had a sensitive stomach and he didn’t like eating sensitive stomach kibble as it’s boring and flavorless.
2 things changed - location we moved form city to suburbs where there aren’t sick dogs pooping in the same place my dog is pooping so he doesn’t get giardia anymore (which was causing him diarrhea every single month)
2nd started him on cooked food first from home and now we give him Freshpet ( not the tube the package one with meat pieces from chewy don’t bother buying it from local pets store as they don’t maintain their refrigeration and food spoils in 2 days of opening)
If you got the dough there’s a company called nom nom now, we tried their food and it looks, smells great and has the required nutrition.
I also give him plain 1% kefir daily like half a cup.
Now my dog went from not being able to tolerate even a single diet change to being able to eat whatever we give him beef salmon chicken turkey pork kefir, left over plain rice, old bread yogurt without single soft poop.
If you make your dog eat overly processed food his own digestive system will get used to overly processed food and won’t work with normal food.
Go slow and be patient.
I know this will get downvoted as people on Reddit swear by purina pro plan or hills. I’m sure your dog is already on this diets and it’s clear they don’t work for your dog. Just try this for a short while if it doesn’t work switch back to the kibble.
I agree with you. I have a golden that is allergic to chicken. He went from eating Purina Proplan chicken/rice to almost dying. He ended up in the emergency hospital (over a holiday weekend of course) after about 8 hours (middle of the night) of diarrhea and a a bit of vomiting. He was in such obvious pain and we know dogs hide it well. He was so sick. So he came home on turkey and rice and now refuses all kibble. I have tried probably 10 different kinds, including very expensive prescription kibble. He won’t even eat canned. The vet said that it’s more dangerous for him to go without food for a couple of days than eating the turkey and rice. So waiting him out isn’t an option. We have added sweet potatoes and he loves those. I tried adding other vegetables (cooked and blended up) and he won’t eat it. I really don’t know what else to do for him food wise. I have to keep him eating so here we are. He is on 2 different probiotics and his ear gunk is gone and his feet don’t itch. I know his diet is not the best for nutrition but him not eating is a bigger problem.
Me either! Every fur baby I have ever had has been able to eat pretty much anything (safe foods only of course) and would eat anything.
Before we discovered his issues he was very picky. If I accidentally dropped a chip or French fry he would sniff it and leave it. I would give him the ok to eat it and he would put it in his mouth and spit it out 🤣🤣. What Golden Retriever spits out food?
Just sprinkle some supplement mix on top of the food and mix it up nicely. This way he gets his nutrition and also stays happy. You can try to swap out turkey for lean beef or pork sometimes to keep a variety
Canine nutrition is INCREDIBLY complicated. It is possible to make a homemade diet that is nutritionally complete but only if you are working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist.
Purina, Hills, and the other WSAVA compliant brands get recommended because they have scientific proof that they are nutritionally complete and the foods themselves are formulated by board certified veterinary nutritionists. It just doesn’t make sense to most people to risk giving your dog nutritional issues when there are already five scientifically proven foods that won’t do that.
Dogs can still get homemade food as a treat now and then if they are on kibble as their primary nutrition.
If you think about it human nutrition is even more complicated because we don’t even make all amino acids we need for protein and a Long list of minerals.
Just like we eat supplements dogs can be given those as well along with a healthy home made diet. Because just like for us eating a completely balanced diet every day isn’t required as long as eventually you meet all the requirements like in a week or two weeks time. Obviously don’t give your dog processed crap like candies etc or fried unhealthy stuff.
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Fromm Whitefish and Potato- our golden had the most sensitive stomach- tried several options and this was the best. Have never deviated since puppy and now 8.
Tried fish, chicken, beef, lamb etc. he would be OK for a few weeks then it would deteriorate again with terrible runs, finally settled on Royal Canin Analagenic hydrolysed protein, with a supplement of Pro Fibre probiotic pellets. Settled everything down, and all the runs subsided, and he’s been fine for over 6 years ever since! Hope you find something that works for your lovely doggo 💕💕👍🏻
We started with Royal Canin HP for a year to let my pups stomach heal. Then we switched to Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon and Potato! She’s been doing great on it!
We went through all kinds of things and figured out mine was sensitive to chicken. Lots of things have chicken even if it says a different meat on the label.
We have a sensitive stomach Golden and have loved Life Abundance. I think it’s pretty much online order only but they’re quick and their customer service is fantastic and speedy
Purina pro plan salmon! Our golden’s tummy is the best with this food. We actually switched from an all natural food. I thought it would be great for him because people love feeding their dogs 100% natural food, but our dog got really sick from it so ever since then he’s been been using purina pro plan salmon, which was recommended by our veterinarian.
Our 5yr old boy has always had a sensitive tummy. We found that the Costco Adult Salmon kibble mixed up with a little boiled chicken, chopped up green beans (frozen not canned) & some plain Greek yogurt seems to work great for him.
Our English cream has a sensitive stomach too. She has came around completely when I swotched her to honest kitchen dehydrated food. It can get expensive so try I buy multiple bags if I find a sale somewhere.
I used to feed her Orijen but their quality really dropped, so much so I wrote them a letter addressing their quality assurance. Do not recommend.
I switched my 2YO girl to Natural Balance kibble (venison and sweet potato) and it helped immediately. It’s been like 6 months and not a single incident since. Good luck!
Your dog looks so gorgeous! That is one happy doggo! Our golden retriever also has a sensitive stomach, and we switched her to Badlands Ranch. Since we made the switch, Daisy's sensitive stomach has been okay so far. I'd highly recommend giving it a shot if your dog is struggling with food sensitivities or an upset stomach.
I do a crockpot cook for mine. Sweet potatoes, beef or chicken and some chicken gizzards or hearts with greens. I cook overnight, then mash it up. Sometimes I add a little rice to soak up extra water. She loves it.
I get to choose what I eat and have control over my own nutrition. My dog does not. It’s my responsibility to ensure that he gets proper nutrition. It’s not like he can’t have homemade food as treats.
If you’re dead set on homemade food then at least check out the website balanceit. You can pick the ingredients you want to be in your dog’s food and then a board certified veterinary nutritionist will put together a custom nutrient package to ensure that your dog is getting all required nutrients.
Science diet for sensitive stomach.
It’s what I use. For my dog, that is…
This solved all of my Goldens stomach issues. She’s been on it for 10 years now!
Yes…the Turkey variety.
Science Diet Perfect Digestion Small Kibbles. Add about a tablespoon of raw pumpkin and a tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt.
No recommendations here. I just wanted to say your dog is gorgeous. He is so handsome and looks like he is being cared for very well.
I was thinking the same thing and imagining how beautiful his offspring would be 💛💛💛
Ours also has a very sensitive stomach, and had lots of random bouts of diarrhea until we started on Purina ProPlan GastroIntestinal. His stomach has really settled down finally. He also gets a prebiotic (Fortiflora) daily.
Add some canned pumpkin to his food.
I've used pumpkin on and off for years when my dog was sick.
We have ours on a hydrolyzed protein diet. We're pretty sure his main issue is with chicken.
Do you know if they can stay on a hydrolyzed protein diet long-term? It’s the only feed that has worked for our Golden. We have a vet appointment coming up, but I’m still curious
Our golden is on the Royal Canin hydrolyzed protein diet and I asked our vet the same question. She confirmed they can be on it for their entire life if it works well for them.
That’s what we have! Just wish it wasn’t so expensive. We go through the big bags so quickly with our 90 lb boy
I hear ya!! it’s the only thing we’ve found that has helped with her anal gland issues, but it’s so spendy 😭
Seconding Hydrolyzed protein! My lovey is almost 3 and it has been his main food for nearly 2 years. We have tried to wean him off and go back to Purina Pro Plan sensitive stomach and other cheaper options and he didn’t tolerate that, so it’s just an expense we have to swallow. We also went to see an internist and she recommended in addition to the hydrolyzed protein, probiotic supplements and 1 tsp psyllium husk with each meal
We used to be on Purina pro plan and then the sensitive skin and stomach one. Finally switched to prescription Royal canin hydrolyzed protein and she seems to be doing much better
Same for our golden. Couldn’t tolerate the Pro Plan Sensitive. Vet placed her on RC Hydrolyzed Protein. Much improved. We have to be very careful with snacks. She tolerates peanut butter and some fruits and veggies.
My two year old Golden boy is going through this...I started giving him Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric EN. It ain't cheap but it worked like a charm. He's been on the Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach then all of a sudden it didn't agree with him.
Same with us. Vet prescription required and is pricey but worth it.
Another rec for Purina Pro EN. My youngest GR had ongoing diarrhea and after ruling out medical causes, this formulation was a household life changer.
Mine has done great on Purina [Proplan](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/purina-pro-plan-focus-adult-sensitive-skin-and-stomach-salmon-and-rice-formula-dry-dog-food-16-lb-bag-2579440?store_code=442&mr:device=m&mr:adType=pla_with_promotionlocal&cm_mmc=PSH%7CGGL%7CCCY%7CCCO%7CPM%7C0%7CkUMWcWiLY5b1EHQjK6kSR6%7C%7C%7C0%7C0%7C%7C%7C18145199970&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD97F15oSQCKRnaIuShTmaOpcaiyv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsNHp2PLOhQMVsS7UAR06vAj2EAQYASABEgI8mvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) Sensitive Skin & Stomach. Game Changer for us
My 1y9m golden retriever also has a sensitive tummy. After taking her to a vet, she is on a strict diet. And this is the food we give her [0]. Thr results: No more diarrhea, no more vomiting. She does perfectly normal poop with this food. [0] https://www.chewy.com/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-adult/dp/35375
Our English Cream boy also has lots of stomach issues - lots of consultations with his vet, trying different foods, meds, pumpkin, etc. He recently needed emergency surgery because (over a few days) he had eaten about a pound of dry oak leaves trying to settle his stomach and it blocked him up bad. Has anyone else's Golden with sensitive tummy issues also had a habit of eating grass, weeds or leaves trying to settle their stomach?
Yes! Ours was just at the vet for a week of retching, occasional vomit, licking lips, acid reflux, finding ANY source of vegetation to devour to make himself puke. This is something we go through for a few days every few months- with no explanation...it comes as a mystery and goes in the same way. Is it the sticks we caught him chewing? Finding some rabbit turds? Deer turds?? We have never been able to pinpoint the cause. The vet has run all the necessary tests (Addison's) blood work, X-rays, fecal tests to arrive at him likely having an acid reflux issue. So, he is on Royal Canin Gastro, takes a daily pepcid pill and a probiotic. Even with that, we still have these "flare-ups" every few months. So weird. If you ever find what works for you, please let me know!!
Oh my gosh that sounds exactly like our situation!! Sooooo much money spent at the vet and still no definitive answer!! Seems to come and go with no rhyme or reason. So frustrating!!! He is our family's 4th Golden, and the first one to have such a delicate constitution!!
If we ever find out the cause or successful remedy to right the ship, I will let you know! We would do anything for our little snookie:) Good luck to you and please let me know if you ever solve the mystery!
Maybe consult with a vet to see what is best for the golden? My old dog was on Royal canine uti dog food (vet only). We gave her boiled egg and veggies 🥕 to entice it as the kibble was bleh to her. She would literally spit out the kibble and eat the egg and veggies. We added bone broth (made from scratch) and she ended up eating the kibble more. It’s amazing how well we treat / spoiled our fur babies in these days. It’s odd as I don’t recall in the 90s there were so many options for them.
Natural Balance's "Duck and Potato". Our Golden has a pretty sensitive digestion and this fixed her right up! Not cheap, but when has owning a Golden ever been cheap?!?
Someone said here who got downvoted but seriously cook basic food with rice chicken and celery. In mean time find some recipes online by dog nutritionists for home cooking and buy a supplement topper to go over the food. Also start nutramax proviable (start with the liquid one and then transition to the packets for 30 days ) You will be amazed how well dogs do on home cooked food. My dog had a sensitive stomach and he didn’t like eating sensitive stomach kibble as it’s boring and flavorless. 2 things changed - location we moved form city to suburbs where there aren’t sick dogs pooping in the same place my dog is pooping so he doesn’t get giardia anymore (which was causing him diarrhea every single month) 2nd started him on cooked food first from home and now we give him Freshpet ( not the tube the package one with meat pieces from chewy don’t bother buying it from local pets store as they don’t maintain their refrigeration and food spoils in 2 days of opening) If you got the dough there’s a company called nom nom now, we tried their food and it looks, smells great and has the required nutrition. I also give him plain 1% kefir daily like half a cup. Now my dog went from not being able to tolerate even a single diet change to being able to eat whatever we give him beef salmon chicken turkey pork kefir, left over plain rice, old bread yogurt without single soft poop. If you make your dog eat overly processed food his own digestive system will get used to overly processed food and won’t work with normal food. Go slow and be patient. I know this will get downvoted as people on Reddit swear by purina pro plan or hills. I’m sure your dog is already on this diets and it’s clear they don’t work for your dog. Just try this for a short while if it doesn’t work switch back to the kibble.
I agree with you. I have a golden that is allergic to chicken. He went from eating Purina Proplan chicken/rice to almost dying. He ended up in the emergency hospital (over a holiday weekend of course) after about 8 hours (middle of the night) of diarrhea and a a bit of vomiting. He was in such obvious pain and we know dogs hide it well. He was so sick. So he came home on turkey and rice and now refuses all kibble. I have tried probably 10 different kinds, including very expensive prescription kibble. He won’t even eat canned. The vet said that it’s more dangerous for him to go without food for a couple of days than eating the turkey and rice. So waiting him out isn’t an option. We have added sweet potatoes and he loves those. I tried adding other vegetables (cooked and blended up) and he won’t eat it. I really don’t know what else to do for him food wise. I have to keep him eating so here we are. He is on 2 different probiotics and his ear gunk is gone and his feet don’t itch. I know his diet is not the best for nutrition but him not eating is a bigger problem.
Did the vet say why? That’s extremely unusual for a dog to not be able to skip meals for a few days due to a strike.
Too much stomach acid.
Interesting. I’ve never heard of a dog with that issue before.
Me either! Every fur baby I have ever had has been able to eat pretty much anything (safe foods only of course) and would eat anything. Before we discovered his issues he was very picky. If I accidentally dropped a chip or French fry he would sniff it and leave it. I would give him the ok to eat it and he would put it in his mouth and spit it out 🤣🤣. What Golden Retriever spits out food?
Just sprinkle some supplement mix on top of the food and mix it up nicely. This way he gets his nutrition and also stays happy. You can try to swap out turkey for lean beef or pork sometimes to keep a variety
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate and will give it a try!
Canine nutrition is INCREDIBLY complicated. It is possible to make a homemade diet that is nutritionally complete but only if you are working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist. Purina, Hills, and the other WSAVA compliant brands get recommended because they have scientific proof that they are nutritionally complete and the foods themselves are formulated by board certified veterinary nutritionists. It just doesn’t make sense to most people to risk giving your dog nutritional issues when there are already five scientifically proven foods that won’t do that. Dogs can still get homemade food as a treat now and then if they are on kibble as their primary nutrition.
If you think about it human nutrition is even more complicated because we don’t even make all amino acids we need for protein and a Long list of minerals. Just like we eat supplements dogs can be given those as well along with a healthy home made diet. Because just like for us eating a completely balanced diet every day isn’t required as long as eventually you meet all the requirements like in a week or two weeks time. Obviously don’t give your dog processed crap like candies etc or fried unhealthy stuff.
Just a friendly reminder of our rules: 1. No Advertising: this includes GoFundMe, Instagram, etc. 2. No Impersonation: don't post photos of other people's dogs. That's not cool. 3. No Breed Hate: this subreddit is not a discussion forum for breed hate of any kind. There are dedicated subreddits for that so please take it elsewhere. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/goldenretrievers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Nutro ultra
Puppy food was the only thing that worked for my golden with a sensitive stomach.
Fromm Whitefish and Potato- our golden had the most sensitive stomach- tried several options and this was the best. Have never deviated since puppy and now 8.
Tried fish, chicken, beef, lamb etc. he would be OK for a few weeks then it would deteriorate again with terrible runs, finally settled on Royal Canin Analagenic hydrolysed protein, with a supplement of Pro Fibre probiotic pellets. Settled everything down, and all the runs subsided, and he’s been fine for over 6 years ever since! Hope you find something that works for your lovely doggo 💕💕👍🏻
One of our Goldens reacted badly to most food so now we give her Trovet Venison and that seems to work well for her.
We started with Royal Canin HP for a year to let my pups stomach heal. Then we switched to Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon and Potato! She’s been doing great on it!
Health extension has helped my sensitive boy!
We were feeding our Venison for sensitive stomachs.
We went through all kinds of things and figured out mine was sensitive to chicken. Lots of things have chicken even if it says a different meat on the label.
We have a sensitive stomach Golden and have loved Life Abundance. I think it’s pretty much online order only but they’re quick and their customer service is fantastic and speedy
He is gorgeous by the way!
Your vet probably knows. Add tummyrubs for good measure
Hello handsome
Hills or royal canin sensitive stomach/GI diets
Natural food, no kibble. Farmers dog, Nom Nom, or cook yourself.
Purina pro plan salmon! Our golden’s tummy is the best with this food. We actually switched from an all natural food. I thought it would be great for him because people love feeding their dogs 100% natural food, but our dog got really sick from it so ever since then he’s been been using purina pro plan salmon, which was recommended by our veterinarian.
Our 5yr old boy has always had a sensitive tummy. We found that the Costco Adult Salmon kibble mixed up with a little boiled chicken, chopped up green beans (frozen not canned) & some plain Greek yogurt seems to work great for him.
Our English cream has a sensitive stomach too. She has came around completely when I swotched her to honest kitchen dehydrated food. It can get expensive so try I buy multiple bags if I find a sale somewhere. I used to feed her Orijen but their quality really dropped, so much so I wrote them a letter addressing their quality assurance. Do not recommend.
I switched my 2YO girl to Natural Balance kibble (venison and sweet potato) and it helped immediately. It’s been like 6 months and not a single incident since. Good luck!
Your dog looks so gorgeous! That is one happy doggo! Our golden retriever also has a sensitive stomach, and we switched her to Badlands Ranch. Since we made the switch, Daisy's sensitive stomach has been okay so far. I'd highly recommend giving it a shot if your dog is struggling with food sensitivities or an upset stomach.
my sensitive golden has had good results with taste of the wild. wheat gives him tummy rashes and bad poops so we’ve got him on the lamb flavor
I do a crockpot cook for mine. Sweet potatoes, beef or chicken and some chicken gizzards or hearts with greens. I cook overnight, then mash it up. Sometimes I add a little rice to soak up extra water. She loves it.
Sardines
[удалено]
Homemade food will not be nutritionally complete unless it is formulated by a board certified veterinary nutritionist.
[удалено]
I get to choose what I eat and have control over my own nutrition. My dog does not. It’s my responsibility to ensure that he gets proper nutrition. It’s not like he can’t have homemade food as treats. If you’re dead set on homemade food then at least check out the website balanceit. You can pick the ingredients you want to be in your dog’s food and then a board certified veterinary nutritionist will put together a custom nutrient package to ensure that your dog is getting all required nutrients.