How Long Should I Wait To Exercise My Dog After Eating?

Q: I have a Saluki and was told a dog's stomach can flip if he exercises after eating. How long should I wait after feeding to take him for his walk?Q: I have a Saluki and was told a dog's stomach can flip if he exercises after eating. How long should I wait after feeding to take him for his walk?

A: What you are describing is a gastric dilatation and volvulus. This is what happens when the stomach fills up with gas and then rotates. This is a life-threatening emergency. Dogs with deep chests, like your saluki, are in the higher risk category.

To be safe it is probably best to let your dog digest for about 2 hours after eating. Another risk factor is frequency of feedings. Dogs that are fed only one meal a day are also at a higher risk for this so be sure to feed 2-3 smaller meals per day.