Secrets of dog digestion

Why is proper nutrition so important?

All living organisms must eat the food that is appropriate for their species. While some species can tolerate a poor diet, it can eventually lead to disease, health problems, and even premature death. Adapting to a new diet takes a very long time—scientists say it can take more than 100,000 years. This means that dogs’ diets have remained largely unchanged for thousands of years—they have remained carnivorous.

Dogs are natural carnivores
Dogs can eat plant foods, but their bodies are not designed for this. They have strong jaws that allow them to hold prey, strong muscles, and a cardiovascular system that is adapted to hunting. A dog’s teeth are also a great example – their canines are used to tear meat, while their other teeth help to crush bones and tear the meat off them. A dog’s jaw can only move up and down, so they cannot chew their food finely. This is further evidence that they are not omnivores.

Digestion begins in the stomach

Unlike humans, who grind their food with their teeth and mix it with enzymes in their saliva, dogs simply swallow their food. Their saliva does not contain digestive enzymes, so the main process of digestion takes place in the stomach. Dogs have very strong stomach acid – its pH is 1-2, which makes it easy to digest even bones. When food enters the stomach, strong acids and enzymes begin to work, breaking down food particles into easily absorbed elements. The muscles of the stomach work actively, mixing and breaking down the food until it becomes a liquid mass, which then enters the intestines.

Why do dogs eat fast and a lot?
In nature, dogs were forced to eat their prey quickly so that other predators would not take it away. Therefore, their stomach can stretch and accommodate as much as 5% of their body weight. For example, a 20 kg dog can eat 1 kg of food at a time. The stomach is like an accordion - it expands when full, and gradually pushes the food into the intestines.

Why should a dog's diet be natural?
Dogs are, in essence, wolves. In nature, they would hunt prey, and their digestive system is adapted to this type of diet. By feeding your dog human food or the wrong food, you are risking its health - from digestive problems to more serious diseases. Your dog's diet should be as natural as possible, close to wild sources, because this is the only way to ensure its well-being.

Conclusion
To keep your dog healthy and energetic, provide him with the right diet that meets his biological needs. A dog's body is adapted to digest meat, so a natural, balanced and species-appropriate diet is the key to its long and healthy life.