Fasting Dogs

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Fasting is a practice that has been used for centuries. Its origin can be traced back to the 5th Century BCE when the Greek physician Hippocrates recommended to his patients to withhold food and sometimes drink to exhibit specific symptoms of illness. Throughout history, fasting has been used for religious purposes, to strengthen faith. It can also improve overall health and well-being or even reverse human diseases. Interestingly, this is also true for dogs.

Some people may find it challenging or inhumane to fast their dogs. However, this is a misconception as fasting dogs regularly or intermittently can improve their overall health. Dogs do not possess the same intellectual capacity as humans, so they will not hold a grudge against you for fasting them. It is mainly our emotions that create this feeling of guilt. If we can shift our perspective and understand that fasting is a kind gesture rather than a cruel one, we can help our dogs live longer and reduce the number of visits to the vet.

The environment where dogs evolved from

Dogs are naturally adapted to survive long periods of prey scarcity, which can be traced back to their origins. Their closest living relative, the grey wolf, has been observed surviving for months without a successful hunt. To cope with such situations, dogs and wolves store nutrients as reserved fuel inside their bodies. In case of sickness or injury, wild animals instinctively stop eating and rest to allow their bodies to heal themselves. This behaviour is crucial for their survival in the wild. Domesticated dogs are well equipped to fast once or twice weekly, even more in some cases depending on the individual dog’s decline in health. If a dog has been transitioned to a diet that is appropriate for its species and is in good health, it may not require any fasting. However, it is advisable to avoid feeding meat to a dog every day and ensure that it has at least one or two meat-free days every week. Some people prefer to fast their dogs once a week, fortnightly, or monthly. This can offer the body a much-needed break from the heavily processed and intensively farmed animal products that many dogs consume today. The traditional way of feeding dogs, with foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates, is not suitable for their physiology and can lead to various diseases. Dogs are naturally designed to consume low-fat meats, such as wild prey animals.

What the experts say

In her book “Real Food for Cats & Dogs,” Dr. Clare Middle suggests feeding dogs five meals per week, fasting them twice a week, and feeding them at random times.

“Day 1 – 9 am. Day 2 – Noon. Day 3 – 7 pm. Day 4 – fast. Day 5 – 3 pm. Day 6 – 8 pm. Day 7 – Fast.” 

It is believed that fasting can be very beneficial for sick dogs, however, conventional medical professionals rarely recommend it for health and well-being purposes. The only time it is recommended is before general anaesthesia for surgery. Fasting is not a new concept in animals, as Dr. Donald Ogden, a veterinarian in the 1940s and 1950s, used to fast many cats and dogs for days. In the fasting chapter of his book “Natural Care of Pets”, he states that:

“Every practitioner who will give this meritorious function due concern will realise that ten to thirty days’ abstinence from all food except water is nothing monstrous. I have fasted dogs and cats for periods ranging from one to fifty days depending upon the pathology with excellent results and amazing recoveries being affected.”

He wrote how he fasted these animals for various ailments, including arthritis, constipation, skin diseases, bronchial diseases, kidney and heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, and emaciation. Who would have thought fasting a severely underweight animal would gain 20 per cent above the pre-fasting weight from ten to fifty days?

Dr Herbert Shelton (1895-1985), the founder of the modern-day Natural Hygiene Health Movement, quoted about fasting:

“In a fast, the body tears down its defective parts and then builds a new one when eating is resumed.”

Though not widely known, Dr Shelton was a visionary in his time, with expertise in his field that still influences people today. He authored several books, such as “Fasting and Sun Bathing”, “The Science of Fasting”, and “Fasting Can Save Your Life”, which offer valuable insights and have helped many people achieve outstanding results.

Here are some more of his quotes:

“Fasting is a rest – a physiological vacation. It is not an ordeal nor penance.

It is a house-cleaning measure which deserves to be better known and more widely used.”  

“You don’t need treatment. The fever, inflammation, coughing, etc., constitute the healing process. Just get out of their way and permit them to complete their work. Don’t try to ‘aid’ nature. She doesn’t need your puny aid-she only asks that you cease interfering.”

And this one is on fasting animals:

“Biologists, physiologists and research workers of all kinds are fond of animal experimentation. But all of these workers are in the habit of ignoring important parts of the regular activities of animals. For example, they ignore, never mention, in fact, the numerous instances of dogs and other animals having fasted ten, twenty or more days when they have received internal injuries or a broken bone. That a sick animal refuses food is well known to all laymen, but physiologists and biologists seem to think that this fact is unworthy, even of mentioning. Can we not learn from observing the normal and regular activities of animals living normal lives- must we assume that animals are capable of teaching us something only when under artificial conditions and subjected to processes that they never encounter in the normal course of their existence?” 

Founder of Rotational MonoFeeding, Nora Lenz, incorporates fasting into this feeding method.

“Fasting is power granted to us by nature. It’s impossible to overstate the empowerment that the knowledge of fasting can endow to dog owners if they will put it to use. Fasting is the kindest, most compassionate, natural, painless, stress-free, cheapest, least invasive, most effective (by an incomparable measure) way to approach constructive sickness such as skin rashes or eruptions, ear inflammation, digestive issues (diarrhoea or vomiting) and most others.” 

If you are interested in learning more about fasting and how to properly feed your dog based on their physiology, you can find all the information you need in her book “Nutrition 101”. E-BOOK | Rotational MonoFeeding

If you apply the discount code ‘RMFEBOOK10PERCENT’, you will receive a 10% discount.

fasting cats and dogs | Rotational MonoFeeding

Intermittent fasting 

Intermittent fasting is a popular fasting method in the human health movement. One of the most common approaches, known as 16/8, involves 8 hours of eating between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., leaving 16 hours without food. People have begun to realise that if this method has many health benefits for themselves, it could be beneficial for their pets as well.

When I recommend fasting dogs to clients who have never fasted or even heard of it, it can be challenging to change their mindset, especially if their dogs could benefit from fasting from the beginning. I have better results when the dog’s caregiver is receptive to fasting and has fasted regularly or at least tried it themselves. The thought of their beloved dogs’ faces at meal times is too much to bear. No one likes to fast their dogs, including me, but in some cases, it is one of the kindest things we can do. I always suggest that they research the subject so that they understand the reasoning behind it and feel comfortable doing so. Some clients need a little more time. For these clients, I recommend feeding their dogs watery fruits that are easy to digest, such as watermelon, as a substitute until they feel comfortable with fasting. Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

When we consume a big meal, our body uses a significant amount of energy to digest it. As a result, we often feel fatigued after eating. However, if we decide to abstain from food, our body can utilise this energy to facilitate the healing process. This also applies to our pets. By providing optimal conditions, our bodies and our pets can heal themselves.

Waste products stored in the liver and fatty tissues release toxins while fasting. Fasting provides an opportunity for the body’s organs to repair and restore themselves. Additionally, it initiates a process called autophagy, which aids in the body’s ability to recycle and eliminate cellular waste and debris that has accumulated over time. The word autophagy comes from the Greek words “phagy”, meaning eat, and “auto”, meaning self.

Self-regulating

Self-regulating is a type of fasting where dogs stop eating for various reasons such as environmental changes, stress, obstruction, pain, or an adverse reaction to drugs and nausea. Sometimes, growing dogs, mostly around 7-12 months old, may appear fussy or reject their food, which concerns their owners. However, dogs are not naturally fussy; humans may unknowingly cause this behavior by feeding them too much food too often, leading to changing different food types and more fussiness. Dogs are intelligent animals who know what their bodies need, and this fussiness can be curbed by listening to them. If there is no underlying cause of concern, I suggest reducing portion sizes, cutting back to one meal a day, and adjusting accordingly. If your dog is eating Commercial Pet Food I suggest switching to a species-appropriate diet that includes raw meat, bones, organs, fresh fruit and some vegetables as soon as possible. Ensure the different food types are fed on separate days as they would naturally eat in nature. 

When not too fast

It’s not recommended to fast a dog if it has been heavily medicated, as many dogs, unfortunately, have been. It is possible that a dog may experience some unpleasant symptoms while detoxing, as the stored residues of harmful substances are quickly released through the skin. While fasting may aid the dog in healing faster, it is best to avoid it and opt for dietary changes during the early days of detoxification instead.

You should never fast a pregnant or lactating bitch, unless she chooses to fast on her own. Similarly, young dogs should not be fasted either. Although we are advised not to fast young pups, it’s worth noting that wild pups may go longer periods without food when food is scarce, and their mother is unable to provide a catch. Food for thought!

If your dog has diabetes, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid fasting them unless you are working with a professional who can monitor your dog closely.

Starvation 

It’s a common misconception that a dog will starve if it goes without food for a whole day. However, this is not true. Starvation only occurs when a dog does not receive nutrients for an extended period, typically lasting from weeks to months. During this time, the body’s reserve sources become depleted, leading to starvation.

Conclusion 

Fasting can have various benefits for healing sick dogs, including reversing ailments and prolonging their lives. While it may seem harsh to some, fasting is actually a beneficial practice that is often overlooked by mainstream healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, there are very few scientific studies based on the true understanding of this life-saving practice. The truth is that healthy dogs and humans don’t generate any revenue for the ‘healthcare’ industry.

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