Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice sits at roughly 26% minimum crude protein, 16% minimum fat, 4% maximum crude fibre and about 379 kcal per cup — a single-fish-first, oat-and-rice carbohydrate base with added omega-6 and vitamin E for coat. If you're looking for something with a similar nutritional shape, either because of stock gaps, ingredient preferences, or a dog who plateaued, several formulas on our shelves land in that same range. Start by comparing labels in our dry dog food collection, then use the numbers below to match protein, fat and fibre rather than matching marketing words.
One thing worth saying up front: "sensitive stomach" isn't a diagnosis. Chronic loose stool, itching or vomiting deserves a veterinary workup before you rotate bags. What follows is a shopping guide for dogs who are otherwise healthy and simply do better on a fish-forward, moderate-fibre, single-animal-protein diet. Browse our dog health and wellness selection if you also need a digestive supplement to bridge the transition.
Our top picks at a glance
These five dry formulas overlap most closely with Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach on protein content, fibre content and calorie density, and all five are carried in-store.
- Acana Singles Wild-Caught Mackerel — for dogs who need one novel animal protein and can handle a higher 29% protein content.
- Go! Solutions Sensitivities Limited Ingredient Salmon — for chicken-avoidant dogs whose owners want grain-free with added probiotics.
- Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal — for itchy dogs on an elimination trial; no chicken, no eggs, no dairy.
- Fromm Four-Star Salmon Tunalini — for dogs who tolerate rotation and need a gentler fat level with grains included.
- Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin — for the closest like-for-like swap: prebiotic fibre, moderate protein, chicken-based.
How to choose a sensitive-stomach formula
Match four numbers off the guaranteed analysis panel — protein, fat, crude fibre and kcal per cup — before you look at the front of the bag. Those four determine stool quality and body condition far more than any "sensitive" claim on the label.
1. Protein minimum: 22–29% as fed
AAFCO nutrient profiles set 18% dry-matter crude protein as the adult maintenance minimum and 22.5% for growth and reproduction; the 2026 Official Publication keeps those thresholds. Pro Plan's 26% sits comfortably above maintenance. If your dog holds weight easily, staying between 24% and 27% keeps the swap uneventful. Dogs coming off a lower-protein food sometimes pass softer stool for 3–5 days on a jump to 29%.
2. Fat: 12–16% is the comfort band
Fat drives palatability and calorie density, but it's also the macronutrient most often behind loose stool in dogs with sluggish digestion. Pro Plan's 16% minimum is moderate. Dropping to 12–14% — Zignature and Go! Solutions both sit there — is one of the simplest changes that helps.
3. Crude fibre: aim for 3–6%, and check the source
Fibre max on most sensitive formulas runs 3.5–6%. What matters is whether it's fermentable (beet pulp, chicory root, pumpkin — feeds the colonocytes and supports prebiotics) or bulking (cellulose, pea fibre). A blend generally produces the most consistent stool. Tufts' clinical nutrition team at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center has repeatedly noted that fibre type, not just percentage, changes outcomes in chronic large-bowel cases.
4. Calorie density: 350–420 kcal per cup
A 25 kg (55 lb) moderately active adult dog needs roughly 1,100–1,300 kcal daily. At 379 kcal per cup that's about 3 cups; at 415 kcal per cup it's closer to 2.75. Feeding volume changes cost per day, so always convert before comparing bags.
5. Omega-3 for skin, and a real EPA/DHA number
Skin support claims should be backed by a guaranteed omega-3 fatty acid minimum — look for at least 0.3% total omega-3, with omega-6 typically 2.5–3.5%. Fish-based kibbles usually deliver this natively rather than through added oil.
Acana Singles Wild-Caught Mackerel
Acana Singles is a single-animal-protein, limited ingredient line made in Alberta, running approximately 29% crude protein, 15% fat and 6% crude fibre at roughly 3,650 kcal per kilogram. It's the highest-protein option on this list.
What stands out is the ingredient count: one fish protein, one legume-and-lentil carbohydrate base, no chicken, no beef, no eggs. For dogs whose skin flares on poultry, that matters more than the fibre number. The 6% fibre maximum also gives it the most bulking capacity here, which suits dogs who pass small, frequent stools. Buy it if your dog is active, holds condition well, and you want a Canadian-made single-protein diet — you can shop it alongside other Canadian-made pet products. Skip it if your dog is sedentary and gaining, or if legumes have caused gas in the past.
Go! Solutions Sensitivities Limited Ingredient Salmon
Go! Solutions Sensitivities LID Salmon runs about 24% protein, 14% fat and 4% crude fibre at roughly 390 kcal per cup, built on a single animal protein with added probiotics and no chicken, beef, dairy or eggs.
This is the pick we hand over most often when a customer says their dog itches on chicken but also can't handle a high-fat food. The 14% fat is two points below Pro Plan, and the probiotic inclusion helps during the switch. It's grain-free, which some owners want and others specifically don't — the American Veterinary Medical Association still advises discussing grain-free diets with your veterinarian if your dog has any cardiac history, following the FDA's investigation into diet-associated DCM. Buy it for chicken-sensitive dogs of any size; you'll find it in our dry dog food lineup.
Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal
Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal sits near 25% protein, 12% fat and 4% fibre, around 369 kcal per cup, and excludes chicken, chicken fat, eggs, dairy, corn, wheat, soy and potato.
The 12% fat is the lowest here, which makes it the gentlest landing spot for a dog whose stool loosens on richer food. Two fish sources instead of one slightly widens the protein exposure, so it's a better fit for a general low-fat plan than a strict single-protein elimination trial. Our nutrition team suggests it most for adult dogs 10–30 kg who've cycled through three or more foods without settling.
Fromm Four-Star Salmon Tunalini
Fromm's Salmon Tunalini runs roughly 25% protein, 15% fat and 4.5% fibre near 390 kcal per cup, and it's designed for rotation within the Four-Star line without a re-transition.
It includes grains — brown rice and barley — which is often the right call. Grain-inclusive fish formulas give you the same fish-first profile as Pro Plan's salmon and rice recipe without the legume load. In our store we see customers succeed with rotation specifically: two or three Four-Star bags cycled every few months, which keeps a dog from becoming rigidly single-food dependent. If you're comparing brands broadly, our guide to top pet brands in Canada is a useful companion read.
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin
This is the closest structural match to Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach: approximately 21% protein, 15% fat and 2.5% crude fibre at about 366 kcal per cup, with prebiotic fibre and a guaranteed vitamin E and omega-6 level for coat.
It's chicken-based, so it's not the answer for a poultry-sensitive dog. But if your dog's issue was fat handling or general digestive fussiness rather than a protein sensitivity, the lower 21% protein and low 2.5% fibre make it the most conservative swap available. It also follows a strict life-stage formulation and full AAFCO feeding-trial substantiation, which some owners prefer.
Head-to-head: Acana Singles vs Go! Solutions Sensitivities
These two are the most frequently cross-shopped alternatives on the list, and the deciding factor is usually protein tolerance versus fat tolerance.
| Feature | Acana Singles Mackerel | Go! Solutions Sensitivities Salmon |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Active dogs needing one novel protein | Chicken-sensitive dogs needing lower fat |
| Protein source | Wild-caught mackerel (single animal protein) | Salmon (single animal protein) |
| Crude protein / fat | ~29% / ~15% | ~24% / ~14% |
| Crude fibre (max) | ~6% | ~4% |
| Added probiotics | No | Yes |
| Grain-free | Yes | Yes |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Available at Ashario | Shop Acana dry food | Shop Go! Solutions dry food |
The buying mistake we see most: switching too fast, then blaming the food
The single most common error is a 2–3 day transition. A sensitive dog's gut microbiome needs 7–10 days to adapt, and rushing it produces exactly the loose stool the owner was trying to fix — which then gets pinned on the new bag.
Use a 10-day ramp: days 1–3 at 25% new food, days 4–6 at 50%, days 7–9 at 75%, day 10 onward at 100%. Weigh portions in grams rather than scooping; a "cup" of kibble varies by 15–20% depending on piece size. Pet owners tell us the grams-based approach alone resolves most transition trouble. Two more habits that help: pause all new treats and chews during the switch, and keep a simple stool log (1–7 scale) so you have real data if you do end up at the vet.
On cost, we don't publish prices here because they move, but the math is simple: divide the bag price by the bag weight in grams, then multiply by your dog's daily grams. A 25 kg dog eating 310 g/day of a 11.4 kg bag gets about 37 days per bag. Our price match guarantee covers most comparable Canadian retailers, so run the per-day figure and bring it in.
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At a glance: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice sits at 26% protein, 16% fat, 4% fibre and ~379 kcal per cup, so the closest alternatives are fish-first formulas in the 24–29% protein and 12–16% fat range. Acana Singles and Go! Solutions Sensitivities suit chicken-sensitive dogs, Zignature is the lowest-fat option at 12%, and Hill's Sensitive Stomach & Skin is the most conservative like-for-like swap. Transition over 10 days and measure in grams, not cups.
Shop the Brands Mentioned in This Article
Find Acana, Go! Solutions, and other premium pet supplies in-store or Browse dry dog food online →.
Common questions about sensitive-stomach dog food in Canada
Is Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach grain-free?
No. The Salmon & Rice formula is grain-inclusive, built on rice and oatmeal. If you specifically want a grain-inclusive alternative, Fromm Four-Star Salmon Tunalini and Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin both include grains. Acana Singles, Go! Solutions Sensitivities and Zignature are grain-free and use legumes instead.
How do I switch my dog off Pro Plan without loose stool?
Transition over 10 days in four steps — 25%, 50%, 75%, then 100% new food, roughly three days per stage. Weigh both foods in grams so total daily calories stay flat. Hold off on new treats and chews during that window, and if diarrhea lasts more than 48 hours at any stage, stop and call your veterinarian.
Do I need salmon specifically, or will any fish work for sensitive skin?
Any cold-water fish protein delivers comparable EPA and DHA omega-3, so mackerel, trout, whitefish and herring are functionally interchangeable with salmon for coat support. What matters is that the fish is the sole or primary animal protein. The American Kennel Club notes that true food allergies in dogs most often involve beef, dairy, chicken and wheat — not fish.
How do I work out cost per day between two bags?
Divide the bag price by its weight in grams to get cost per gram, then multiply by your dog's daily gram portion. Because calorie density varies from roughly 350 to 420 kcal per cup, a denser food means fewer grams fed — so the cheaper bag isn't always the cheaper day. Our team will run the comparison with you in-store.
For more feeding-math walkthroughs and ingredient breakdowns, our dog blog and our food-for-specific-needs guide cover senior, weight-management and puppy formulas in the same detail. Winter in Toronto also changes calorie needs — dogs walking less between January and March often need 5–10% fewer calories, and that's worth adjusting before you assume the food stopped working.
