8 Best Dog Foods for Great Danes With Sensitive Stomachs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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Great Danes are a special breed with unique needs, including dietary needs1. These dogs are susceptible to bloat, a critical health condition, and obesity that can impact their joint health and quality of life.
But if your Great Dane has a sensitive stomach, which is also common, it can be challenging to find foods to maintain weight while not causing digestive upset. Here are our choices for the best food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs, based on reviews from other Great Dane pet parents.
A Quick Glance at Our Favorites (2024)
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The Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) |
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Budget Buy
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Purina ONE Natural Dry Dog Food |
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Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach |
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Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Puppy |
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Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin |
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The 8 Best Dog Foods for Great Danes With Sensitive Stomachs
1. The Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Beef, sweet potatoes, cooked lentils, carrots, beef liver |
| Protein content: | 39.0% |
| Fat content: | 29.0% |
| Calories: | 721 kcal/pound |
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Beef Recipe is the best overall dog food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs. This premium subscription service makes fresh, custom food for your dog’s needs based on information like age, breed, size, and activity level. Once you create your account and select your recipe, the food is delivered directly to your door.
All Farmer’s Dog food is made at a USDA-inspected facility in the US. The recipes are formulated by a team of veterinary specialists board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Though the subscription may be convenient for some, it may not be for others. It’s also expensive, especially if you’re feeding it to a giant breed like a Great Dane.
- Fresh, custom food
- Convenient subscription
- Made in the US
- Expensive
2. Purina ONE +Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, rice flour, pearled barley, oat meal, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols |
| Protein content: | 26.0% |
| Fat content: | 16.0% |
| Calories: | 428 kcal/cup |
Purina ONE +Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs for the money. This high-protein formula features real salmon as the first ingredient, followed by rice, oatmeal, and other quality ingredients that are nutritious and easy to digest. The food also contains natural sources of glucosamine to support joint health, an important factor for a large breed like a Dane.
Formulated for sensitive stomachs, this recipe is created with veterinary guidance in Purina-owned US-based facilities with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This food does contain chicken by-product, however, so it may not be ideal if your dog has chicken sensitivities.
- Real salmon as first ingredient
- Natural glucosamine sources
- Digestible ingredients
- Chicken by-products
3. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Large Breed Salmon and Rice Formula
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, rice, barley, oat meal, fish meal |
| Protein content: | 26.0% |
| Fat content: | 12.0% |
| Calories: | 404 kcal/cup |
This Salmon and Rice Sensitive Stomach formula from Purina Pro Plan was made with large breed dogs in mind. Like our #2 choice, it features real salmon as the first ingredient, and it also contains rice and barley as carbohydrate sources to help provide energy to your Great Dane. These ingredients are also easy to digest thanks to the natural prebiotic fiber, which promote healthy gut bacteria, and the food contains no corn, wheat, or soy, which can cause sensitivities in some dogs.
Salmon and fish meal promote heart health by providing DHA and EPA, and EPA also promotes joint health. This food is also veterinarian recommended and helps to promote a healthy coat and skin as well as healthy digestion. The downside to this food is that it is pricey.
- Real salmon as 1st ingredient
- Provides DHA and EPA for heart and joint health
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Pricey
4. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed Puppy Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, rice, barley, fish meal, canola meal, oat meal, dried yeast, pea protein, beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols |
| Protein content: | 28.0% |
| Fat content: | 13.0% |
| Calories: | 417 kcal/cup |
Purina Pro Plan Development Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Large Breed Dry Puppy Food is a good choice for Great Dane puppies. The nutritious recipe features real salmon as the first ingredient, along with rice for an easily digestible energy source. The food also contains live probiotics to support digestive and immune health.
This puppy food is formulated with veterinary guidance and manufactured in Purina-owned US-based facilities using trusted sources. There’s no wheat, soy, or artificial colors or flavors. Some owners struggled to get their puppies to eat it, however, and it is expensive for a large breed like a Great Dane.
- Real salmon is first ingredient
- Rice for easy digestion
- Probiotics for digestive health
- Some pups won’t eat it
- Expensive
5. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Canned Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken broth, turkey, carrots, pork liver, rice, chicken, rice starch, spinach, green peas |
| Protein content: | 2.8% |
| Fat content: | 1.9% |
| Calories: | 253 kcal/can |
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Tender Turkey and Rice Stew Canned Dog Food is our next choice for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs. The dog food is slow-cooked in US-based facilities and infused with an irresistible turkey flavor that dogs love. Ingredients like turkey, chicken, and rice are easy to digest and less likely to upset sensitive stomachs.
This food is intended for adult dogs and can be served on its own or in combination with dry dog food. Several reviewers noted quality control issues, and the food can get expensive on its own for a large dog and pet parents on a budget.
- Formulated with digestible ingredients
- Can be fed on its own or with dry food
- Manufactured in US facilities
- Expensive
- Quality control issues
6. Wholesomes Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal, ground rice, pearled barley, canola oil, menhaden fish meal, dried beet pulp |
| Protein content: | 22.0% |
| Fat content: | 12.0% |
| Calories: | 355 kcal/cup |
Wholesomes Sensitive Skin & Stomach with Salmon Protein Dry Dog Food is a recipe for adult dogs or puppies that uses real ingredients like salmon and ancient grains for healthy digestion. It also has omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat.
This food has no peas, lentils, or legumes, which may be tied to dilated cardiomyopathy according to the FDA report2. Great Danes may be prone to cardiomyopathy, so this can be beneficial for the breed. Reviewers had many concerns, however, including their dogs’ symptoms worsening or the number of recalls. Others said their dogs refused to eat it.
- Salmon and ancient grains
- Omega fatty acids
- No peas, lentils, or legumes
- May worsen symptoms
- Some dogs don’t like it
- Excessive recalls
7. Solid Gold Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, ocean fish meal, chickpeas, lentils, peas, chicken fat, tapioca, salmon meal, dried eggs |
| Protein content: | 26.0% |
| Fat content: | 15.0% |
| Calories: | 388 kcal/cup |
Solid Gold Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Grain-Free Cold Water Salmon & Vegetable Dry Dog Food is a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs for its single source of protein. There’s no chicken anywhere in the recipe, which is a common food allergen in dogs, and the rest of the ingredients are formulated for easy digestion. Also, this food has probiotics to support gut health.
This recipe is grain free, which may not be appropriate for all dogs. Great Danes, in particular, are prone to dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that may be linked to grain-free diets or the ingredients in them. Be sure to speak with your vet before choosing a grain-free diet for your dog.
- Single protein source
- Formulated for easy digestion
- Probiotics
- Grain-free
8. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, pea starch, peas, flaxseed |
| Protein content: | 22.0% |
| Fat content: | 12.0% |
| Calories: | 352 kcal/cup |
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is made with meat, whole grains, garden vegetables, and fruit for easy digestion and well-rounded nutrition. LifeSource Bits also add antioxidant-rich superfoods to support total-body health.
As an added bonus for Great Danes, this formula has natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to help support the needs of large breeds. Many reviewers had issues with their dogs not liking the food or picking out the pieces they liked and leaving the rest, leading to a lot of waste. Others expressed concerns about Blue Buffalo’s recalls and quality control.
- Meat and whole grains
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Picky dogs may not like it
- Concern over recalls
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Food for Great Danes With Sensitive Stomachs
Great Danes are giant breeds, and with that comes unique nutritional requirements.
Protein
Danes do well on diets with moderate protein, around 24%. Too much can cause them to gain weight or grow too quickly, which results in abnormal skeletal development.
Low Fat
Also related to obesity, Danes shouldn’t have high-fat diets. This not only adds on pounds that affect joints but may lead to digestive upset.
Digestible Carbohydrates
It’s better to choose easy-to-digest whole grains over refined carbohydrates or “filler” carbs. Danes should also have a diet low or free of legumes, which may be connected to dilated cardiomyopathy.
Probiotics
Bloat is a common issue in broad-chested dogs like Great Danes. This condition is critical or fatal in some cases. While there’s mixed evidence on how effective probiotics can be, they may be beneficial for improving digestion and regulating bowel movements to prevent gas from accumulating in the stomach.
If you have any concerns about your dog’s diet, you can speak to your vet about the best options for your dog’s specific needs and health.
Final Thoughts
Great Danes benefit from diets that maintain their weight and support their digestion. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Beef Recipe is the best overall dog food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs. If you want value, Purina ONE Natural Sensitive Stomach + Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food is our affordable pick. We round out the top three with Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Large Breed. Finally, if you’re looking for a great puppy food, Purina Pro Plan Development Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Large Breed Dry Puppy Food is our top pick.
See Also:
- 14 Dog Breeds Prone to Sensitive Stomachs
- 10 Best Dog Foods for Great Dane Puppies – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Susan Schmitz, Shutterstock
