How long does it take for dogs food to digest

There is a large portion of a dog's health that comes down to their diet. As such, it's never a bad idea for the responsible pet owner to learn a few things about canine digestion. Most people take 30-60 minutes to digest a meal fully, and we might be inclined to assume that dogs take about the same time. Is this true or not? Let's see if we can find out.

Dog Digestion: How Long Does It Take?

We don't want to dance around the answer, as many online articles tend to do. After all, you probably came here hoping for a straight answer, so we will give you one: Canine digestion generally takes four to eight hours before it moves from the stomach to the intestines. This is, of course, only a general estimate that seems to be agreed upon by most authorities.

So, how long does the digested food matter take before it travels through the intestinal tract and becomes doggy doo? Interestingly, the answer seems to almost be the same thing we saw before: Six to eight hours. This is interesting because the human digestive system usually takes 20-30 hours to fully process a batch of digested material. Thus, when it comes to the entire process, dogs digest much faster than we do. However, when it comes to the amount of time that the food spends in their stomach, their system is quite a bit slower than ours.

Breed, Size, And Age

So, what we have here is a large spectrum, consisting of 4-8 hours in the stomach and 6-8 hours in the digestive tract. That means a total of 10-16 hours for total digestion time. However, you don't need to worry all that much about the second part of the equation. Your dog is likely to get a little bit lazy after a big meal, and that is not a big deal. They probably won't continue laying around for 4-8 hours, but you should expect a little bit of this. As for where they fall on that spectrum, most of that will come down to breed, size, and age.

Smaller breeds naturally digest foods more quickly than large ones. This is just a matter of common sense, as their stomachs and intestinal tracts are much smaller. Thus, you can expect their digestive cycle to stay on the lower end of that 10-16-hour spectrum. Larger breeds, obviously, will be on the higher end.

Age is another factor that has to be considered. Older dogs have different dietary needs, as you may have heard in the past. This is because their ageing digestive system is no longer able to work as efficiently as it did in the past. As a result, they need more nutrient-dense food to stay healthy well into their old age. Even still, however, they are going to take longer in digestion than they did when they were young. For ageing dogs, you can expect a significant increase in digestion time, so don't be alarmed at that.

Diet And Exercise

Another factor that can greatly affect your dog's digestion time is diet and exercise. Needless to say, a diet that is high in carbs and fibre is going to be a little harder to digest. Dogs can eat these things, and it's usually not a problem. Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not true carnivores. They are more like omnivores that prefer meat. In any case, a high-protein diet tends to be digested a little more quickly. This is one area in which humans and dogs are more or less alike. This is also why older dogs need more protein, by the way: It won't sit around in their guts for nearly as long as a high-fibre meal.

Exercise aids the digestion process, and this is another area in which dogs and humans have a lot in common. Food is, of course, a source of energy. The canine digestive system tends to use that energy as needed, saving the rest for later. When they are engaged in a little bit of healthy exercise, the body has a reason to process that food a little more quickly.

Stress and Medication

Stress and medication can also play a role in how long your dog takes to digest their food. It is impossible for us to list all the different medications out there or to list their effects, but your veterinarian can give you a better idea of where to go on this matter. If your dog is taking any sort of medication that can slow or speed their digestive process, they will probably have told you so. Just to be sure, it wouldn't hurt to do a little bit of research and make sure.

What Happens If Foods Are Not Digested Properly In Dogs?

As you might expect, improper digestion tends to have one of two results: Constipation or diarrhoea. In other words, it will fail to come out fast enough, or it will come out much too fast for anyone's liking. There are a lot of things you can do to combat constipation, like using various laxatives. Just make sure you use something that is intended for dogs. As for diarrhoea, activated charcoal works very well and is as safe as you could ever want.

However, if your dog has long-term digestive issues, you might want to consider giving them some sort of probiotic supplement. Such as our all natural digestive enzymes for dogs. We also offer a dog wormers, which can also do a lot to ease digestive issues.

Final thoughts

We hope that you have learned everything you ever wanted to know about canine digestion, and maybe even a few things you didn't want to know. Either way, it is good for a dog owner to understand what their dog is feeling and experiencing, as this allows them to provide better care. As a final note on that subject, you might also want to check out a couple of breath freshening products that are also very helpful. Thank you, and we hope to see you again soon.

About The Healthy Dog Co

The Healthy Dog Co’s mission is to create products that dog and cat owners can trust with the health of their pets by only producing products with healthy, safe, all natural ingredients.

At The Healthy Dog Co, it’s all about giving your pet a healthy and happy life with All Natural Health, Happiness and Care Products.

Because Your Pet Deserves Better!

Shop our range of All Natural Healthcare Products for your Dog or Cat today!

You may have heard that it takes humans approximately 6 hours to fully digest a meal, but how long does it take a dog? To answer this question effectively, we need to identify all of the following:

What is the size, age, and breed of your dog?

What does your dog’s diet consist of?

What does their exercise routine look like?

In addition to answering all of these critical questions, we also need to have a rough understanding of the dog digestive cycle as a whole.

The canine digestive system is complicated, to say the least. Many small intricacies help keep your dog’s gastrointestinal tract running smoothly. In the case that your dog is experiencing gut issues like diarrhea, vomiting, or cramping, it may be because of problems within his digestive system. In minor cases, a dog digestive supplement may be all that’s needed to get his intestinal system back on track. If he is experiencing more severe symptoms or his symptoms continue to persist, call your veterinarian for a more thorough examination.

What Makes Up a Canine’s Digestive Tract?

• The Esophagus - the area that passes food from the mouth to the stomach
• The Stomach - where partially digested food is stored
• The Intestines - a connection of small and large intestines where food is fully digested and broken down into nutrients to be absorbed by the body
• The Colon - where food waste becomes fecal matter and is stored until expulsion

Not to give too much away regarding the answer to our big question, but undigested pet food can stay in a dog’s stomach up to eight hours! That’s a long time compared to only 30 minutes that food spends in the stomach of the average human!  

Dog Digestion: How Long Does It Take?

Size, Age and Breed

Size is one of the most significant factors for how long it will take a dog to digest their food. A full-grown adult dog can range anywhere between 5 and 120 pounds depending on the breed.  For example, an adult Labrador retriever is 12 times the size of a full-grown chihuahua, which would be the same size difference between a twelve-month-old baby and the average NBA player. Obviously, those two humans and those two dog breeds will digest food at a different rate. Because breed type plays a significant role in determining how big a dog will get, size can be considered interchangeable with the breed when analyzing digestion habits.  

Age is the x-factor when it comes to digestion. There is a reason that puppies seem to need to go out to use the bathroom far more frequently than adult dogs. As dogs age, their metabolism slows down. Over time, the digestive process becomes an internal marathon rather than the expedient sprint it once was. Here’s your next clue for figuring out how long it takes a dog to digest food...the larger and older the dog, the longer the digestive process.

How Exercise Plays a Role

Did you know that exercise also influences a dog’s digestion time? The genetic makeup of dogs is such that their gi tract is constructed to handle a predominantly carnivorous diet, wherein they can store large quantities of food in the stomach for long periods, slowly turning that food into energy depending on their energy output. 

This is why exercise is another essential piece in the puzzle of canine digestion. The more energy a dog uses, the more rapidly their body will take the food stored in the stomach and send it to the intestinal tract where it can be turned into caloric energy to supplement the output of physical strength.  

What Are They Eating?

It may seem obvious, but different foods will be digested at different speeds. Typically any dog food that contains a large amount of grain will be digested slower than food that is more rich in protein. A dog’s digestive system craves a protein-rich diet as the high caloric content fuels their active lifestyles. 

So how long does it take a dog to digest food? According to PetMD, the dog digestion system timeline is anywhere from 8 to 10 hours to digest a meal fully, but it can take as long as 12 or as quick as four. It is important to note that all of the factors above play an integral part in determining your dog’s specific internal rhythm.  

Always be attentive to your dog’s needs and make sure you are feeding and walking them as needed. Every dog is different, and veterinary professionals are an excellent resource for any specific questions you may have about keeping your dog healthy and happy.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/7-interesting-facts-about-your-dogs-digestive-system
https://www.dogster.com/dog-food/dog-digestive-system-basics
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/digestion/the-canine-digestion-process/

https://www.cuteness.com/article/how-long-dog-digest-food

Camille is a co-founder of PetHonesty and VP of Pup Parent Education. After watching her own family dog suffer from joint issues for years she became passionate about improving dogs' quality of life. With the help of a team of veterinarians and dog nutritionists she now helps educate other dog owners about the small but powerful things they can do to positively impact their dogs' health and wellness! She lives in Austin, TX and loves cuddling puppies, being outside and reading.