This is our review of the best alternatives to Purina EN Gastroenteric Dog Food in 2024.
Does your best friend have problems with digestion and a sensitive tummy? If so, many foods can help improve their digestive health.
And better yet, they can help avoid stool dysregulation. One of the most popular vet-prescribed foods for gut health is Purina EN Gastroenteric dry dog food.
It’s lower in fat and protein for dogs with pancreas, digestive tract, and immune issues. And it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids to fight inflammation and support healthy gut bacteria.
But it’s not the only option — especially if you’re looking for a budget formula or don’t need food with vet authorization. Here are our top five Purina EN alternatives.
Best Purina EN Alternatives
- Best for Digestive Care – Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Ultamino Dry Dog Food
- Best for Picky Eaters – Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Wet Dog Food
- Best Limited Ingredient Diet – Forza10 Nutraceutic Active Line Intestinal Support Diet Dry Dog Food
- Best Budget Alternative – Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food
- Best Non-Prescription Digestive Support – Optimeal Skin & Digestive Support Dry Dog Food
5 Purina EN Gastroenteric Alternatives Reviewed
In our opinion, the following formulas are the best alternatives to Purina EN Gastroenteric dog food. They all meet AAFCO’s nutrient requirements for dogs but consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
1. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Ultamino Dry Dog Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Ultamino dry dog food is the best vet-prescribed alternative to Purina’s EN formula. Both contain healthy fats and minerals that aid in easier digestion.
Both Royal Canin and Purina offer coconut oil as their central healthy fat. This is one of the best oils for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
It contains medium-chain triglycerides, which help with food digestion. These allow the body to take in fat-soluble components like vitamins and magnesium. And it eliminates candida, which fights poor digestion and stomach inflammation.
Unlike Purina, Royal Canin also adds fibers like dried chicory root and corn starch to aid gut health. These provide prebiotics to fight inflammation and offer fiber to keep stool regular.
It’s also important to note the most significant difference between these foods — the protein. Royal Canin contains hydrolyzed poultry by-products for dogs with protein allergies.
Purina includes chicken meal. Which food you choose will depend on if your dog needs real animal proteins or if they need a hydrolyzed option.
Luckily, both recipes contain the same chelated vitamins and minerals to support your dog’s nutritional needs. And they provide taurine and glucosamine for pups who need heart and joint support.
Many dog owners love Royal Canin’s Ultamino dry dog food and say it’s perfect for canines that need hydrolyzed protein options. But some note that it stinks and smells heavily of salt — similar to soy sauce. Because of this, they say it makes their dog’s breath stink.
2. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Wet Dog Food
Have a fussy pooch on your hands? If your dog prefers wet dog food, give Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care canned food a try.
This loaf-like food comes with flavor for even the most finicky pup and still contains plenty of aid for digestion. And, it can be mixed with dry food as an affordable option.
Like Purina, Hill’s offers a grain-inclusive formula with whole-grain corn and rice. These provide vitamins, minerals, and gentle fiber for prebiotics — aiding in easier digestion.
And they also contain natural probiotics. These can improve problems like diarrhea and introduce healthy gut bacteria.
Because it’s wet food, your dog will also get more water in their diet. This is helpful for older dogs who may not eat or drink much. And it’s also great for active dogs that need extra water intake. Using this as a topper on your dog’s kibble will provide more nutrients, water, and flavor.
Both recipes contain fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids and DHA. These aid in coat health and shine and boost cognitive function. For pups with sensitive tummies, it also fights inflammation in the gut and provides extra probiotics.
The main difference between Hill’s and Purina is the protein content. Hill’s provides 20% Crude Protein when measured on a dry matter basis.
So if your dog needs food that offers lower protein, like if they have kidney problems, Hill’s may be the better option.
Pup parents hate that the food comes in a “loaf” and say it’s messy and chunky. But they admit that their dogs gobble it up.
3. Forza10 Nutraceutic Active Line Intestinal Support Diet Dry Dog Food
One of the many reasons dogs have sensitive tummies is potential allergies or intolerances to ingredients. If this is the case for your pup, choosing a limited ingredient formula may be best.
Our favorite is Forza10 Nutraceutic Active Line Intestinal Support Diet dry dog food.
Before explaining why this is a great alternative, let’s talk about the biggest pros of this food. First, it doesn’t need vet authorization. Second, it still supports digestive health and is lower in protein and fat for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Like Purina, Forza contains healthy fats like fish oil and vegetable oil. These include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids — two important essential acids for digestive tract health. Both aid in cognitive health, heart health, and coat shine. Plus, they reduce inflammation in the joints and gut.
Unlike Purina, Forza10 doesn’t contain corn, wheat, or soy. Instead, it provides ground rice and beet pulp for fiber and prebiotics. These gentle carbohydrates are perfect for dogs with super sensitive tummies.
For pups who can’t handle chicken, Forza10 provides anchovy meal and hydrolyzed fish protein. These low-fat proteins also contain vitamin D and B12 for energy and bone support. This is perfect if your dog does well on Purina but needs a better protein option.
Dog owners note that this food is excellent for inflammatory bowel disease and dogs who have food allergies. Some don’t like the ingredients, including the corn gluten, because their pup is sensitive. If that’s the case for yours, I suggest skipping this food.
4. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food
Are you tired of paying an arm and a leg for your dog’s vet-prescribed food? These formulas can get expensive — but there are other options.
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Support is an excellent alternative to Purina. And, it’s perfect for dog owners on a budget.
Blue Buffalo starts with easy-to-digest proteins like deboned chicken and chicken meal, like Purina EN. These contain taurine and chondroitin, which aid in muscle growth and heart health. But, it is higher in protein and fat, so it may not be the best for dogs who need lower percentages for digestive support.
Unlike Purina, this recipe contains oatmeal, brown rice, and peas for carbohydrates. These provide healthy microflora for gastrointestinal health. So if your dog needs to avoid wheat or corn (like in Purina’s formula), this food is a great switch.
Although Blue Buffalo also adds flaxseeds for extra omega fatty acids, both foods contain fish oil. Since omega-3 fatty acids aid in gut health, these are essential in dog foods that support the digestive tract. So no matter which food you choose, you can bet it will be an excellent option for your sensitive pup.
Pet parents say this food is also a better alternative to cooking your dog’s food at home. They love that it contains simple ingredients and chelated vitamins. However, the kibble is larger. So it won’t work well for tiny breed dogs.
5. Optimeal Skin & Digestive Support Dry Dog Food
If your pet doesn’t need a vet’s authorization for their dog food or has a sensitive tummy, try Optimeal Skin & Digestive Support dry dog food. This recipe contains limited ingredients, high-digestible protein, and prebiotics for sensitive stomachs.
It starts with fresh salmon as the first ingredient — the perfect alternative for dogs who can’t eat chicken or beef. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and zinc for metabolic and gut support. It also has glucosamine for healthy joints.
Unlike Purina, this food states that it works best for medium, large, and extra-large dog breeds due to the kibble size. While Purina offers smaller bites, Optimeal’s bits are larger. So if you have a small dog, try one of the other options on this list.
Similar to Purina, this food does contain prebiotic fiber, although from different ingredients. Instead of whole-grain corn and wheat bran, it has brown rice, oats, and dried chicory root. These promote gentle digestion and keep diarrhea and constipation at bay.
Last but not least, Optimeal contains more antioxidants than Purina, which are essential for immune system health. Beet pulp, cranberries, and dried blueberries may help with immunity, supporting your dog’s gut health. How? A regulated immune system helps introduce healthy flora into the gut microbiome.
While this food may not be the best choice for dogs with extremely sensitive stomachs, it’s perfect for pups who need certain ingredients.
How To Transition To A New Dog Food
When switching your pup to any new food, you’ll need to transition them over 5 to 7 days.
To do this, add a small amount of new kibble to their current food. Each time you feed your dog a new meal, you’ll increase the amount of new food until your dog is eating the new formula only.
Dogs with sensitive tummies may have adverse reactions if you switch the food too fast. So this process may take up to two weeks. Before making the switch, consult with your vet.
Our Verdict
Even if your dog has a sensitive stomach, they can still enjoy their food and live a healthy (and gas/diarrhea free!) life. While Purina EN Gastroenteric dry dog food is a great choice, it’s not the only option.
Depending on your dog’s needs, there is a substitute on this list for you. Whether they need a specific protein or extra immune system support, there are plenty of options on our list. And each formula is perfect for sensitive stomachs, so you can’t go wrong with any solution.