Canine Digestion

canine digestion




Canine Digestion is as complicated as it is exciting. By learning to understand the best food to feed your dog can have a direct result on your dogs digestive system.

In this section we have not only provided a step by step guide to every process in a dog's digestive process but information on why your dog may get stomach pains after eating which may be due parasites or a stomach virus.

We have also discussed the sign and symptoms of stomach ulcers in dogs and its treatment, the causes of bloating and how to spot the symptoms of a canine hernia...

So lets get started...

Canine Digestion

A Step by Step Guide...

canine digestion


Canine digestion and the digestive system is an amazing an impressive work of combined functions working in complete harmony together...starting in the mouth...

Mouth

Of course everything starts in the mouth where your dog will grind and chew up the food before swallowing each mouthful.
  • Saliva will help lubricate the food with the sharp molars gripping and tearing up the food. Interestingly many other mammals have flat molars useful for grinding.
  • Dogs don't have the Amylase Enzyme so carbohydrates in your dog's food sticks to their teeth causing a build up of tartar. For information on brushing dog teeth check out our section on canine teeth cleaning.

  • However a dog's saliva contains the chemical Isozyme that helps to destroy pathogenic bacteria.
  • A dog's jaws are also able to unhinge so that instead of moving sideways they open wide allowing them to consume large chunks of food before swallowing.

Esophagus
  • After your dog has swallowed the food it will pass down the esophagus into the stomach.
Stomach
  • When your dog's food has passed into the stomach it will be broken down and mixed. Canine digestion is made easier during this process as dog's stomach is very acidic with a Ph level as low as 1. The contents of will then leave the stomach as as fluid called Chyme which will then pass into the small intestine.
Small Intestine
  • The chyme now flows into the small intestine where the liver and pancreas will help and assist by digesting the fat cells, protein and carbohydrates.
  • The nutrients will then be adsorbed into the blood stream. The remaining food will now pass into the large intestine.
Large Intestine
  • Now the remaining food will pass into the large intestine. Your dog's digestive system will now have processed and absorbed all of the food's nutrients.
  • The water and electrolytes in the large intestine are now assimilated with bacteria breaking down any undigested fiber.
  • Now the final part in canine digestion is when the remaining food is excreted as poop - but hopefully outside and not on the carpet!

    • Due to the importance of a good diet, we have provided a quick video on making dog food which is best for your dog's digestive system.

The Secret Ingredients in Some Dog Food

Canine Digestion

Canine digestion does have some similarities to the human digestive system, but there are of course some major differences - he is a dog after all!

The Art of Eating...
  • Just like humans dogs are able to consume large amounts of food in one sitting. In the wild dogs would gorge on their food eating vast amounts so that they could have a sleep in between meals.
  • Humans have developed teeth that are specifically designed and used to grind up food. Dogs teethe are designed to rip, shear, tear and crush up meat and bone.
  • Humans prefer the taste of food rather than the actual smell. In comparison dogs much prefer the smell of the food. This might have something to do with the fact that dogs have 80-220 million smell sensitive cells compared to us humans who have a measly 2-10 million.
Some dogs get an upset stomach after eating...but sometimes not just after eating but all the time...
Virus
  • Some dogs get an upset stomach due to having a virus that makes them feel sick. A virus can also cause bloating in dogs.
  • Symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhea and tiredness.
Parasites
  • Another cause of a dogs upset stomach is due to stomach parasites or a protozoan infection such as giardia or coccidia.
Dog Bloat
  • Symptoms of dog bloat can happen very fast. One minute your dog is playing and running around and the next he is in shock and struggling for air, and yes your dog can die very quickly.
  • The cause of bloat is due to an excessive build up of had which can happen if your dog has drunk allot of water after eating a large amount of food.
Stomach Hernia
  • The symptoms of a stomach hernia include vomiting, pain, cramp, tiredness, fever, live and canine kidney failure and even death.
Stomach Ulcers in Dogs
  • The causes of stomach ulcers in dogs may be due to anti-inflammatory medications, pain relief canine medications including aspirin and iboprufen. Canine mast cell cancer can also cause stomach ulcers in dogs.
  • The sign and symptoms of stomach ulcers in dogs can include vomiting even when your dog has an empty stomach, anemia, tiredness, weakness, stools that are black and tar-like in appearance, loss of appetite and blood in the vomit.
  • Treatment for stomach ulcers in dogs normally include a change of diet and antacid medication that helps to line the stomach lining.



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