A healthy digestive system is very important for a dog's overall health. The main role of the digestive system (gastrointestinal system) is to digest food and absorb nutrients to use for energy, growth, maintenance and repair. The digestive tract also forms a barrier between the external environment and the dog's internal environment, keeping out potentially pathogenic organisms and harmful substances. Poor digestive health can cause discomfort for dogs, raise concerns among owners and may require veterinary intervention.