We love our four-legged family members as unconditionally as they love us. We want them to be happy, healthy and feeling like top dog. So, when they develop an illness, we can’t help but worry and want to get them the best treatment. Fast.

Stomach and gut problems like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are common complaints. They affect what foods your furry friend can digest, so it's important to figure out what to feed them to keep them nourished while managing their condition.

Unfortunately, Butternut Box meals aren’t recommended for pups with IBD, but we can help those who live with IBS. Have a read and find out why Butternut Box meals are perfect for your pooch.
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IBS is a chronic illness that causes inflammation in the lining of the bowels. It can be uncomfortable for your pooch and can result in grumbly stomachs and diarrhoea. Just like humans who live with the condition, there are lots of reasons why a dog might develop IBS. It could be stress-related, be a reaction to food or caused by intolerances. If your pooch suffers regular upsets, show signs of discomfort or appears withdrawn, book an appointment to confirm the diagnosis with your vet. The good news is, IBS can be managed. A good starting point is a healthy complete food with plenty of fibre.

Butternut Box meals are full of freshly-prepared vegetables that can support beneficial gut bacteria. And they’re packed with high-fibre carbohydrates to encourage healthy stools and dial-down on the wind.
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If your pooch does have IBS, your vet can prescribe medication. This will manage the symptoms when taken in partnership with a high-fibre food. To further stay on top of the problem, it could be worth making sure furry friend steers clear of too much fat, too.

All our healthy recipes are protein-rich using human-quality ingredients, vitamins, and minerals. Our chicken, turkey, game and veggie options are all lower in fat. That means these meals tally up at less than 6% fat and they're gently cooked to kill off bacteria and make them highly digestible.

To give you peace of mind that you're doing the very best for your dog, our recipes have been given the seal of approval by our nutritionist and vet team. In fact, that team is so proud of the recipes they've tasted them personally, proving nothing nasty goes in there, only good, tummy-loving stuff. While nutrition is clearly important, tastiness is too. If your dog's feeling under the weather, they might not feel like eating. But open a Butternut pouch and let them take a good sniff – that'll get the juices going.

The thought of transitioning onto a new food when your dog has IBS can feel quite daunting. The good news is, here at Butternut, our meals are packed with freshly prepared vegetables and high fibre carbohydrates to help our furry friends have a happy gut.

As most dogs who have IBS have a bit more of a sensitive stomach than normal, it's important to take transitioning nice and slow, over a period of 10-14 days. To do this you can start with one spoonful of Butternut mixed in with your dog’s current food. If this goes down well, the next day you can add 2 spoonfuls. Continue gradually increasing the Butternut whilst reducing their old food until your dog is eating a full bowl of Butternut after 10-14 days.

It is always a good idea to feed pups with IBS a low-fat diet, such as our chicken, turkey, and veggie recipes. At first, it is best to choose just one of these meals to transition your dog onto so as not to overload their digestive system. It's also beneficial to feed your dog 3-4 smaller meals throughout the day to take the strain off their gut.

Your vet may recommend some medication and a high fibre diet for your furry friend to reduce symptoms and help keep your dog on top form. Our meals contain a good amount of fibre from the veg, lentils and ground flaxseed in each recipe. If your vet has suggested adding in extra fibre to help with your dog's symptoms, then a sprinkle of chia seeds, flaxseed or a fibre supplement usually does the trick (keep plenty of fresh water on offer).

Please note these are feeding guidelines only. We understand you know your pooch best so it's totally understood that you may need to make some changes to suit them.