Anyone with a pet that has dietary sensitivities often searches for‘sensitive dog food’or‘sensitive cat food’, hoping to find easily digestible food for their furry friends. However, not all ‘sensitive’ food is the same, because: the term ‘sensitive’ in dog or cat food is not a legally protected term, unlike ‘organic’. This means, therefore, that there are no guidelines specifying exactly what constitutes ‘sensitive’ food.
Generally speaking, ‘sensitive’ is associated with the idea that the food should be particularly gentle on the stomach and easier to digest than regular food. At the same time, it is often regarded as healthier. However, not all ‘sensitive’ food is the same! So, before you feed your pet ‘sensitive’ food, you should know why you want to feed it and what the best approach is.
How does ‘sensitive’ pet food differ from regular pet food?
Generally speaking, sensitive food is aimed at pets with intolerances, digestive problems or sensitive stomachs. Due to the lack of standards, there are no precise guidelines on what sensitive food should or shouldn’t contain, but you can generally expect the following from sensitive food:
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Single-protein: Sensitive pet food should use only one type of protein as its protein source, so that you can be sure you’re feeding your four-legged friend only the proteins they can tolerate. In standard pet food, particularly in the lower price range, the food may contain a mixture of different protein sources, making it impossible to avoid certain proteins.
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Easily digestible formulation: Sensitive-formula food usually consists of ingredients that are easier to digest. This often includes a lean protein source – i.e. one with a low fat content – as fat can often exacerbate existing health issues.
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No added sugar: Good pet food should not contain any added sugar anyway, as dogs and cats do not digest sugar as well as humans do. In addition, added sugar can make pets more prone to tooth decay and tartar build-up. Sensitive food, in particular, must not contain any added sugar, as it impairs digestion and is unsuitable for animals with diabetes.
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No added attractants or flavour enhancers: These additives are also often found in the lower-priced range and are intended to encourage animals to eat the food. This can be useful if your pet has a poor appetite and needs encouraging to eat. However, substances may be used that your pet cannot tolerate; sugar in the form of molasses or caramel is also frequently used as an attractant. A sensitive diet completely avoids these additives.
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Gluten-free: Gluten is not harmful to dogs and cats in itself. Whilst it is not part of their natural diet, many pets can safely consume gluten. After all, gluten is simply a protein found in cereals such as wheat. However, not every dog and cat is the same, and it is precisely this protein that may, in some cases, cause intolerance. Furthermore, wheat is often used as a filler to ‘stretch’ cheap pet food. Sensitive pet food should therefore be gluten-free to minimise the risk of digestive problems as much as possible.
Before buying, however, be sure to check whether these claims are actually true. You should also check what type of protein the food contains and whether your pet can tolerate that source of protein.
Sensitive-formula food at Liebesgut
The Sensitive range at Liebesgut naturally meets all the requirements that a good sensitive food should fulfil. All the sensitive dog food and sensitive cat food in our range are guaranteed to be:
- Single-protein
- Gluten-free
- Free from attractants and artificial flavour enhancers
- Free from colourings and preservatives
- Free from antibiotics
- No added sugar
- Lactose-free
- Non-GMO
All ingredients are always listed in full on the packaging – we don’t hide anything, and you can be sure you’re getting exactly what’s best for your four-legged friend. The proteins listed are, of course, always single-source proteins to prevent reactions caused by mixed meat sources.
Our Sensitive dog food
Our Sensitive range of dog food is – as the name suggests – designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We’ve chosen proteins that even sensitive dogs can tolerate. Whilst dogs are less likely to have general intolerances, you’ll also find proteins here that dogs with sensitivities are less likely to react to and which are lower in fat. One example is our Sensitive dog food in the‘Goat with Sweet Potato and Courgette’variety: goat is less commonly used in dog food and therefore offers an alternative to traditional meats such as chicken or beef. At the same time, goat is extremely low in fat. Whilst fat is an important part of a dog’s diet, fatty meat can severely impair digestion. By choosing goat, you’re being gentle on your four-legged friend’s stomach.
The same applies to sweet potatoes and courgettes: whilst both ingredients provide plenty of fibre and other valuable vitamins, they are still easy to digest.
Our Sensitive cat food
Our Sensitive range for cats is formulated in a similar way to our Sensitive dog food, using types of meat that are less likely to cause allergic reactions or intolerances. However, cats naturally have different needs to dogs, and our Sensitive cat food takes this into account.
As with our classic cat food, essential taurine has been added. Furthermore, the meat content is significantly higher than in our dog food. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they derive most of their nutrients from meat. In the ‘wild’, they would tend to consume plant-based food only ‘as a side dish’. All varieties of the Sensitive cat food consist of over 90 per cent meat, with supplementary plant-based ingredients designed to stimulate digestion sufficiently without irritating sensitive stomachs.
Is sensitive dog food better than regular dog food?
Whilst there’s definitely no harm in feeding your four-legged friends nothing but sensitive-formula food, you don’t automatically have to opt for it. Let’s be honest: with regular food, you’ll usually find a wider selection and can offer your pet more variety. In certain cases, it may even make more sense to feed your pet normal food! If you have an extremely active dog, such as a working herding dog, the generally fattier meat in normal food may be the better choice, as it has a higher energy density – meaning more calories for the same amount of food. Depending on the brand, sensitive-formula food can also be more expensive due to the specialised proteins it contains. So, if your dog or cat doesn’t need sensitive-formula food, or if you’re not currently following an elimination diet, you can choose standard food with a clear conscience.
But very importantly: consult your vet. They know your pet and can recommend which food is best suited based on tolerance and activity levels.
