7 Best Dog Food For Shih Tzu With Sensitive Stomach | Gas Be Gone

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A limited-ingredient wet food that older Shih Tzus devour without issues.

For a senior Shih Tzu with few teeth left or a dog that simply prefers wet food, this case of twelve 3.5 oz tubs is a smart buy. The recipe uses real turkey and whole ingredients like green beans, peas, and carrots — no corn, no wheat, no soy. It is formulated for all life stages but is especially useful for small-breed dogs that need portion control and gentle digestion.

The morsels-in-sauce texture makes it easy for a small mouth to manage, and the inclusion of probiotics supports digestive health. What wins people over is the taste — an owner of a 12-year-old Shih Tzu reports that their dog loves every flavor and has had zero stomach issues from it. The honest catch is packaging inconsistency: reviewers occasionally receive 3-4 puffy or spoiled tubs per 12-pack, an Amazon fulfillment issue rather than a food-quality one. Still, the brand focuses on regeneratively farmed ingredients and premium proteins, and the overall value is strong given the clean ingredient list.

This is a more economical entry point than the Natural Balance cups listed next, and it offers a different protein source (turkey) compared to the salmon-heavy premium options. If your Shih Tzu has a chicken sensitivity, this turkey-and-green-beans recipe sidesteps that trigger entirely. It works well as a standalone meal or as a topper for picky eaters.

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The salmon-and-sweet potato cup that calms allergies and sensitive skin.

This twelve-pack of 3.5 oz cups is built around a single animal protein source — real salmon — paired with sweet potato for easily digestible fiber and antioxidants. It is grain-free, corn-free, soy-free, and wheat-free, making it a strong candidate for a Shih Tzu whose sensitive stomach comes packaged with itchy skin or a dull coat. Owners note visible improvements in coat and skin condition, with one reviewer calling it excellent for dogs with severe food allergies, and it is recommended by vets for that purpose.

The texture is a soft loaf style, which works well for senior dogs or those with dental issues. Pet preference here is high for most, but the one recurring complaint is worth noting: a few owners found the salmon content sparse, describing it as “mostly pumpkin filling” with only two tiny pieces of salmon per cup. This means while the formula is advertised as salmon, the actual meat amount per cup can be inconsistent, and the loaf hardens to a clay-like consistency when mixed with kibble. Still, for a Shih Tzu that responds well to salmon as a novel protein, the limited ingredient list minimizes triggers and the omega fatty acids from the salmon help with skin health.

Versus the Canidae Pure Petite, this cup is a higher price per serving but offers a different protein source (salmon vs turkey) and a different texture (loaf vs morsels). If your dog is allergic to chicken and turkey, this becomes the better option despite the meat-to-filler ratio complaints.

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The tiny-kibble salmon formula that fixes severe allergies without medication.

For a Shih Tzu that itches, scratches, or has stomach upset every time it eats chicken, this grain-free salmon recipe is a specialized solution. The #1 ingredient is real salmon — a novel protein source that many dogs with chicken allergies handle perfectly — and the kibble is deliberately sized small for toy and small breeds like Shih Tzus, Frenchies, and Yorkies. It is also chicken-free, grain-free, and gluten-free, covering the three most common trigger categories in one bag.

What sets this apart is the feedback from owners whose dogs had severe allergies requiring daily medication before this food. A pit bull mix with extreme reactions to chicken, grains, and chickpeas was able to stop allergy medication entirely after switching. Another owner reports that their dachshund’s sensitive stomach finally settled. It includes prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root to support healthy gut bacteria, and the formula works for all life stages — puppies, adults, and seniors. The trade-off is price: it is a premium product and the 6 lb bag is noticeably smaller than the 16.5 lb Purina One bag, so refills come more often. The bag weight is 6 lb versus the Nulo Frontrunner’s 14 lb, so the per-pound cost feels steeper.

Health benefits and quality are the two most-discussed aspects here, with both categories earning unanimous positive feedback. If your Shih Tzu has multiple sensitivities, this tightly crafted formula is worth the premium.

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A high-protein ancient-grains recipe that even the pickiest Shih Tzu finishes.

This 14 lb bag delivers 77% of its protein from animal sources (deboned turkey and whitefish), making it one of the highest-protein options on this list without resorting to legumes, pea protein, or tapioca. It uses ancient grains like quinoa, barley, oats, and brown rice for digestible carbs, plus BC30 probiotics — a more stable probiotic strain that survives the kibble manufacturing process. Pet preference is the top positive aspect here by a wide margin, and customers note that even notoriously picky eaters (including a dachshund that hates everything) gobble this down.

The small kibble size is explicitly designed for toy and small breeds like Shih Tzus, so it is easy to chew and gentler on digestion. It also includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat health, plus taurine for heart and brain function. What owners appreciate most is that the food works for puppies, adults, and seniors without causing stomach upsets. The formula is free of corn, soy, and artificial preservatives. A poodle mix owner noted that no slow introduction was needed — the dog transitioned immediately without loose stools.

The 14 lb bag is the largest premium option in this list, giving you more food for the price compared to the Go! Solutions 6 lb bag. It does include grains (ancient grains, not fillers), so if your vet recommends a strictly grain-free diet, this would not fit. But for most Shih Tzus, digestible grains like oats and quinoa actually help settle the stomach.

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The tri-biotic formula that stops vomiting and gas in small sensitive breeds.

This 12 lb bag of small crunchy kibble is the most advanced digestive-focused option from Purina’s Pro Plan line, delivering a three-pronged approach: prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics — the 3-in-1 digestive support that targets upset stomachs at every level. It is specifically formulated for small breeds, with salmon as the first ingredient and no corn, wheat, or soy. Owners of miniature schnauzers and other sensitive-stomach breeds report that it stopped their dog’s random tummy upsets and vomiting, while another owner noted it resolved gas and bloating in their dogs.

The formula is built on decades of veterinary-facing research, and it is one of the few small-breed dry foods that explicitly lists postbiotics (metabolites from beneficial bacteria) alongside standard probiotics. This matters because postbiotics can have effects even if the probiotic bacteria doesn’t survive the dog’s stomach acid. A picky-dog owner with three rescue dogs reported that all three prefer this over the standard Purina Pro Plan sensitive stomach salmon & rice formula. The only downsides are that it is less economical per pound compared to the Purina One option above, and the 12 lb bag is smaller than the Nulo’s 14 lb bag. But for a dog with persistent digestive drama, the science behind this bag justifies the premium.

Versus the Purina One Digestive Health (which uses chicken and costs less), this uses salmon as the protein source, so it is a great alternative for Shih Tzus that do not tolerate chicken. It also uses tiny, small-breed kibble compared to the standard kibble of the Purina One.