Poultry-free dog food for sensitive Schnauzer

Managing a poultry sensitivity in one dog when the rest of the household runs on chicken-based food is genuinely tricky — cross-contamination from shared bowls, surfaces, or even scavenging can keep symptoms going even if you've already switched your Schnauzer mix off chicken. Sensitive stomach issues generally fall into a few buckets: food intolerance, a reaction to a specific protein like poultry, or a gut that simply does better on a limited, easy-to-digest diet — and from what you've described, protein sensitivity sounds like the main thread here. To make sure I point you in the right direction: how old is your Schnauzer mix, what symptoms are you seeing (loose stools, vomiting, gas, or something else), and what have you already tried feeding them?

That's really useful, thank you. Loose stools and gut noise without vomiting is a classic sign of a protein intolerance rather than anything more acute, and the fact that removing poultry improved things confirms you're on the right track. Salmon is a sensible swap but palatability is a real issue with some fish-based foods — Schnauzers in particular can be fussy. The bigger challenge here is the environment: with four other dogs on chicken kibble, even careful feeding won't fully eliminate exposure. That means you want a food that's not only poultry-free but genuinely easy on the gut, so any trace exposure doesn't tip him straight into a flare. Given his age — 8 is senior territory for many mixed breeds — you also want something that supports digestive health long-term rather than just avoiding the trigger. Can I ask: are you open to wet food, or do you need dry? And is he otherwise healthy weight?

Wet food is actually the better call here. It's easier to digest, you can see exactly what's in it, and it tends to suit older dogs with any gut sensitivity well. My recommendation is Forthglade Complete Meal Lamb with Brown Rice and Vegetables — the adult or senior tray format. It's a single novel protein (lamb), genuinely poultry-free throughout the recipe, uses brown rice as a gentle carbohydrate, and the ingredient list is short and clean. Forthglade is made in the UK, the trays are easy to portion, and lamb tends to be well-tolerated by dogs who've reacted to chicken or turkey. Crucially, it's palatable — dogs that turned their nose up at salmon-based food usually take to lamb without issue. You feed it in his own bowl away from the others, wipe surfaces down, and you've done as much as you reasonably can in a multi-dog chicken household. It's available in bulk boxes on Amazon UK which makes it practical to keep stocked.

Forthglade Complete is formulated as a standalone diet — no supplements needed. The 'Complete' label means it meets FEDIAF nutritional standards, so it covers protein, fats, vitamins and minerals without you adding anything. The only thing worth watching at 8 years old is joint support; if your vet flags anything there down the line, a separate omega-3 supplement is easy to add, but that's separate from the digestion question. For now, fed as directed by weight, it's everything he needs.

Good plan. Give it two to three weeks for his gut to settle fully into the new food — the first week can look bumpy as the microbiome adjusts, so don't be put off if stools aren't perfect immediately. If things are still loose after three weeks on Forthglade Lamb with no obvious poultry exposure, it's worth a vet check to rule out anything else going on at his age. But based on what you've described, I'd expect a solid improvement. Good luck with him.