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Sensitive Stomachs

It’s surprisingly common for dogs of many breeds (including Golden Retrievers) to have what people call a “sensitive stomach.” By this, I mean puppies or adults who seem to develop upset stomachs more easily than others, sometimes with drooling or severe salivation, loose or watery stools, and occasional vomiting.

This can happen in any dog. Sometimes there is a clear trigger; sometimes there isn’t. I’ve had litters where one puppy struggles with a sensitive stomach while none of the littermates (and neither parent) ever show the same issue. Just as some people have more delicate digestion than others, some dogs simply do too.

Short, mild episodes of tummy upset are often self-limiting. However, when loose stool or digestive issues become recurrent or persistent, it is very important to work with your veterinarian to look for an underlying cause so your dog can be as comfortable and healthy as possible.

Short-Term Upsets vs. Ongoing Problems

A mild, short-term sensitive stomach may last only a day or two and then resolve on its own. That can be triggered by:

A minor change in food or treats
Stress (travel, boarding, visitors, big schedule changes)
The dog eating something unusual but not dangerous (“dietary indiscretion”)

However, if loose stool, vomiting, or obvious stomach discomfort goes on longer than 24–48 hours, or happens repeatedly over days or weeks, it is no longer a simple “blip.” At that point, your dog needs a veterinary exam. Persistent or recurrent diarrhea can indicate parasites, infections, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerance or allergy, endocrine disease, or other medical issues.

When Sensitive Stomach Is an Emergency

Please contact your veterinarian (or an emergency clinic) promptly if you see any of the following along with diarrhea or vomiting:

Blood or mucus in the stool
Black, tarry stool
Repeated vomiting
Refusal to eat or drink
Marked lethargy or weakness
Signs of dehydration (dry gums, sunken eyes, skin tenting)
Diarrhea that does not improve within 24–48 hours
A very young puppy, a senior dog, or a dog with other health issues having repeated diarrhea

These can be signs of a more serious problem that should not be managed at home.

Common Reasons for Sensitive Stomachs

Sensitive stomachs can appear for many reasons, including:

Stress: travel, boarding, guests, loud events, changes in routine
Diet changes: switching food too quickly or adding rich new treats
Food sensitivities or intolerances: an ingredient doesn’t agree with that dog’s system
Dietary indiscretion: trash, table scraps, or something found outside
Underlying medical issues: parasites, infections, pancreatitis, IBD, etc.

Sometimes the cause is simple and easy to fix. Other times, it takes a structured approach and veterinary help to identify the trigger.

Short-Term Sensitive Stomachs (Mild, Occasional Episodes)

If your dog has a rare, brief bout of loose stool but is otherwise bright, eating, drinking, and acting normally, you may be able to manage it at home with:

Temporary diet adjustment – often a short “bland diet” period
Plenty of fresh water (or your vet’s recommended electrolyte solution)
Possibly a canine probiotic, as recommended by your veterinarian

A high-quality probiotic formulated for dogs can help support a healthy gut microbiome. Your vet can suggest specific brands; in my own program, I like to use a daily probiotic supplement to support digestive health.

Important: Over-the-counter human anti-diarrheal medications (including Kaopectate®/Pepto-Bismol® and similar products) now often contain bismuth subsalicylate, which can be risky for some dogs and may interact with other medications. These should only be used under direct veterinary guidance, not by default at home.

If your dog does not improve within 24–48 hours, or shows any of the red-flag signs listed above, stop home care and call your vet.

Ongoing or “Lasting” Sensitive Stomachs

If your puppy or dog seems to have a consistently sensitive stomach or frequent diarrhea, it’s time for a more detailed plan.

Step 1 – Veterinary Visit

Your first step should always be a vet exam. Your veterinarian may:

Run a fecal test for parasites
Check bloodwork and possibly pancreatic or inflammatory markers
Consider imaging if needed
Prescribe appropriate medications (antibiotics, dewormers, anti-nausea meds, etc.) when indicated, not automatically

They may also recommend a therapeutic diet, such as a novel protein or hydrolyzed protein diet, if they suspect food intolerance or allergy.

Step 2 – Bland Diet Reset (Short Term, Vet-Approved)

With your vet’s blessing, a short course of a simple, home-cooked “bland diet” can help rest the gut while you sort out the cause. Typically this might be:

A single cooked protein (such as skinless chicken, lean beef, or salmon)
A simple carbohydrate like white or plain rice

The portions and length of time should follow your vet’s instructions. Many veterinary sources now recommend not using a bland diet alone for more than ~48 hours without professional guidance, because ongoing diarrhea can lead to dehydration and because chronic issues need more than diet alone.

Once the stool is normal again, your vet will help you transition to a balanced, complete diet your dog can tolerate long term.

Is It the Protein, the Grain, or Something Else?

A “sensitive stomach” almost always means your dog is intolerant of something, not necessarily allergic in the true medical sense.

If your dog improves on a simple chicken-and-rice or beef-and-rice diet, then has loose stool again when you go back to a previous kibble, it suggests that:

The meat protein may be tolerated
Another ingredient (grain, fat level, additives, legumes, etc.) may be the problem

Modern veterinary nutrition often approaches this using a limited-ingredient, novel protein or hydrolyzed protein diet, fed exclusively for 6–10 weeks, followed by a careful “challenge” with previous ingredients to detect the culprit.

You can still use carefully planned home-cooked trials (chicken & rice, then beef & rice, then salmon & rice, etc.), but:

They should be done with veterinary or nutritionist guidance, especially if used longer than a few days
They are not complete and balanced on their own for long-term feeding

Cost Does Not Equal Quality

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that “expensive means better.” In reality, when you buy dog food, you are paying for:

Ingredients
Manufacturing quality control
Packaging
Marketing and advertising

A high price tag does not guarantee a well-formulated food. Instead of price, I encourage families to look for:

Brands that meet AAFCO standards and follow WSAVA-style guidelines for research, quality control, and transparency
Clear labeling and normal, recognizable ingredients
A protein source and carbohydrate source that work for your dog’s gut

For Goldens in particular, be cautious about certain grain-free and legume-heavy diets. Ongoing studies and the FDA investigation have raised concerns about potential links between some grain-free, “boutique” or pulse-heavy diets (high in peas, lentils, etc.) and diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, including Golden Retrievers.

Until more is known, try to avoid foods where:

The diet is labeled “grain-free” and
Peas, lentils, chickpeas or similar pulses appear among the first several ingredients

Treat Choices

Soft, highly processed “meaty” treats (like many chewy sticks, rolls, and jerky-style snacks) are often very high in fat and salt, which can upset sensitive stomachs and add needless calories.

If your dog has loose stool and you are using a lot of these treats, try:

Stopping them completely for 7–10 days
Using simple, single-ingredient treats instead, such as:
- Small pieces of cooked chicken, turkey, or lean beef
- Tiny cubes of low-fat cheese (if tolerated)
- Small bits of plain boiled egg
- Certain fruits/vegetables that are dog-safe (e.g., blueberries, green beans, apple without seeds), in moderation

If the diarrhea clears up after removing commercial soft treats, you may have found your culprit.

“Human Food”, Friend or Foe?

Many of us were raised on the idea that “human food is bad for dogs.” The truth is more nuanced:

Some “human foods” are very dangerous for dogs (e.g., onions, garlic, grapes/raisins, xylitol, alcohol, chocolate, cooked bones, fatty trimmings, etc.).
Other “human foods” are perfectly safe and even beneficial in moderation (plain cooked meats, certain fruits and vegetables, plain pumpkin, small amounts of plain yogurt if tolerated, etc.).

A dog who has been gently exposed to a variety of safe foods often tolerates small “oops” moments better than a dog whose diet has never varied. As with people who suddenly reintroduce a food they haven’t eaten in years, a dog’s system can “forget” how to process something it never encounters.

That said:

Variety is good, but introduce new foods gradually.
Avoid foods known to be toxic to dogs.
Avoid very fatty, spicy, or highly processed foods.

Balanced, moderate exposure can help build resilience without overwhelming the gut.

Testing for Food Ingredient Sensitivity

If you and your vet suspect that food ingredients are contributing to your dog’s sensitive stomach, a structured approach usually works best:

Read up on feeding basics
Temporarily move to a simple, vet-approved bland diet to calm the gut.
Transition to a carefully chosen diet:
- Veterinary novel protein or hydrolyzed protein prescription diet, or
- A high-quality commercial diet with a simple ingredient list that avoids the suspected triggers

Many vets now prefer a prescription novel or hydrolyzed diet for 6–10 weeks as the most reliable way to diagnose food-responsive disease. Home-cooked elimination diets are possible, but they should be formulated or checked by a veterinary nutritionist to make sure they are complete and balanced if used longer-term.

Returning to Kibble & Adding a Second Food

When your dog’s stool has been normal on a bland or prescription diet:

Transition slowly back to kibble:
- Days 1–2: about 25% new kibble, 75% bland diet
- Days 3–4: 50% / 50%
- Days 5–6: 75% kibble, 25% bland
- Day 7: 100% new kibble

If stool softens again at any step, go back to the previous ratio or return to bland and talk to your vet about trying a different diet.

Once you know one food that agrees with your dog, you can consider adding a second, compatible food (for example, a sensitive-stomach formula with salmon, or another high-quality WSAVA-style food) and mixing them 50/50, if your dog’s stomach remains stable. This can give you flexibility if one product is ever unavailable.

Wrap-Up

Sometimes diarrhea is a simple, temporary upset, but if it lasts more than 24–48 hours, or your dog seems unwell, contact your vet.
Price does not guarantee quality. Choose foods based on formulation, transparency, and how your dog does on them.
Healthy treats are best. Avoid high-fat, highly processed soft meaty treats if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
Most “human food” is not inherently bad for dogs, many are beneficial in moderation if they are dog-safe and introduced sensibly.
Work to identify what your dog is sensitive to, with the help of your vet and, if needed, a veterinary nutritionist.
Supplements like probiotics can be very helpful, especially when chosen with professional guidance.
Avoid grain-free, pulse-heavy diets for Goldens unless a specialist recommends them, due to ongoing concerns about diet-associated heart disease.

With patience, structured testing, and collaboration with your veterinarian, most dogs with “sensitive stomachs” can be made comfortable on a diet that supports both their gut and their overall health.

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