Do you fast your dog?

[Potter]

I'd never fast my dog. If he doesn't feel like eating that is fine but I wouldn't withold food from him.

[krisknr]

I think that a good diet and minimal use of medications and insecticide is a much better idea then fasting.
Not to mention that fasting could cause low blood sugar.
A dog that hasn't eaten and throws up is throwing up bile from stomach irritation due to no food!!! not because his body is getting rid of toxins!!! The dogs body will get rid of toxins weather or not the dog has eaten!!
This sounds like a bad idea to me.

[Amanda7]

Originally Posted by krisknr

I think that a good diet and minimal use of medications and insecticide is a much better idea then fasting.
Not to mention that fasting could cause low blood sugar.
A dog that hasn't eaten and throws up is throwing up bile from stomach irritation due to no food!!! not because his body is getting rid of toxins!!! The dogs body will get rid of toxins weather or not the dog has eaten!!
This sounds like a bad idea to me.

Very well said.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by krisknr

I think that a good diet and minimal use of medications and insecticide is a much better idea then fasting.
Not to mention that fasting could cause low blood sugar.
A dog that hasn't eaten and throws up is throwing up bile from stomach irritation due to no food!!! not because his body is getting rid of toxins!!! The dogs body will get rid of toxins weather or not the dog has eaten!!
This sounds like a bad idea to me.

This is the exact reason Ramsey has ever thrown up....

[Emmsmom]

Heavens no! I would NEVER do this unless my vet said that I should! My baby is small enough as it is and NEEDS to eat during the day. I just really don't see a need for this. As someone pointed out it would take a lot longer than 24 hours to detoxify our systems.

[BubblPopElectrc]

Did the OP ever post any links/sources as to why they believe dogs on commercial food should be fasted? I'm curious as to where they heard this.

[bellasmomok]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Also, not eating for one day doesn't put a body into a detoxifying state. If I stopped eating for one day, my body would not detoxify; systems don't work that way.

Well, so many EXCEPTIONAL points have been made about NOT fasting your dog, I can't really think of any others! IMO, that's a TERRIBLE idea!! (I have a hard enough time being sure Bella actually eats!)

^^^Bravo, Ann! In fact, the opposite is true, which is why so many diets out there have you eating smaller portions more frequently. When you fast, the body starts storing and hanging on to everything it has!! It has no idea when your next meal will be, so it goes into survival mode! No way would a 24 hr. fast detoxify....not for a dog or for people. Now, a much longer fast would possibly produce detoxifying results...you'd have to fast long enough that the fat cells the toxins were stored in began breaking down!

[Bhikku]

I've only ever fasted my big dogs on doctor's orders. I don't think I would ever fast a yorkie though...they're so small and prone to hypoglycemia anyway...just doesn't sound like a good idea.

[AvyQuinn]

Originally Posted by BubblPopElectrc

Did the OP ever post any links/sources as to why they believe dogs on commercial food should be fasted? I'm curious as to where they heard this.

Sorta, but I'm not really willing to go and spend money on a book about this subject. I wanted something a little more accessible since this is the internet and all...

Here's the post they made in response to my concerns about fasting your animal and how the original poster alluded to it being a good thing () that your pet may vomit and or have diarrhea in order to expel nasty things from their system.

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Have you ever wondered "why" dogs vomit, or have diarrhea? Do you know what triggers this? This is how the body gets rid of the bad things. Ever wonder why you feel better after vomiting. These are natures way to rid the body of toxins. When you have a fever, it's the bodies defense system at work to kill the problem maker. Sometimes we are just too quick to stop the vomiting, diarrhea and the fever with medications (more toxins) and the body forgets how to take care of itself. In the end, it just causes major health problems including cancers, that are in epidemic proportions due to commercial animal food, vaccinations, bug repellents, chemicals and hormones.
Yes, there are many books out on this very subject if you are interested in learning about this.
Two book that I do highly recommend is by Ann N. Martin, FOOD PETS DIE FOR and PROTECT YOUR PET

I agree with the excellent points made about the short duration of a potential fast and how it probably wouldn't work in the way the OP would intend it to.

[Lexi Rae]

i would absolutely never ever fast my dog. if she chooses not to eat,
then shes not hungry or feels ill.. its up to her... i would have to do it myself and thats not happening

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

With feeding commercial food, getting them vaccinated and putting flea and tick meds on them, the dogs are filled with toxins. Fasting for 24 hours once a week or every two weeks is really beneficial. While fasting, they may vomit or have diarrhea or both, and is natures way of ridding the body of all the toxins that have built up. If they don't fast, the toxins continue to build up and then they start having medical problems, sometimes getting medications which are also toxic and then it just escalates from there.
Feeding real food is the best and healthiest but they should still fast a couple of times a week. If you do fast, make sure bottled water is down for them day and night.

I do agree with your first sentence "With feeding commercial food, getting them vaccinated and putting flea and tick meds on them, the dogs are filled with toxins."

I'm not comfortable w/ fasting my kids once a week or even every two weeks and especially NOT "a couple of times a week." After all, there are only 7 days in a week ... so would they not be eating 2 days every week? That just seems way too extreme for me.

I feed my kids raw (only organic) and only use flea/tick meds in the summer if we're going to a wooded area. My kids do take a monthly heartworm pill, as well as daily vitamins, calcium and supplements (again, all organic and natural).

Codie is the only one of my kids who gets diarrhea and when he has had it, I've fasted him and the diarrhea cleared up immediately (but I've always checked with our vet first). I wouldn't fast him every week. I've only fasted him when necessary and it's only been a few occasions at most. I just can't imagine fasting my kids once or twice a week. I know how I feel when I miss a meal and I can't imagine doing that to them.

[CupofDog]

I'm no expert but I have never heard of fasting dogs that are on kibble - in fact, besides at a vet's direction, I have only heard of prey model feeders fasting their dogs, and usually once a week or less.

I am a prey model feeder and I do not have my dogs fast unless the vet tells me too or Louis has really bad diarrhea (he has chronic gastritis and sometimes a one day fast can help him get over a spell).

Hmmm....I am thinking that most of us who feed 'alternative' diets usually work with vets and nutritionists and I'd let them dictate this sort of thing. That said, one day of not eating wont KILL anyone, but how would YOU feel?

[Yorkiedaze]

Fasting a healthy dog does not in any way harm them. It's just a cleansing to "clean" out any built up toxins from commercial foods, medications, insect preventive medication and vaccinations. They should rest their systems once in awhile if they are not resting on their own. I'm sorry to have stirred up a debate.

[PANAMA69]

I don't think I will ever fast my girls, just looking at their hungry face will kill me, and my poor tiny Melody no way Jose jmho

[betsi]

Originally Posted by BubblPopElectrc

I think presenting something like this as fact is REALLY dangerous.