DOGs
Canis lupus familiaris, or better known as a dog, is a carnivorous mammal that was domesticated by humans thousands of years ago. It serves humans in a variety of ways—as a companion, hunter, herder, and protector, and as a draft animal. For the blind, dogs serve as guides. In some places, dog racing is a popular sport. Because of its loyalty, obedience, courage, and friendliness, the dog is often referred to as "man's best friend.”
dIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF DOGS
It starts with the mouth- once a dog is aware that food is nearby, its salivary glands begin to produce saliva in preparation for the coming meal. However, a dogs saliva doesn't break down food with enzymes, it has bacteria-killing properties that prevent the dog from getting sick when they eat the wrong thing. A dog's teeth are designed to scrape and tear meat off bones. They cannot chew food like we do; they do not have flexible jaws like us. So, they tear the meat apart as much as they can and then push the meat towards the esophagus using their tongue.
Down the esophagus- In the esophagus, similar to our esophagus, muscles squeeze food along through a series of muscle movements. The esophagus has thick, stretchy walls that allow dogs to swallow fairly large items-- bones, stones, or even toys. The esophagus then moves the food into the stomach
The stomach- Once food reaches the dog stomach it is processed with a high level of hydrochloric acid. This is important because this allows the breakdown of the large pieces of protein and bones that dogs ingest. Dogs also have a natural regurgitation instinct which allows them to spit out food that has not been processed correctly, then to re-swallow it.
Since a dog's stomach has far more acid and digests at a pH=1 (where we are pH=5 or so) the enzymes we use for breaking down certain foods are not available to dogs because those enzymes cannot survive the strong acid/low pH. This is why dogs thrive on meat and cannot be vegetarians or eat an abundance of grains.
Pancreas- produces enzyme to break down food, as well as insulin and glucagon
Liver- produces bile to digest fats, detoxifies harmful chemicals, breaks down drugs, processes nutrients absorbed from the small intestine
The Intestines- After food has been processed in the stomach with the aid of the hydrochloric acid, it then passes through to the small intestine in the form of liquid. This is where the main part of the digestion occurs and where the food is assimilated into nutrients for the dog body. From the small intestine, the unassimilated food passes through to the large intestine. The large intestine is the last stop before the waste is passed through rectum in the form of feces.
The dog has one of the shortest digestive systems of mammals and it takes roughly 8-9 hours for the whole digestive process.
Down the esophagus- In the esophagus, similar to our esophagus, muscles squeeze food along through a series of muscle movements. The esophagus has thick, stretchy walls that allow dogs to swallow fairly large items-- bones, stones, or even toys. The esophagus then moves the food into the stomach
The stomach- Once food reaches the dog stomach it is processed with a high level of hydrochloric acid. This is important because this allows the breakdown of the large pieces of protein and bones that dogs ingest. Dogs also have a natural regurgitation instinct which allows them to spit out food that has not been processed correctly, then to re-swallow it.
Since a dog's stomach has far more acid and digests at a pH=1 (where we are pH=5 or so) the enzymes we use for breaking down certain foods are not available to dogs because those enzymes cannot survive the strong acid/low pH. This is why dogs thrive on meat and cannot be vegetarians or eat an abundance of grains.
Pancreas- produces enzyme to break down food, as well as insulin and glucagon
Liver- produces bile to digest fats, detoxifies harmful chemicals, breaks down drugs, processes nutrients absorbed from the small intestine
The Intestines- After food has been processed in the stomach with the aid of the hydrochloric acid, it then passes through to the small intestine in the form of liquid. This is where the main part of the digestion occurs and where the food is assimilated into nutrients for the dog body. From the small intestine, the unassimilated food passes through to the large intestine. The large intestine is the last stop before the waste is passed through rectum in the form of feces.
The dog has one of the shortest digestive systems of mammals and it takes roughly 8-9 hours for the whole digestive process.