Digestive problems in dogs: causes, symptoms and help

Key Takeaways

• Digestive system of the dogThe mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, large intestine and anus are crucial for digestion and nutrient absorption.

• Frequent digestive problemsSymptoms such as abdominal noises, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and dull coat may indicate digestive disorders.

• Risk avoidanceHigh-quality food, exercise and regular check-ups help to keep the digestive system healthy.

• Treatment of disorders: Fasting and a light diet can often help with digestive problems. If symptoms persist, a visit to the vet is advisable.

• Important enzymes and organsGallbladder, liver and pancreas produce essential digestive juices and enzymes that are necessary for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.

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The digestive tract includes first the mouth as well as the esophagus, the stomach and the small intestine, the gall bladder, the pancreas, the liver as well as the large intestine and finally the anus.

The first organ that plays an important role in digestion is the mouth of your four-legged friend. This is where the food is taken in. In order to absorb the food, a dog uses both its 42 teeth and its tongue.

The dog has large canine teeth and sharp molars - but it does not have molars. As a result, food is swallowed and only chewed a little. The four-legged friend's teeth are therefore specially designed for eating meat.

As a result, hardly any preparatory work is done in the mouth for later digestion. As soon as food is in the dog's mouth, saliva is produced by the salivary gland. Unlike in humans, this does not contain any digestive enzymes.

The esophagus of the animal is responsible for the transport from the mouth to the entrance of the stomach. Through the saliva enriched by the salivary gland and muscle contractions, the food is passed through the esophagus to the entrance of the stomach.

Your dog has what is known as a "U-shaped" gizzard. In this area of the digestive tract, the food mixes with the gastric juice. This is produced by the glands located on the stomach wall.

The production of the necessary gastric juice begins as soon as the food arrives in the stomach. The juice consists of a large proportion of hydrochloric acid as well as mucin (mucilage), lipase and pepsins. The gastric juice is responsible for killing off dangerous microorganisms and starting to break down the food.

Meanwhile, the decomposition of food begins because digestive enzymes and acid are contained in the gastric juice, which prepares the food for the breakdown of proteins. The digestion of proteins begins.

This produces a slurry that is passed on to the small intestine in small quantities via the outlet of the stomach. The stomach outlet always opens when the pH value has dropped and reached a certain level. This increases the filling pressure. As a result, the feed slurry finally reaches the small intestine.

In total, the food ingested by your four-legged friend remains in the stomach for about 2 to 8 hours.

The food remains in the dog's small intestine for a further 1 to 2 hours. This is very short compared to herbivores, making it hardly suitable for plant substances.

This part of the digestive tract is where most of the breakdown processes take place. This is why the small intestine is the most important part of the digestive system. This is where the important nutrients are absorbed.

These three organs play a crucial role in breaking down food. They provide the important digestive juices and digestive enzymes that are needed to break down the individual food components.

The liver produces bile, which is then stored in the gallbladder. The liver also serves to detoxify and cleanse the body.

The liver has another important task: it regulates the metabolism of protein, fat and sugar. It is responsible for both the production and storage of vitamins.

Pancreas is needed to process fat, protein and carbohydrates. This is produced by the pancreas.

The dog has peptidases. These digestive enzymes are necessary for the breakdown of proteins. It also has the digestive enzymes glycosidases for breaking down carbohydrates. The dog has lipases for the breakdown of fats.

The various digestive enzymes now produce water-soluble building blocks. This process is known as absorption - the absorption of substances from the food pulp.

The water-soluble building blocks are vital for the dog's organism and are absorbed by its body cells. All other building blocks that are not digestible are later excreted by the body.

What is left of the food after absorption finally reaches the large intestine via the small intestine. The food remains there for around 18 to 24 hours.

In this area of the digestive tract, food is hardly processed at all. The remaining electrolytes (salts, minerals and vitamins) enter the bloodstream and waste products are passed on to the liver. The remaining water in the food pulp is removed.

The dehydrated food residues are now pushed together by the large intestine. A lump of feces is formed, which is passed towards the anus.

There are anal glands in the anus of the four-legged friend. These produce a secretion to moisten the exit of the anus. This makes it easier for the dog to defecate. The dog must defecate as soon as the maximum filling volume of the large intestine is reached. The emptying of the bowel is regulated by the dog's sphincter muscle.

If a dog has a disorder in one area of the digestive system, this can trigger further disorders. If a four-legged friend's digestive system is not functioning properly, this can cause eye, ear and dental disorders. It can also cause muscle or joint pain.

Disorders in the digestive system also weaken the dog's immune system. Therefore:

The more stable the digestive system of the quadruped is, the less it is susceptible to diseases.

If your quadruped has problems with his digestion, it manifests itself, especially through the following symptoms:

• noticeable abdominal sounds
• acid regurgitation
• Vomiting
• excessive eating grass
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Weight loss
• dry and dull coat
• Fatigue, listlessness

A good diet not only benefits your dog's digestion, but also his general health. You can reduce the risk of a digestive disorder by feeding your dog a balanced and healthy diet with high-quality food.

It should be optimally balanced with proteins, natural fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements.

The food should be prepared gently. It should have a high meat content and contain natural raw materials and be free of preservatives, fillers and attractants, flavor enhancers, colorants, etc.

We also recommend that you take a restorative bowel treatment with prebiotics or probiotics about once a year. Especially after treatment with drugs such as antibiotics, chemical worming or vaccinations.

However, if there is a problem such as diarrhea etc., this usually subsides with a period of fasting and a light diet. Your dog should also have enough exercise in the fresh air every day and you should give him enough time to do his business in peace.

Especially with large breeds, you should make sure that your dog takes a break after meals to reduce the risk of a stomach torsion.

In any case, you should not neglect a regular check-up at the vet, including stool samples to rule out worm or parasite infestation.

A healthy digestive system is essential to your dog's overall health. The best way to promote a healthy digestive tract is to feed your dog a high quality diet and give him plenty of daily exercise in the fresh air.

Occasionally, there may be disturbances in the digestive tract, which in most cases are harmless and with an appropriate fasting period and a light diet will cure themselves.

However, if the symptoms persist or occur more often, you should consult your veterinarian so that any serious diseases can be ruled out or treated early enough.

Veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic

I am a veterinarian and writer on animal health topics. Animals are my passion, and it is my personal goal to create medically accurate articles and videos to educate pet owners as much as possible.

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