The fast eating speed of dogs is related to their habits
The ancestors of dogs have lived in the wilderness for many years. Although they mainly eat meat, it is not possible to catch prey all the time, so they will also eat some vegetarian food. Therefore, dogs are omnivorous animals that prefer carnivores. Because dogs eat relatively quickly in order to survive, they generally wait for it to digest slowly after swallowing, so generally speaking, dogs’ digestion function is not bad. However, for the sake of the dog’s health, we still have to cater to the dog’s digestive characteristics when feeding.
Animal taxonomy belongs to the order Carnivora. The ancestors of dogs mainly hunted small animals, and occasionally used tubers to satisfy their hunger. After dogs were trained by humans, their eating habits changed and they became omnivores who mainly eat carnivores. However, vegetarianism can also protect their lives. But even so, they still maintain a habit of eating mainly carnivore. For example, the teeth of a dog have a pair of sharp canines on the left and right sides, which reflects the characteristics of carnivores that are good at biting prey. The molars of dogs are also relatively small. It is sharp and strong and can cut food. When biting bones, the pressure between the left and right teeth can reach 165 kilograms, but it is not good at taste. Therefore, when dogs eat things, they really "swallow" them and rarely taste them. Naturally, this is also related to their past living habits. Since dogs are social animals, there will definitely be many companions to share the food after hunting. If they eat slowly, they may starve, so in order to speed up their eating, They also swallow food without even passing a few tastes.
There are rich striated muscles on the esophageal wall of dogs, and the vomiting center is developed. Therefore, when they eat poisonous items, they will vomit violently to eliminate the poisons swallowed in the stomach, which is a relatively special defense mechanism. The dog's salivary glands are developed and can secrete a large amount of saliva to moisten the mouth and feed, making it easier to taste and swallow. Saliva also contains lysozyme, which has bactericidal efficiency.
It is best to feed dogs chopped vegetables
In the hot season, rely on saliva The evaporation of water dissipates heat, thereby regulating body temperature. Therefore, in summer we can often see dogs opening their big mouths and sticking out their long tongues in order to dissipate heat instead of sweating. The canine stomach is not pear-shaped, and the hydrochloric acid content in the gastric juice is 0.4~0.6%, ranking first among livestock. Hydrochloric acid can stretch and denature proteins to facilitate digestion. Therefore, dogs have a strong ability to digest protein, which is a prerequisite for their carnivorous habits.
Dogs can empty all the food in their stomachs 5-7 hours after eating, which is much faster than other herbivores or omnivores. The intestines of dogs are shorter, generally only 3 to 4 times the body length, while the intestines of horses and rabbits, which are also monogastric, are 12 times the body length. Dogs have thick intestinal walls and strong absorption capabilities, which are typical carnivorous characteristics. The dog's liver is relatively large, equivalent to about 3% of the body weight, and the bile secreted is good for fat absorption. The dog's defecation center is not developed and cannot defecate under advanced conditions like other livestock.
Dogs can digest and absorb protein and fat very well. However, due to insufficient digestion and short intestines, they do not have the ability to ferment, so they are not suitable for coarse food. The digestion ability of fiber is relatively poor. Therefore, when we feed vegetables to dogs, it is usually best to chop them into small pieces and cook them as much as possible. It is not advisable to feed them in whole pieces or whole plants, which is not good for dogs to absorb.
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