National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day: What Better Bowls Teach Us About Pet Gut Health

Written by Kelly Gredner, RVT, VTS (Nutrition)

National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day is a reminder that digestion is not just about what happens after mealtime. A pet’s gut plays a central role in how they tolerate food, absorb nutrients, pass stool, and feel day to day. The goal is not to chase trends or overcomplicate the bowl. The goal is to support your dog or cat with consistent, complete, balanced meals that work for their body.

At Tom&Sawyer , we believe pet gut health starts with clear ingredients, thoughtful portions, moisture-rich meals, and feeding routines that make digestion easier to manage. Your pet’s stool, appetite, energy, and comfort can all give you clues about how well their current diet is working.

Pet gut health refers to how well your dog or cat’s digestive system functions, including the stomach, intestines, stool quality, appetite, and the community of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract. Research describes the gut microbiota of dogs and cats as a large community of microorganisms that plays a role in health and disease. ¹

That sounds technical, but the day-to-day signs are easier to understand. A pet with good digestive tolerance usually eats consistently, passes normal stools, maintains a healthy weight, and does not frequently struggle with vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or gas.

Gut health is not about one “perfect” ingredient. It is about the full picture: the food, the feeding schedule, the pet’s health history, and how their body responds.

Dog gut health matters because digestion affects how comfortably your dog eats, processes food, and maintains a predictable routine. When the digestive system is disrupted, you may notice loose stool, vomiting, gas, appetite changes, or discomfort.

Dogs can have digestive changes for many reasons. A sudden diet switch, table scraps, stress, parasites, food intolerance, infection, or an underlying medical condition can all play a role. That is why repeated digestive issues should not be treated as “normal.” They deserve attention.

For many dogs, the first step is simple: keep meals consistent, avoid unnecessary extras, and choose food that is complete and balanced. Merck notes that good-quality complete and balanced diets are generally adequate for many dogs and cats, while limited or poorly balanced diets can create problems over time. ²

Cat gut health matters because cats can be sensitive to changes in appetite, texture, routine, and food tolerance. A cat who is not eating well, vomiting often, losing weight, or passing abnormal stool should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Cats are also different from dogs in how they approach food. Some cats strongly prefer certain textures or aromas. Others may become suspicious of a food after a stressful event or illness. That means cat gut health is not only about ingredients. It is also about making meals appealing enough that your cat eats consistently.

For cats, moisture-rich food can also be helpful from a feeding-experience perspective. It does not replace fresh water, but it can make the bowl more appealing for cats who prefer softer textures.

Common signs of digestive imbalance in dogs and cats include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas, appetite changes, weight loss, and changes in stool quality. Occasional mild changes can happen, but repeated or severe symptoms should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Watch for:

Loose stool or diarrhea

Constipation or straining

Vomiting or regurgitation

Excess gas

Bad stool odor

Sudden appetite changes

Weight loss

Scooting or discomfort

Refusing food

Eating grass or non-food items

These signs do not always mean the food is the problem. They can point to many different issues. But they do tell you that your pet’s digestive system needs a closer look.

Food affects gut health because diet helps shape what enters the digestive tract every day. Research on dogs and cats shows that nutrition can influence the gastrointestinal microbiome, and diet changes may affect microbial communities and digestive outcomes. ³

That does not mean you need to constantly change foods. In fact, frequent switching can make it harder to know what is working. A better approach is to choose a complete and balanced food, introduce changes gradually, and watch how your pet responds.

At Tom&Sawyer, we focus on gently cooked meals with recognizable ingredients because clarity matters. When you know what is in the bowl, it becomes easier to connect the dots between food, appetite, stool, and comfort.

Ingredients that support pet digestive health are usually simple, digestible, and appropriate for your pet’s individual needs. For some pets, that might mean a familiar protein and gentle carbohydrate source. For others, it may mean a novel protein, lower fat, or a veterinarian-recommended diet.

Fiber can also be useful in some situations. Merck notes that although dogs and cats do not have a strict dietary requirement for fiber, certain fiber sources can provide health benefits. ² Fiber may help support stool quality depending on the pet, the type of fiber, and the digestive issue being managed.

The key is not to assume every “gut health” ingredient is right for every pet. Pumpkin, probiotics, prebiotics, fiber blends, and supplements can all be overused. If your pet has ongoing symptoms, get veterinary guidance before adding more to the bowl.

Probiotics and prebiotics may be useful for some dogs and cats, but they should not be treated as automatic daily add-ons for every pet. AAHA notes that a pet’s microbiome can be affected by diet, antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiome transplant, but also cautions that pet owners and veterinary teams should be careful with companies advertising microbiome testing and supplement recommendations. ⁴

In simple terms: gut health is real, but not every gut health product is necessary.

If your pet has diarrhea, chronic digestive issues, recent antibiotic use, or a medical condition, ask your veterinarian whether a probiotic or prebiotic makes sense. The right product, strain, dose, and duration matter.

For a dog or cat with a sensitive stomach, the best food is the one they can eat consistently, digest comfortably, and maintain healthy body condition. That may be a gently cooked fresh food, a veterinary therapeutic diet, or another complete and balanced option recommended by your veterinarian.

A sensitive stomach plan should focus on:

Complete and balanced nutrition

Clear ingredient lists

Consistent feeding times

Gradual transitions

Appropriate fat levels

No table scraps

Careful treat portions

Tracking stool quality

Recipes like Classic Pork Stew and Fisherman's Best Friend Supper are formulated with sensitive stomachs in mind, using gentle, easily digestible ingredients.

If symptoms continue, the answer is not always “try another random food.” Your veterinarian may recommend testing, a diet trial, parasite screening, or a therapeutic diet depending on the signs.

National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day can help pet parents pause and look at the daily details they might usually ignore. Stool quality, appetite, treat habits, water intake, and feeding routines all tell a story.

Use the day as a simple check-in:

Is your pet eating normally?

Has stool quality changed?

Are treats taking over the diet?

Are you switching foods too often?

Are table scraps causing digestive upset?

Is your pet drinking enough water?

Has your veterinarian checked recurring symptoms?

Awareness days are useful when they turn into better routines. This one is a good reminder to simplify the bowl and pay attention to patterns.

Tom&Sawyer supports gut health for dogs and cats by focusing on real-food meals that are complete, balanced, gently cooked, and easy for pet parents to understand. Our meals are moisture-rich, portioned, and made with recognizable ingredients, which can make feeding easier for dogs and cats with selective appetites or sensitive routines. You can browse our full lineup of gently-cooked recipes to find the right fit for your pet's digestive needs.

We do not believe gut health should feel confusing. You should not need to decode a long list of mystery ingredients or rely on constant toppers to get your pet interested in their food.

A better bowl starts with food that is clear, consistent, and built with purpose.

National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day is a good reminder that digestion deserves attention before problems become routine. Pet gut health is not about one magic supplement or one perfect ingredient. It is about complete nutrition, consistent feeding, safe transitions, and knowing when to ask your veterinarian for help.

If your dog or cat has ongoing vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, appetite loss, weight loss, or discomfort, do not guess your way through it. Get veterinary guidance.

If your pet is healthy but could use a simpler, clearer bowl, start with the basics: feed complete and balanced meals, avoid unnecessary extras, introduce new foods slowly, and watch the stool. If you're not sure where to start, our personalized meal plan questionnaire can help match your dog or cat with the right recipe for their needs. Your pet’s gut will often tell you more than the front of any food package ever could.

Alessandri G, et al. Role of gut microbiota in dog and cat’s health and diseases. Open Veterinary Journal. 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6794400/

Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals

Wernimont SM, et al. The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7329990/

AAHA. Microbiome, Prebiotics, Postbiotics. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/microbiome-prebiotics-postbiotics/