In my opinion, fasting is one of the most misunderstood and most under-used of treatments. Many people, when something is wrong with their dog, want to know what to add to their food or what medicine to give them. More often than you would think, the answer lies in the complete opposite... Fasting lets the dogs body figure out exactly what it needs, and then goes to work on that specifically. I assure you that the dogs own body knows better than any vet where the problem lies (and I mean every time). You do however, need to give the dog a chance to cure himself, and this is where fasting comes into play.

Now,how does fasting work?

Every time your dog eats something, enzymes are dispatched to the stomach to aid in digestion. The dogs body gets used to a meal every day and too many of these enzymes are held on "stand by" because of this. However, if the dog skips a meal or two something else happens. These enzymes now are given the "green light" and are free to roam about the rest of the body and "clean up" whatever problems may be troubling him. The body of the dog knows best what these problems are and he will dispatch these enzymes to that particular region which is giving him the most distress. This will keep your dogs immune system in tip top condition; ready and waiting for any "uninvited guests" to pounce on. When the dog is spending all of his "enzyme energy" on digesting food, he simply falls behind in his regular maintenance of the entire system; Leaving the immune system vulnerable to all kinds of attacks. I believe that fasting for one day a week is one of the best ways to help your dog stay healthy and caught up with his chores within his body.

When I say fasting, I mean nothing but water. Anything else is not fasting, and will not achieve the desired results.

If you are not buying what I'm laying down here, then just take note of the fact that when your dog is feeling "under the weather," he will usually fast on his own accord!!! I have seen this many times, but not since I introduced a "fast day" to my dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jason I read the same thing in Dr. Martin Goldstiens book.I might add that he also believes in giving the dog filtered water and not tap water.I haven't fasted my dog yet but I will. One day fast once a week will be beneficails for us humans.

Milt

Milt,

I have never heard of the Dr that you mentioned. I think many people just won't go for it because it sounds like such a hippie dippie cultural trip. I use to fall into this catagory, and believe me, I can't stand hippies. As everybody knows, I'm surrounded by them out here in California (lol). However, the proof is in the pudding. Neither my dogs or myself have needed to see a physician in a very long time (I'm going on 6 years without so much as a head cold), and that is very hard evidence to counter.

I think particularly those who feed kibble can benefit from fasting their dog one day a week, but the "raw" community would benefit as well, in my opinion.

Jason the book is called "the nature of animal healing" by Martin Goldstein. ED sells it. I found a copy at the local library.

Good Posts Jason.

I am so glad to see this posted. I fast my dogs weekly and have for years. My family and non-dog friends think this is cruel. :rolleyes: I just wanted to add that I do not fast young puppies or pregnant/nursing females although many of my females fast on their own early in the pregnancy.

I really believe in the benefits of this, I just wish I had the willpower to practice it on myself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Chuck and Cindy,

Ya I don't think young puppies benefit from it either. They shouldn't have acquired any problems at an early age.

Maybe pregnant bitches do it instinctually to get themselves as healthy as possible to prepare for the litter? It sounds plauseble enough to me.

As far as willpower goes... Remember you have to go about seven days without food to equal their one! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Martin Goldstein is quite well known..been on T.V. (various talk shows) often. Both him and his brother have a veternary practice. Martin has moved more into the holistic side of things in his veternary care. (not sure about his brother).

I agree with everything that has been said about fasting but there are also a couple of things to consider if you want to venture into doing it.

I fasted my dogs for about 6 yrs. (once a week) and stopped doing it just over a year ago.

First, you should not fast a young pup or dog. You should not start fasting until approx. 2 yrs. of age.

Fasting can also be hard on older dogs. My 13 yr. old collie had trouble with the fast day in the later yrs. of her life. I never had ANY digestive problems with her throughout her life except for this exception. (she could eat anything and not be sick!). Older dogs have more problems with an empty stomach for a long period of time. Most people will say to not fast older dogs for as long and to bring them back onto their food gradually.

You should not fast a pregnant female and as mentioned they will actually fast themselves when needed. (Billinghurst explains this in one of his books).

Another intersting fact was again mentioned at a seminar I was at. I had been trying to get some weight off my older male. As he aged and became a less active he gained weight. I tried just everything. When I mentioned this at a seminar the speaker talked about a study that had been done on fasting. What they found was that if someone in the 'pack' did not fast, and was eating in front of the rest of the pack it actually tricked thier bodies (of those fasting) into thinking that they were 'starving' and that their bodies needed to 'store fat'. So, in reality even though you were fasting , thier bodies were working and storing fat......thus the reason perhaps my male was not loosing any weight!

Now, I did fast all the dogs in my pack but I did not fast myself! I did often eat in front of them! Now, it was also get more complicated when I would have a young puppy that needed to be fed as well.

So....I started to not fast the dogs, to see what difference I would see. And....my male did start to loose some weight!

Now, the speaker did mention that some dogs seem to be more suseptible to this process as well. (mainly those who are food hounds to begin with...which my male is)

So...it is something to think about....

Shandar,

I do not fast regularly until the dogs "bones are grown". However, if one is thinking of going to medicine for something, then I would always first try a fast, with additional "food cures" afterwards. I have been very effective in this regard with younger dogs as well. I also want to say that you are a true dog man and a true man of science to be as involved with your dogs as you are, and observe as much as you do. Bravo!

Its amazing! We are all so nutrition concious about our dogs! I could stand to lose a few lbs myself! My wife busts my chops all the time! "Gee Chuck....too bad you don't watch what you eat like you do the dogs!" Its all in good fun though.LOL Great posts guys! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />