Walking A Dog Before or After Eating: Risks, Benefits & More
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So, is feeding a dog before or after a walk better? It depends.
If you’re a dog owner, you might have wondered about the best time to feed and walk your dog. Questions such as “Should I feed my dog before or after a walk?”, “How long should I wait to walk my dog after eating?”, “Can I walk my dog 30 minutes after eating?” and “Should I feed or walk my dog first in the morning? may have crossed your mind.
Dog parents commonly worry that walking their dogs after eating could lead to bloating (also known as Gastric dilatation-volvulus or stomach twists). But they’re also concerned that not fueling their dogs before a walk will leave them feeling weak, lethargic, and hungry.
Today, we clear up the confusion on “feeding the dog before or after a walk.” Let’s dive right in!
Should I Feed My Dog Before Or After a Walk?
Should I walk my dog before or after he eats? Is this a matter of personal preference, or are there guidelines you should follow? We explain each case in detail (risks and benefits) along with research and suggestions from experts to help you determine the best time to feed your dog to take out your dog on walks safely, runs, or exercises.
Walking A Dog After Eating
Can you walk your dog after eating? Walking your dog after feeding them involves important considerations. Every dog is unique and has different needs and tolerances, and the decision to walk them after feeding will depend on factors such as the distance and pace of the walk. For example, a 10-minute leisurely walk may not require additional fuel (food), but a long, brisk exercise walk may need additional nutrition.
Risks Of Walking Dog After Eating
Dogs can quickly ‘bloat ‘or experience Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) if they partake in strenuous exercise too soon after eating. While walking is not a strenuous activity, most dogs on walks tend to get excited and start running around.
Walking a dog after eating may cause the stomach to swell and twist upon itself, causing blockages that can be life-threatening to a dog if not treated quickly.
Other risks associated with feeding your dog and going on a walk immediately after a meal are:
If your dog has tummy or digestive troubles, we recommend feeding them a probiotic like Nom Nom (one of our best probiotics for dogs) can help. Some benefits of dog probiotics include helping dogs with gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and stomach discomfort.
Reasons Not Walk Dog After Eating
You should not walk your dog immediately after a big meal to allow proper food digestion. Improper digestion can induce your dog to experience the health risks described above. There is a reason why people and dogs get sluggish after eating, which is that “the body uses energy (glucose) to digest the food you’ve just eaten. Insulin and serotonin are also produced after certain meals, which can trigger our ‘happy’ and ‘sleep’ hormones,” says Robbie Clark, dietitian, and sports nutritionist.
Letting your dog properly digest food with a post-meal break period ensures his energy levels feel balanced again. We use this pet feeding reminder to manage our feeding routine and remind us to provide time for our dogs to digest their food before walking them.
Benefits Of Walking Your Dog After Eating
Dog exercise has a definite impact on motility, or how the muscles of the dog’s digestive system propel food through the process.[1] So, is walking a dog after feeding him beneficial? Yes, as long as you have allowed your dog to process his food correctly.
Dog walking is necessary and can help with happiness, health and the following:
How Long Should I Wait To Take My Dog Out After Eating?
How long should I wait to walk my dog after eating?
According to The Vet, a leading veterinary healthcare center, you should not let the dog play or exercise (e.g., go for a walk) for at least two hours after having a meal to avoid health risks.[2]
However, waiting will also depend on how much food your dog eats. You shouldn’t have to wait two hours for a small snack or a light meal. One hour should be appropriate. On the other hand, if your dog has eaten a full-on meal, you should stick to the two-hour recommendation.
On average, food moves through the canine stomach a bit slower than ours, but food movement through the intestines is a little faster. A dog’s Gastrointestinal transit time, or time to fully digest a meal, is 6 to 8 hours, says Dr. David Brummer, a veterinarian with Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center in Orchard Park, New York.[3]
How Long Should I Wait To Take My Dog Out After Eating?
How long after eating can I walk my dog?
The downtime before walking your pup depends on how much he’s eaten and his digestive system. Follow this general rule:
How Long Should a Dog Rest After Eating to Prevent Bloat?
To prevent bloat, it is recommended that dogs rest for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours after eating before engaging in any vigorous activity or exercise.
Can I Walk My Dog 30 Minutes After Eating?
Dogs can safely walk 30 minutes after eating a small snack. Walking a dog that ate one or two treats should not cause issues such as bloating.
According to vets, it’s advised that you should wait at least two hours after your dog has eaten a full meal before walking them. Walking your dog straight after a meal can cause your dog to bloat, lead to gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or other health problems.
If your dog has eaten more than a few snacks, do not walk it after 30 minutes.
Can I Walk My Dog An Hour After Eating?
Yes, walking a dog one hour after eating is fine if your dog’s meal is small. You should wait for 2 to 3 hours for larger meals.
Walking A Dog Before Eating
What is the case for walking a dog before giving him food?
The obvious answer is to avoid all the health risks (i.e., stomach twists, bloating, etc.) associated with walking your dog with a full belly. However, there are other substantial reasons to walk a dog before meals. Let’s take a look at the risks first.
Risks Of Walking Dog Before Eating
According to Dr. Justin Shmalberg, a DVM and Nom Nom’s veterinary nutritionist, dogs are built to sustain extended fasting and can eat for a while as long as they are healthy.
Most healthy dogs can go 5 to 7 days without food or water. So yes, you can walk your dog safely even if he hasn’t eaten yet. The risks are minimal. However, this doesn’t mean you can starve your dog or take him on long walks or strenuous activities without food. Take this information with a grain of salt and use your good judgment.
So, is it wrong to walk or exercise your dog without giving him food? A short walk might be fine, but if your pup just woke up after a long night’s sleep, he will probably want breakfast. Long walks or strenuous activities without food are not recommended.
Reasons Not Walk Dog Before Eating
A few reasons you shouldn’t walk your dog without having food include the following.
Generally, taking a healthy adult dog for a walk before eating is safe. However, you shouldn’t walk or expose your dog to demanding activities before eating if your dog is a growing puppy, lactating female, an old dog, a dog with health conditions for which not eating is contraindicated, and small toy breeds prone to hyperglycemia.
Always consult your veterinarian if your dog is under a nutritional regimen, requires special nutrition, or has health issues such as diabetes.
Benefits Of Walking Your Dog Before Eating
Walking your dog on an empty stomach may benefit your pup, especially if your dog is overweight.
On humans, research supports that working out in a fasted state can burn more fat than exercising in a fed state. The same may apply to dogs. A dog in a fasted state triggers a dog’s body to metabolize fat or enter a state of ketosis, which aids with weight loss in dogs.[4] A study reported that a dog that usually walks at a pace of 3.7 – 4 miles an hour (~15-minute miles) would burn 0.8 calories per pound per mile. This means a 20-pound dog will only burn about 64 calories during a one-hour walk.
When you walk your dog in a fasted state, like first thing in the morning before breakfast, their bodies will burn a more significant chunk of fat calories — thus increasing their calorie burn rate per mile.
When a dog doesn’t eat before a walk (or is under an intermittent eating diet), its body isn’t being asked to digest and absorb large meals. This break from food allows the liver to process the released waste products more efficiently, which decreases the body’s toxic load, according to Dr. Karen Shaw Becker from Healthy Pets.[5]
Giving your dog’s body a break from constantly digesting and processing food not only restricts calories but offers several benefits, including:
Furthermore, walking helps with your dog’s emotions and mental health and yours. Keeping an active puppy is a must regardless of their feeding schedule.
A good tip when walking Fido on an empty stomach is to carry a couple of treats (our pups love these from Pupford) just in case the walk lasts longer than expected, to use as motivation, or to reward him for accomplishing the walk on an empty stomach. Carrying water during a walk is also important. We use this portable dog water bottle dispense with a filter to remove impurities and residual chlorine.
It’s essential to consult your veterinarian if you consider not feeding your dog before walking or exercising.
How Long To Wait To Feed Dog After Exercise?
How soon after exercising or walking your dog can you feed them?
It depends on the intensity of the exercise. Generally, vets advise waiting at least 30 minutes before feeding your dog after a walk. However, you can provide water but should hold off feeding your dog until the thirty minutes have passed.
You should never feed your dog right after intense exercise. Waiting before feeding your dog after a walk allows their body to cool down and their heart rate to return to normal, reducing the risk of bloat, especially for large breed or deep-chested dogs.[6]
How Long Should I Wait to Feed My Dog After A Walk?
How long after a walk can a dog eat? Although walks are not as strenuous as exercise and do not require as much time for dogs to cool down, waiting at least 30 minutes before feeding them is still recommended. Some dogs may become overly excited or anxious after returning from a walk with an empty stomach, so waiting until they have entered a calm mental state before offering them food is important. This can help prevent them from eating too quickly and potentially developing bloat.
Walk Puppy Before Or After Eating?
Puppies have a different nutrition regimen than adult dogs. Nutrition is critical for proper development. For this reason, feeding puppies before taking them on walks is recommended.
How Long to Wait to Walk A Puppy After Eating?
Puppies usually eat three times a day from weaning through four to six months. You need to give them plenty of time to digest their food properly. Vets recommend waiting at least one hour before taking your puppy for a walk or playtime.
Should I Feed Or Walk My Dog First In The Morning?
Do you feed dogs before or after a morning walk? This is a matter of preferences and how your dog’s feeding schedule is set up.
Walking your dog first thing in the morning before feeding him is ideal since most dogs need to potty first thing in the morning to prevent accidents. You can choose to do a quick walk after your dog goes potty. A morning walk allows dogs to get their energy out early in the day, often resulting in better behavior and more receptiveness to training.
Or, you can opt to return home after the potty and walk him after feeding him. You would need to wait the appropriate time to let the food digest, as we recommend above.
Feed Dogs Before Or After Morning Run?
Should I feed dog before or after a morning run? It is generally recommended to feed your dog before running. This gives your dog’s body the fuel to exercise safely and efficiently. Keep your dog’s running light to moderate if you make your dog run on an empty stomach. Check out our running with dogs guide to learn more about taking dogs on a run.
How Long Should A Dog Wait To Run After Eating?
As a general guideline, it’s recommended that your dog waits for 2 to 3 hours after a large meal before running. If your dog had a small meal or snack, wait a minimum of 30 minutes or preferably 1 to 2 hours before going for a run. The same rule of thumb applies if your dog practices dog sports.
How Far Should You Walk Your Dog After Eating?
After eating a proper meal and having the appropriate post-meal rest period, most dogs can walk from 20 to 30 minutes daily. Dogs with good physical conditioning can walk up to hours, according to PetMD. Be mindful of walks if your dog is overweight.
When Is The Best Time To Feed My Dog?
Most experts recommend feeding your dog twice daily, once in the morning and evening. Generally, a fully grown dog must wait between four and six hours between feedings. Your pet needs this time to digest previous meals before they eat again.
Use approximate timing to walk Fido based on his feeding schedule and keep this information in mind to make an informed decision.
What Is The Best Time To Walk My Dog?
Most experts say the best time to walk your dog is morning and afternoon/evening. The longest walk of the day should occur in the morning, followed by a calmer, more relaxed stroll later in the day.
Best Time To Feed Dog Before Or After Walk: Which Is Better?
So, should you walk your dog before or after eating? In depends.
Feeding your dog before walking is good for fueling his body with energy for any exercise he will do throughout the day. Another great reason you will want to walk your beloved friend after eating is that it’s easier to establish a feeding and potty schedule. Most dogs urinate or defecate right after having a meal.
On the contrary, if you walk Fido before feeding him (and feed him afterward), you might have to go back out again for a bathroom break.
We prefer walking the dogs after they’ve eaten because it’s easier to get into a routine. Whether you feed your dog before or after walks, follow the general rule of thumb of not feeding dogs for at least one hour before or after exercising.
There is no right or wrong approach, but you need to understand the pros and cons before deciding what’s best for your pup so you can do it safely while keeping your dog happy and healthy.
