Your dog’s frequent upset stomach isn’t something that can be ignored. Perhaps your dog has visited the vet and received the diagnosis of IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. As IBD can have serious health impacts on your dog, such as weight loss, decreased muscle mass, and a poor coat, you’ll want to do what’s necessary to nurse your pup back to health. Your first step will most likely be to change your dog’s choice of food.
With so many options available, you may not be sure which dog food will help ease your dog’s IBD symptoms. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of dog foods made specifically to address IBD. We ranked each dog food and included pros and cons lists.
A Quick Glance at the Winners of 2022
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Purina Vegetarian |
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Best Value | Blackwood Everyday Diet |
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Premium Choice | Royal Canin Hypoallergenic |
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Purina Gastroenteric |
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Canine Caviar Open Sky Grain Free |
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The 10 Best IBD Dog Foods:
1. Purina Hypoallergenic Veg Dog Food – Best Overall
We recommend Purina Hypoallergenic Vegetarian dog food as the best overall product for relieving your dog’s IBD symptoms. This product provides complete and balanced nutrition while addressing your dog’s unique digestive issues.
Formulated for dogs who suffer from IBD and similar digestive issues, Purina offers a hydrolyzed protein source, high digestibility, and medium chain triglycerides. This dry dog food is completely vegetarian. Despite what you may assume about dogs eating vegetables, we found that most dogs like the flavor.
While this brand of Purina comes with a higher price tag, many dogs greatly benefit from eating it. Although we discovered a few incidents in which the dog did not like the taste or gain results, most dog owners report success with this product. To conclude, we think this is the best dog food for IBD available on the market.
- High rates of successfully easing IBD symptoms
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Formulated to address digestive and IBD issues
- Most dogs like the flavor
- Expensive
2. Blackwood 22288 Dog Food – Best Value
We selected Blackwood dog food as the best dog food for IBD for the money. Blackwood is a family-owned company, which expresses that it takes great pride in offering your dog top-quality products. At an affordable price, this dog food promotes healthy digestion by incorporating prebiotics and probiotics into its formula.
Nutritionally complete, Blackwood dog food has slow-cooked, protein-rich ingredients such as high-quality chicken, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. Even better, this product does not contain corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or colors.
We found that many dogs see improvements with their digestive health with this dry dog food. The only complaint may be a few instances of lingering minor IBD symptoms. Also, some dogs do not care for the flavor. Overall, we think this is the best dog food for IBD for the money this year.
- Best value
- Company takes pride in offering top-quality dog food
- Prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion
- Nutritionally complete
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or colors
- Many dogs saw digestive improvement
- May not stop minor IBD symptoms
- Some dogs do not care for the flavor
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3. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Dog Food – Premium Choice
This product has high-quality ingredients that yield significant relief for dogs with IBD, which is why we picked Royal Canin hypoallergenic dog food as our premium choice. This nutritionally balanced dry dog food contains a hydrolyzed protein formula made with easily digestible proteins and rice starch.
This hypoallergenic dog food is specially engineered to address your dog’s IBD issues, as well as common skin ailments. We found that most dogs benefitted from eating this product. However, be aware that you will need to pay a much higher price for Royal Canin.
At least you won’t have to fight with your dog to eat it. We found few incidents of dogs turning up their noses to this food.
- High-quality ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
- Nutritionally balanced
- Contains easily digestible proteins
- Most dogs like the flavor
- Expensive
4. Purina 13854 Dry Dog Food
Specifically formulated to help relieve your dog’s IBD, Purina Veterinary Diets dog food is made with low fiber and prebiotics to support intestinal health.
With protein levels that meet your dog’s nutritional needs, this Purina product supplies low carbohydrates and a moderate amount of fat. It also provides your dog with antioxidant vitamins E and C, as well as zinc. However and perhaps as equally important, this dog food may contain allergens, additives, and preservatives that can, over time, cause your dog additional health issues.
We found that most dogs respond well to this food and like the taste. Be aware, though, that it is moderately high priced.
- Specifically formulated for digestive issues
- Prebiotics to support intestinal health
- Meets your dog’s nutritional needs
- Significant number of dogs experience IBD relief
- Most dogs like the taste
- May contain allergens, additives, and preservatives
- Moderately expensive
5. Canine Caviar Grain Free Dog Food
If you’re looking for a holistic dog food that’s easily digestible, then you may want to consider Canine Caviar dog food. This hypoallergenic product is ideal for dogs suffering from IBD and other allergies. It has a unique alkaline limited diet formula, which includes a single protein, lamb, and a lone complex carbohydrate, pearl millet.
This gluten-free dog food also lacks wheat, tapioca, and potato. It does not contain eggs, soy, corn, dairy, nor any genetically modified ingredients, and there are no fillers, artificial colors or flavors, or preservatives.
You will pay a higher cost for this product. However, we did find high rates of success in the reduction of IBS symptoms — that is, if your dog agrees to eat it. We learned that some dogs do not care for the taste.
- Holistic and hypoallergenic dog food
- Unique alkaline limited diet
- Nutritionally balanced formula
- Free of harmful allergens, additives, and preservatives
- High rate of success with easing IBD symptoms
- Higher priced
- Some dogs do not like the taste
6. Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
A solid choice for dogs suffering from IBD, Holistic Select natural dry dog food provides complete nutrition for your dog. It’s made with all-natural ingredients, including protein from real turkey, prebiotics and probiotics, live yogurt cultures, natural fiber, and digestive enzymes.
Your dog can easily digest this grain-free, wheat-free dog food that contains no meat by-products, fillers, or artificial colors or flavors. Holistic Select is potato free, instead using highly digestive carbohydrates and omega-3 fatty acids. This dog food also promotes better immune system function and regularity.
Overall, we found high rates of success with this product, and most dogs enjoy eating it. However, you will have to pay more for these high-quality ingredients.
- Complete nutrition
- High-quality ingredients
- Grain free and wheat free
- No fillers or artificial colors or flavors
- High rates of success with dogs with IBD
- Dogs enjoy the taste
- Higher priced than similar products
7. Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food
For another grain-free option, consider Wellness Core dog food. With all-natural ingredients, this dry dog food offers your dog easy-to-digest complete and balanced nutrition. It contains ingredients for your dog’s whole health, such as antioxidants, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and hydrochloride, as well as probiotics for better digestion.
If your dog needs a protein-rich meal, Wellness Core supplies ample turkey and chicken, real vegetables, and essential vitamins and minerals. Since it’s all-natural, there’s also no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial flavors or preservatives.
We found that most dogs with IBD like the meat-rich flavor and seem to do well with properly digesting this dog food. However, if your dog has severe IBD symptoms, this product has limited effectiveness, and you may want to choose a dog food higher on this list. This product is moderately high priced.
- Grain-free and all-natural
- No wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial flavors or preservatives
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Protein-rich mixture
- Dogs like the taste
- Not for dogs with severe IBD
- Moderately high priced
8. ACANA Protein Rich Dry Dog Food
Relying on freshwater fish, including wild-caught rainbow trout, blue catfish, and yellow perch, to provide dogs with much-needed protein and nutrients, Acana dry dog food has complete nutrition. This product bases its composition on what it calls a “biologically appropriate” diet, which allows easier digestion for dogs with IBD.
Made with 60% fresh, raw animal ingredients, 40% vegetables and botanicals, and 0% grains, with no gluten, potato, or tapioca, Acana also sources its ingredients from regional farms, ranches, and local water sources. Every part of the fish is used in the food in order to provide the maximum amount of nutrients.
We placed this dog food lower on our list due to reports that some dogs unfortunately get new or worsened digestive issues after eating it. While most dogs enjoy the taste of Acana and digest it well, a significant number of dogs do not like the fish flavor. We also found quality control issues with the consistency of the dog food.
- Freshwater fish as main ingredient
- Biologically appropriate composition
- No grains, gluten, potato, or tapioca
- Complete nutrition
- Some dogs get new or worsened digestive issues
- Your dog may not like the fish flavor
- Quality control issues
- Moderately expensive
9. Solid Gold Holistic Adult Dog Food
The protected living probiotics in Solid Gold Holistic adult dog food help your dog with IBD achieve a healthier digestive track. Solid Gold combines fiber-rich prebiotics, omega fatty acids, superfoods, and protein-rich pasture-fed lamb and eggs for a complete and nourishing meal for your dog.
Besides helping your dog’s IBD by being grain-free and gluten-free, Solid Gold also supports your dog’s immune system and a healthy metabolism. This recipe is ideal for dogs with IBD, as well as those suffering from a chicken protein allergy and in need of iron in their diet. It doesn’t contain artificial preservatives or corn, wheat, or soy.
We found that most dogs like this affordable food and respond well to eating it. However, we placed this product second to last on the list due it not having enough protein to match your dog’s natural diet.
- Holistic dog food
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics for gut health
- Supports immune system and metabolism
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- No artificial preservatives, soy, wheat, or corn
- Affordable
- Not enough protein
10. Nutri Source Pure Vita Grain Free
Your dog with IBD will appreciate the grain-free composition of Nutri Source Pure Vita dog food. It contains plenty of animal protein supplied by beef, as well as a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for a complete nutritional meal that your dog can easily digest.
This moderately expensive dog food takes the last spot on our list. While we found that many dogs seem to enjoy this product and respond well to it, be aware that this dog food’s above average high-protein content could upset your dog’s stomach. Also, this dog food may contain other allergens, such as potato, corn, or soy, as well as artificial flavors and preservatives.
This product does not contain prebiotics and probiotics for dogs with IBD. There’s also no information offered about the quality of beef used in this dog food.
- Complete nutrition
- Protein rich with beef
- Contains fatty acids
- Moderately expensive
- High protein may cause stomach upset
- May contain allergens
- May include artificial flavors and preservatives
- Does not offer prebiotics or probiotics
- Unknown quality of beef used
Conclusion
For its high rates of successfully easing IBD symptoms in dogs, we selected Purina 13852 HA Hypoallergenic Vegetarian Dog Food as our best overall choice. Offering complete and balanced nutrition, this Purina dog food is formulated to address digestive and IBD issues. As an added bonus, most dogs like the flavor.
For the best value for your money, we recommend Blackwood 22288 Dog Food. This company takes pride in offering top-quality, nutritionally complete dog food. Your dog will benefit from the included prebiotics and probiotics that promote healthy digestion. With no corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or colors to cause allergic reactions or an upset stomach, we found that many dogs see digestive improvement.
Finally, we chose Royal Canin HP Hypoallergenic Dog Food as our premium choice due to its high-quality ingredients. This dog food is ideal for dogs with IBD, since it is hypoallergenic and nutritionally balanced and contains easily digestible proteins. Also, most dogs like the flavor.
We hope that our thorough reviews and detailed pros and cons lists have helped you make a more informed decision. When it comes to your dog’s health and well-being, we understand that you want to offer them the very best. It’s important to find a dog food that will ease your dog’s IBD symptoms while also providing them with proper nutrition.
Featured image credit: kalhh, Pixabay
Contents
- A Quick Glance at the Winners of 2022
- The 10 Best IBD Dog Foods:
- 1. Purina Hypoallergenic Veg Dog Food – Best Overall
- 2. Blackwood 22288 Dog Food – Best Value
- 3. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Dog Food – Premium Choice
- 4. Purina 13854 Dry Dog Food
- 5. Canine Caviar Grain Free Dog Food
- 6. Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
- 7. Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food
- 8. ACANA Protein Rich Dry Dog Food
- 9. Solid Gold Holistic Adult Dog Food
- 10. Nutri Source Pure Vita Grain Free
- Conclusion