Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

What food is best for my Aussie with a sensitive, upset stomach?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Australian Shepherd | Female | spayed | 3 years and 1 month old | 45 lbs

Hi! My Australian shepherd often gets an upset stomach with diarrhea and throwing up. She acts perfectly normal except she beings to come to me for comfort more than usual. Her throw up is always clear/green and he diarrhea is normal colored. I am currently feeding her Iams adult food (the green bag) and she has been on this for about year but she has ALWAYS had these stomach issues even before the food. Is there any food recommendations I can give her? Or any at home remedies?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on April 15th, 2017

Poor Emmi! Some dogs can exhibit vomiting and diarrhea as a result of a sensitivity to the different protein or carbohydrate sources in their foods. There is a chance that her current Iams diet may contain the same protein source as the previous diet, and if she is sensitive, it could be causing issues. Consider starting a diet trial with a novel protein diet (Dick van Patton's Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet is one OTC example). To perform this diet trial, you will find a new food with one protein source/one carbohydrate source that is different from the one that she is currently receiving. Gradually transition to the new diet by mixing old and new foods together for 5-7 days. Exclusively feed the new diet for at least 2-3 months to determine if the changes has been effective. It could take 6-8 weeks to notice any change. During this time, take care not to offer any table scraps or treats.

If the diet trial is unsuccessful and Emmi continues having episodes of vomiting and diarrhea, consider taking her to her vet for an exam and further testing. Some diseases, such as Addison's disease or inflammatory bowel disease, can have intermittent signs of GI upset. Good luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My dog vomits after eating. What food is best for a sensitive stomach?

I'm sorry to hear that Sophie is intolerant to the foods you are trying. This may be a sign of a chronic underlying problem with her stomach like IBD, food allergies, or pancreatitis. You can try feeding a formulation of a bland diet like Hill's I/d or Royal Canin Gastrointestinal. You can also try a hypoallergenic diet or a novel protein diet. If the vomiting persists, she should be examined by a veterinarian to determine what the underlying problem may be.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Worried about my dog's sensitive stomach, vomiting, and loud gurgling?

Well over time excessive vomiting can lead to issues along the GI tract like esophageal erosion, ulcers, etc. So it is best to try and get a handle on things now before they progress. One very possible cause for the vomiting at this consistency is a food allergy. Try discussing with your vet about getting Jax on a hypoallergenic food or highly digestible food such as Royal Canin Hypoallergenic hydrolyzed protein or Iams Intestinal Health Low Residue. These foods make it easier for the pet to digest leading to fewer vomiting episodes and overall good quality of health.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My 4-year-old dog has a sensitive stomach and frequent diarrhea.

Poor Dylan! If he has a sensitive stomach and gets diarrhea easily, he may benefit from a prescription GI diet that is bland and easy to digest, or a hypoallergenic limited ingredient diet such as Hills z/d or Purina HA - I would suggest talking to your vet about these options to see if he/she feels that they might be helpful. It's also possible that Dylan has some other underlying medical issue causing the recurring diarrhea, such as intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, etc. I would recommend having a full check-up done by your vet if this hasn't been done in the past - he/she can do blood work or other testing if needed to check for these problems and get him started on appropriate treatment if needed.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has a sensitive stomach & is picky. What food is best?

You can try the duck or fish to see if Sadie likes that better, but do the food switch slowly over the course of two weeks to prevent further GI upset. Royal Canin has a sensitivity controlled food (Royal Canin Sensitivity Control) that may work for her as well. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My dog gets diarrhea from food. How do I fix his sensitive stomach?

It depends on the cause of the diarrhea. He could have intestinal worms, a food intolerance, in issue called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) in which the pancreas doesn't make digestive enzymes. You'll need to start with a vet visit to rule out parasites and try to get his gut settled down. You could also run bloodwork to check for EPI, however we generally wait to see if other methods get the diarrhea under control first. Good luck! I know this is a frustrating issue

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

What's the best puppy food for a sensitive stomach: Science Diet or Honest Kitchen?

As you've experienced, diet changes can certainly cause some changes in stool volume, and for some dogs, can cause a bit of vomiting and diarrhea. When it comes to the countless brands of dog food on the market today, it's overwhelming to pick one for your pup. I recommend brands that have been formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, are manufactured in their own facility (less cross-contamination that facilities that manufacture numerous formulations), conduct AAFCO feeding trials, and meet WSAVA guidelines. When it comes down to it, the brands that meet those criteria include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Iams. As a result, I would recommend switching Lilly over to the Science Diet puppy food. Just remember that anytime you switch foods, be sure to do so by gradually mixing the old and new foods together over a 5-7 day period. I hope that everything goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My dog has diarrhea & vomiting after new food. What should I do?

Unfortunately, it is quite common for some dogs to experience GI upset ([vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/) or [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/)) when switching food. As long as Bo is behaving normally otherwise, you may be able to [manage her at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea). I recommend withholding food for 12-24 hours. Resume feeding a bland diet (boiled boneless/skinless chicken breast mixed with plain cooked white rice) in small, frequent amounts. Begin with 1 tablespoon of food every hour and gradually increase the amount as long as she doesn't vomit. Feed the bland diet until the stool is consistently normal (usually several days), then transition slowly to the new diet over another 5-7 days. [Veterinary probiotics](https://www.petcoach.co/article/probiotics-and-prebiotics-bacteria-aren-t-all-bad) may be considered to promote gut health. If she continues to vomit and have diarrhea, or develops lethargy, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain in spite of a bland diet, she will need to see a vet as soon as possible.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share