Chronic diarrhea is no fun for either your dog or you. Coupled with a naturally sensitive stomach, diarrhea can make life miserable for any pooch. Perhaps the solution for your little friend is a new food. Perhaps she would be better off with cold-pressed dog food.
Many companies today try to produce the best dog food for sensitive stomachs and diarrhea. To that end, they carefully choose the ingredients for each and every recipe. They also utilize a slow-temperature cooking and cold-pressing process to ensure a food that is easily digested.
A Word About Chronic Diarrhea
Before we move on to discussing why cold-pressed foods are helpful to dogs with sensitive stomachs and chronic diarrhea, the good folk over at Nextrition say a word about diarrhea is in order. A number of things can cause it, including:
- Food allergies and sensitivities
- Underlying infections
- Intestinal parasites
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Serious conditions like pancreatitis and cancer
It is never a wise idea to simply assume that a dog with chronic diarrhea is experiencing a minor issue that can be solved with a different food. Rather, it is best to consult with a veterinarian about any chronic health condition before attempting to address it.
Here’s hoping your dog isn’t dealing with anything serious. If you and your vet agree that an easier-to-digest food would be in your dog’s best interests, we recommend chicken and salmon recipes, perhaps by a company like the aforementioned Nextrition.
Why Cold-Pressed Dog Food?
Cold-pressed dog food is increasingly recommended for dogs with sensitive stomachs and chronic diarrhea for two reasons: its ingredients and the gentle process by which the food is prepared.
Natural dog food is considered natural because of the ingredient choices. You won’t find any fillers or chemical preservatives in this type of dog food. And because they are cook at low temperatures, the food retains its flavor and nutritional value. Why is that important?
Kibble manufacturers need to include additives in their food to make up for the loss of flavor and nutritional value inherent to high-temperature cooking and extrusion. The combination of the manufacturing process with additives and fillers creates a hard, crunchy food that doesn’t break down very well.
In a nutshell, here is why cold-pressed dog food is increasingly recommended for sensitive stomachs and chronic diarrhea:
- Cold-pressed food breaks down more quickly and easily
- It minimizes the digestive burden on an already irritated stomach
- Natural fiber, vitamins, and minerals are retained
- Better nutritional value promotes a balanced gut microbiome
Manufacturers tend to be incredibly careful about protein choices for cold-pressed recipes. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, the two best protein choices are chicken and fish.
Make the Switch Gradually
If you agree that cold-pressed food could be the best dog food for sensitive stomachs and diarrhea, help the transition go smoother by switching over gradually. Why? Because immediately substituting with a whole new dog food could make digestive system problems worse. You don’t want your beloved pet to feel any more uncomfortable. So a gradual transition is better.
Begin with just a little bit of dog food alongside what you’re currently feeding. As the days progress, gradually increase the cold-pressed food while decreasing the old food. Take about a week to fully transition. It’s the best way to switch food without causing additional digestive stress.
If you and your vet concur that a new food could help your dog’s stomach issues, we encourage you to try cold-pressed. If it’s not the best dog food for sensitive stomachs and diarrhea, it is still among the very best.