How Long Does It Take Dogs To Digest Food. Small dogs, on the other hand, can digest a meal in just 4 hours. Large breed dogs can require 8 to 12 hours to digest a meal and poop.

Interestingly, this is significantly quicker than humans, who take between 20 and 30 hours to completely digest a meal. Diets high in protein will pass through the stomach faster than those high in. The exact time will differ based on the dog’s age, breed, and more.