Walking is an inevitable part of a dog’s daily routine as it helps to keep them healthy and happy. It is not just exercise for dogs but is their stress buster too. Not only this walking is key to establishing and strengthening the bond between you and your dog. Normally the right time to walk a dog is in the morning and early evening, but due to your busy hectic schedule, you might have wondered, “Can I walk my dog 30 minutes after eating?” so that you and your dog both can benefit.
Walking a dog instantly after eating is not advisable so you may consider waiting for at least 30 minutes. But is it the right thing to do? No need to worry, through our blog we will help you to find the answer to this.
Can I Walk My Dog 30 Minutes After Eating?
No, you cannot walk your dog 30 minutes after eating, doing so can lead to serious negative effects on your dog’s health. Dog digestive process takes time to digest the food. Taking the dog for a walk just within 30 minutes after eating can lead to digestive issues.
If you want to take the dog for a walk after eating then you should wait for at least an hour or two. Doing this helps your dog to digest the food properly. However whether to walk your dog after eating or not also depends on the dog’s age, health and activity level.
Walking your dog after an hour of eating food helps them to burn some energy which further leads to better digestion. Walking dogs instantly after eating or before eating can make them overstimulate causing them discomfort.
Benefits of Walking Your Dog After Eating
Here are the benefits of walking your dog after eating:
- Walking your dog after eating helps them to digest their food. It boosts the dog’s digestive system and promotes good digestion.
- It helps prevent gastrointestinal problems[1] like gas, constipation and bloating in dogs.
- Helps dogs regulate their blood glucose levels. Walking dogs after eating promotes them to use glucose as a source of energy for the muscles.
- As it helps regulate the blood glucose levels in dogs, the issue of low and high blood sugar reduces.
- Walking dogs after eating stimulates their mood making them happy and refreshed. This keeps their mental health in check.
- It benefits dogs by managing their weight and keeping it in control. Walking helps a dog burn calories and maintain a healthy weight.
- It prevents obesity and other serious health issues like diabetes, arthritis and heart-related issues in dogs.
Risks of Walking Your Dog Too Soon After Eating
Here are the risks of walking your dog too soon after eating:
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)[2] is a fatal condition that can lead to the death of your dog. In GDV there is swelling and twisting in the dog’s stomach, which causes blockage in them.
Dogs suffer from Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) due to intense exercise, gulping of air or due to drinking too much water. So if you are making your dog walk soon after eating then it will affect their intestine intensively leading to GDV.
Bloating
Bloating occurs when a dog’s stomach is filled with too much food, gas and water. Taking your dog for a walk soon after eating affects their digestion process preventing it from digesting the food. Thus the undigested food forms gas and bloating in dogs.
Bloating is a serious condition as it puts pressure on other organs. This situation can worsen making your dog collapse or even result in their death.
As mentioned by Katie Grzyb, DVM in petmd, "When bloat occurs, your dog’s stomach begins to expand, or distend, and cuts off blood flow to the abdomen as well as the stomach itself. This may cause injury (even death) of the stomach wall and, without treatment, eventually other organs. Bloat can also put pressure on the diaphragm, a thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen, leading to trouble breathing."
Vomiting
Walking your dog soon after eating can trigger vomiting by boosting the acid and gas reflux. Vomiting can further lead to dehydration and irritation in the stomach lining and in the oesophagus of a dog.
Digestive issues
Along with the above-mentioned serious health issues walking a dog soon after can lead to digestive issues like constipation and gas. This happens as the normal digestion process is disrupted by sudden walking.
Walking the dog soon after eating creates hindrance in food breakdown making changes in intestinal functioning. This causes inflammation in the dog’s stomach wall along with pain and discomfort.
Tips for Walking Your Dog After Eating
Here are the tips you should follow while walking your dog after eating:
- Wait for at least an hour to walk your dog after eating.
- Do not take your dog for long and intense walks, keep it short and slow.
- Prevent your dog from running.
- Choose the calm route with less distraction.
- Prevent your dog from getting overstimulated.
- Avoid feeding and providing water to your dog soon after the walk.
FAQs
Can I walk my dog 30 minutes after eating?
No, you should not walk your dog 30 minutes after eating. To walk your dog after eating you should wait for at least an hour. Walking your dog after 30 minutes of eating can lead to digestive issues. Your dog may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, and nausea along with cramping. Further, these problems can give rise to certain fatal conditions like GDV too.
Is it better to feed a dog before or after a walk?
If you want to feed a dog before or after a walk do it before an hour. For instance, if you want to feed a dog before walking feed it for at least one hour. Similarly to feed your dog after a walk wait for at least 1 hour then feed. If you take your dog to walk after feeding instantly or feed immediately after walking then it can lead to bloating in them.
What is the best time to walk a dog?
The best time to walk your dog according to the general walking rule is in the morning and in the early evening. But the walking time may differ depending upon factors like age, breed, energy level, health condition and the weather as well. While walking your dog keep in mind you should never walk your dog immediately after eating.
Is it OK to never walk your dog?
No, it is not ok to never walk your dog. Walking is the most essential part of a dog’s life and most required too. It is a form of exercise that helps the dog function, not walking a dog may lead to obesity and other health issues. An obese and unhealthy dog is likely to be ill frequently and this can even reduce the quality of their life too.
Is it okay to exercise your dog right after eating?
No, it is not okay to exercise your dog right after eating. Doing so can lead to bloating in dogs. Bloating might seem to be a minor issue but in reality, it can make the situation more complicated and serious. Bloating can lead to pain, shock and even organ damage in dogs. So it is advisable to wait for at least an hour after your dog eats before indulging in any kind of physical stimulation.
Conclusion
Walking is much much-needed aspect of a dog’s life and also it serves them benefits but only if it is done correctly. Many people presume that walking their dog soon after eating will help in their digestion, but is it so? We hope that through our blog, “Can I Walk My Dog 30 Minutes After Eating?” you got the answer.
Dogs and human beings are different and have different needs and requirements. This is when unknowingly you can make choices which may hamper your dog’s health. Before deciding anything for your dog make sure you have done good research or at least consulted the vet.
Reference:
- Dacvim, C. R. H. V. M. (2022a, March 16). Digestive Enzyme Supplements: Breaking down the evidence. Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School.
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in dogs. (n.d.).
