MOUTH:

Digestion begins in the mouth where food is mixed with saliva to lubricate the food as it passes down the esophagous. Dog's teeth are suited for gripping, tearing and shredding the food. Dog's saliva does not contain enzymes for digesting carbohydrates, like humans who have amlyase.

STOMACH:

Swallowed food passes down the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach of a canine is very acidic with a pH as low as 1. Food is well mixed and broken down before contents leave the stomach as chyme.

SMALL INTESTINE:

Chyme is fluid that passes easily into the the small intestine, where the pancrease provides additional digestive enzymes. These enzymes continue protein digestion and also provide carbohydrate and fat digestion.

LARGE INTESTINE:

Most of the nutrients have been digested and absorbed by the time any food reaches the large intestine. It is were water is absorbed and bacteria can break down undigested fiber.