To fast or not to fast ?

[Seaweed]

Should we consider fasting our dog's?
Why You Should Fast Your Dog by Dana Scott http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-you-should-fast-your-dog/
Therapeutic Fasting - This Dietary Habit of Wolves Might Be Right for Your Dog Too But Never for a Cat by Dr Karen Becker
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/10/06/dietary-habit-for-overweight-pets.aspx
An article from Nora Lenz, which includes her thoughts on the Dr Becker article .http://www.nomorevetbills.com/2017/fasting-dogs-and-cats/

[Tinyplanets]

An interesting read Seaweed. I have read some about the benefits of fasting for humans also and it does sounds interesting. However practically I am not sure how well it would work for us. I wouldn't want to be around me if I was fasting as I can get very cranky when hungry  . I think the dog would think she was being punished if we tried to fast her. Being a rescue, it has taken her a while to know that food comes regularly and no one is going to take it away.  It is only in the last year or so that she has been more relaxed at mealtimes. Personally I wouldn't want to do anything which may set her back.

[Rebecca Forrest]

an interesting read, not sure it would work with my dog
 I have a problem with my dogs weight, he is a red setter and already on 3 meals a day to keep the weight on, so not sure he would do very well with fasting. 

[Seaweed]

More on fasting.
Everything you need to know about fasting in dogs. https://dogsfirst.ie/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fasting-in-dog
Rodney Habib, Dr Karen Becker and How To Fast Your Pet? with Dave Asprey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9zrSJ4jlb0

[Rebecca Forrest]

Red setters need 2 meals a day, as they can are susceptible to bloat as they has a large chest area,and most large dogs are the same. I am not sure that one meal for dogs is good for most .

[Petmum]

Red setters need 2 meals a day, as they can are susceptible to bloat as they has a large chest area,and most large dogs are the same. I am not sure that one meal for dogs is good for most .

I completely agree, Rebecca, I would never feed my dog just one meal a day-in fact I feed her three meals per day as she is a Great Dane mix and bloat is a huge risk in this breed.

I do know several people who say their dogs prefer not to eat breakfast so they are fed just once a day. Strangely in all of these dogs breakfast is the meal they are reluctant to eat-which would tie in with the article’s suggestion of evening being the best time to feed one large meal due to the way the liver functions.

For my part though nothing will convince me to fast my dog-which I’m sure she’ll be very relieved about as she loves her three daily meals!

[Dottie]

I too feed my dogs three times a day and have done for years. I would never fast my dogs. A common problem in dogs is regurgitation of acid and bile due to the stomach being empty for too long. That can’t be very good for the dog or it’s oesophagus.