How Long Does It Take a Dog To Digest Food?

Dogs are masters at begging for food. If you're being subject to puppy dog eyes and are wondering whether your furry friend could really have already digested their meal, you're in the right place.

We break down the science of your dog's digestion and explain how long it takes food to move through each part of the system.

Key Takeaways

Dog digestion is similar to humans' in many ways, but is generally faster.
The average dog will usually digest food within several hours.
However, it usually takes a day or two for food to fully pass through a dog's digestive system.
Research shows that digestive health is linked to many other aspects of overall wellness, including mental health and immune function.
You can support your dog's gut health by feeding them a balanced diet with Powerful Supplements like Colostrum and CBD.

See More: 8 Home Remedies for Healthy Dog Joints

The Ins and Outs of Your Dog's Digestive System

Sean Zyer, co-founder of Earth Buddy, says:

"Generally, dogs digest food faster than humans. On average, dogs can digest food in several hours, though it can take a day or two for food to completely clear the digestive system."

Anyone who's watched a hungry dog eat knows they don't waste time when it comes to food. That speed doesn't stop at the mouth, either.

In fact, research suggests that food passes through a dog's digestive tract three times as quickly as in humans.¹

However, research also shows that digestion time also varies quite widely. To estimate how long it will take your dog to digest food, we need to explore the biology behind your dog's gastrointestinal tract.

Dog vs. Human Digestion

In some ways, dog digestion is actually quite similar to human digestion. We both have one stomach, for example.² And as omnivores, our small intestines form roughly one-quarter of the total mass of our digestive system.³

Research even suggests that our gut microbiomes may be similar. Dogs, like us, have incredibly complex gut microbiomes filled with good bacteria that can be significantly influenced by diet.⁴

In part, all these similarities arose because we, dogs and humans, have followed similar evolutionary paths.⁵

As such, the general process of dog digestion might look similar to you.

Bonus: Do Cats Stress Eat or Have Comfort Food?

Stages of Dog Digestion

Digestion doesn't happen all at once. It occurs in stages.

That makes it a little more complicated to figure out how long it takes dogs to digest food. After all, what does it mean to digest something?

Researchers therefore consider several time frames.

Gastric emptying time, for example, refers to the time it takes for food to leave the stomach. Small bowel transit time and large bowel transit time refer to the times it takes food to pass through the small and large intestines.

Total transit time refers to the time it takes food to move through the entire digestive system.

All these time frames start at the same place: the mouth.

Mouth

Your dog might not act like it, but dogs generally chew their food. Chewing breaks food down into smaller chunks, which are both easier to swallow and faster to digest.

This process is called mechanical digestion.

Human saliva contains an enzyme called amylase that contributes to the digestion of carbohydrates. Interestingly, research has found that dog saliva doesn't contain this enzyme.⁶ Instead, it seems their saliva is purely to help food pass down the esophagus.

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Stomach

In dogs, the stomach is where the real magic starts to happen. Little wonder, then, that our furry friend's body works to get food consumed down here as quickly as possible.

According to one study, food can travel from the mouth down the esophagus to the stomach within seconds. That said, the process usually takes a few minutes and can even stretch beyond half an hour.⁷

Dog stomachs are a little different from ours. Research shows they produce far stronger stomach acid, which helps kill bacteria and break down food.⁸

Dog stomachs also contain multiple powerful enzymes that digest food.⁹

As you might imagine, food moves through the stomach a little more slowly than it does through the esophagus. It often takes a few hours for a dog's stomach to empty, though that varies depending on the size of the dog and what they ate.

For example, in one study, gastric emptying time varied between 6.75 and 15 hours.¹⁰ In another, it averaged at roughly two hours, plus or minus 80 minutes.¹¹ And a third recorded gastric emptying times as low as thirty minutes.¹²

Small Intestine

By the time food leaves your dog's stomach, it's not really food anymore. Instead, it's a sort of soup of partially digested food and acidic stomach juices. That delicious-sounding combination is called chyme.

The chyme exits the stomach and enters the small intestine. This is perhaps the most important part of the whole process. It's where nutrient absorption occurs.¹³

The small intestine is divided into three sections: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. In total, it ranges from 1 to 5 meters long, depending on the size of the dog.¹⁴

The lining of this part of the intestinal tract is specialized to absorb nutrients. Tiny folds and projections create a massive surface area, which helps for efficient digestion.¹⁵

The small intestine also contains digestive enzymes. There are three main kinds: lipases, which break down fats (lipids); amylases, which break down carbohydrates; and proteases, which break down proteins.¹⁶

Interestingly, these enzymes aren't actually produced by the intestinal tract. Instead, they're produced by the pancreas.¹⁷

Similarly, the small intestine contains bile. It's produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder, but does its work in the small intestine. There, it helps digest food, especially fats.¹⁸

As you can see, the digestive system is closely linked to other parts of the body. A healthy liver, for example, is crucial for producing bile. By supporting the liver, like with Earth Buddy's Liver Detox System, you're also helping support normal digestive function.

Earth Buddy develops its products with a holistic focus on overall wellness.

Dog digestion also depends on many types of beneficial bacteria in the small intestine. These bacteria aid digestion and absorption.¹⁹

As with the stomach, it can take a few hours for food to leave the small intestine. The timeline can also vary quite widely.

For example, in one study, the small bowel transit time varied between 96 and 224 minutes.²⁰ In another, it averaged at 87 minutes, plus or minus 59.²¹

Large Intestine

In some ways, digestion is done after food leaves the small bowel. The large intestine isn't responsible for absorbing nutrients.

But it's still an important part of the digestive process. The large intestine has two key roles.

First, it extracts water and electrolytes from feces. Yes, by this point, what was once food is now considered feces.

That's important because multiple liters of fluid are used to aid digestion every day. If all that fluid was wasted, your dog could become dehydrated.²²

By extracting water and electrolytes, the large intestine also regulates the composition of your dog's poop. The large intestine controls defecation, storing your dog's stool and preparing it for excretion.²³

The large intestine is actually shorter than the small intestine. It only accounts for one-quarter of the total length of the intestinal tract.²⁴ But what was once food often hangs around here the longest out of any other part of the digestive system.

In fact, feces can spend up to a day or more in the large intestine. One study found that large bowel transit time ranged from 7 hours to 43 hours!²⁵

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Bowel Movements

By some measure, defecation is the true endpoint of digestion. For example, if you're wondering how long it will take something to pass through your dog's digestive system, you're effectively asking how long it will take for them to poop it out.

Your dog's poop is also one of the best ways to keep an eye on their digestive health. Changes to color and consistency, for example, can be signs of digestive issues.²⁶

The frequency at which your dog poops is also important. This varies, but once or twice a day is generally considered normal. High-fiber diets might increase this frequency, and puppies need to go far more often.²⁷

But if your furry friend hasn't defecated in over a day, there might be something wrong.

Dogs often poop half an hour after eating. That doesn't mean they've digested a meal within 30 minutes, though.²⁸

Instead, the time it takes for something to pass completely through your pet's digestive system — in the mouth and out the other end — is measured in hours, sometimes days.

For example, one study found that total transit time ranged from 21.5 hours to over 57 hours.2²⁹

What Affects How Fast Dogs Digest Food

Many factors can influence how long it takes a dog to digest food.

For example, a dog's body size can influence how long it takes them to digest food. One study found that larger dogs took longer to excrete ingested food than smaller dogs.³⁰

A dog's diet can also affect how long it takes them to digest and excrete food. In one study, dogs who ate a diet with added fiber had decreased intestinal transit times compared to those eating a control diet.³¹

Senior dogs often digest food more slowly than younger dogs.³² Aging digestive systems may also require more support.

Why Digestion Is So Important

Healthy digestion is absolutely crucial for overall wellness. Your dog's digestive health is closely linked with other aspects of health, including mental health. Promoting healthy digestion is therefore far more important than you might think.

"Most people think it's just like this digestive organ, where we're just taking the food and breaking it down into vitamins and minerals and hopefully the nutrients that the body would use," explains Dr. Katie Woodley, in conversation with Earth Buddy co-founder Sean Zyer. "However, it's so much more than that."

For example, research shows that gut health is connected with brain health in dogs.³³ A healthy gut microbiome doesn't just support proper digestion, it can also help promote relaxation and help dogs cope with external stresses.

Research has also shown that gut health is connected with immune health. The gut microbiome helps protect against pathogens and can even help train the immune system.³⁴

How to Support Your Dog's Digestive Tract

Supplements that help maintain proper gut flora can therefore not only support digestive health but also other aspects of canine health. For example, studies have shown that colostrum can support digestive tract health and support the immune system.³⁵

Earth Buddy's Colostrum for Dogs & Cats blends grass-fed bovine colostrum with whole plant hemp extract and organic blueberry powder. The colostrum is sourced from non-GMO-fed cows and captured within 24 to 48 hours of milking, ensuring immunoglobulin levels.

It's one example of how Earth Buddy formulates products with natural, high-quality ingredients.

Gut health's connection to mental health isn't one-way. Stress can also impact gut health.³⁶

Therefore, helping your pup cope with external stresses could also help support their digestive health. Research shows that CBD can promote relaxation in dogs.³⁷

There are plenty of ways to give your dog CBD. One option is CBD Oil, which can be administered straight from the dropper, mixed into food, or even used as an ingredient in homemade treats.

If you don't feel like making your own hemp treats, you can always order some. Earth Buddy's Duck & Apple Calming Chews contain 5mg of high-quality CBD per chew, while the Beef & Pumpkin Chews contain 10mg per chew.

Remember to never give your dog Hemp Products made for humans. They can contain ingredients that might be toxic to dogs. Low-quality products for dogs can also contain contaminants that might be toxic.

That's why it's so important to stick to high-quality, tailor-made products for dogs. Earth Buddy uses natural ingredients and tests its products with third-party labs to ensure balance and safety.³⁸

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Conclusion

Dogs generally digest food faster than humans. Your pup might have digested a full meal within a few hours.

But it normally takes a day or two for food to fully pass through the digestive system. And digestion time can vary based on a number of factors, including a dog's size, age, diet, and digestive health.

Digestion time and fecal quality are two important methods to monitor digestive health. As we discussed, digestive health is closely linked to your dog's overall health. So supporting your pup's digestion is really important.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to support your dog's digestive system. A balanced diet is one way. Supplements like colostrum and CBD are another.

If you think your dog has eaten something toxic and are wondering what to do, consider checking with your vet. They'll be able to help you figure out how to support your furry friend.

Keep Reading: 10 Reasons Your Old Dog is Shaking

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Food Stay in a Dog's Stomach?

The time it takes food to pass through the stomach is formally called the gastric emptying time. In dogs, this usually takes a few hours. However, it can vary based on a number of factors, including your dog's size, age, diet, and digestive health.

How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Pass Something He Ate?

The time it takes a dog to pass something is called the total transit time. In this case, the "transit" refers to the journey through the whole digestive system, from the mouth through the intestines and out the other end.

Total transit time can vary widely. Some dogs may pass food within several hours. In others, the process could take days.

Generally, food takes a day or two to fully pass through a dog's digestive system.

How Long After Eating Is a Dog's Stomach Considered Empty?

The time it takes for a dog's stomach to empty is formally called the gastric emptying time. It can vary, but generally takes a few hours.

Of course, if your dog eats something else, their stomach will fill up again.

Sources

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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.

How Long Does It Take a Dog To Digest Food?

Key Takeaways