Several years ago, canines were far from eating kibble all day long and drooling at the sound of the can opener unveiling a container of canned food. In the wild, indeed, canines were lean, strong animals, a far cry from the obese pets seen quite often nowadays. Because wild dogs were supposed to run in order to eat, the standard specimens presented little fat and strong muscles. Interestingly, even the intestinal tract of wild canines was used to the ups and down of a life based on hunting: not getting food one day and filling to its heart's content the next.
The Benefits of Fasting Dogs
Fasting was natural in wild dogs and therefore, most modern dogs still nowadays, greatly benefit from a one day fast every now and then. This period of fast benefits most healthy pets which may feel remarkably much better once their body detoxifies and their blood purifies. A 24 hour fast is often recommended by veterinarians for pets suffering from several forms of digestive upset. A dog suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, will feel better once its stomach and intestinal tract is able to rest after being irritated for some time.
Owners often feel quite uncomfortable in fasting their dogs. This perhaps derives from the notion that refraining from feeding a beloved dog is almost the equivalent of neglecting a pet and not having his needs met. Most owners are unable to cope with a dog begging for food or pacing with anticipation around the food bowl. Yet, in nature dogs were not able to get lucky every day. They had days of not being able to catch any prey ad then they had days where they were pretty full.
While adult dogs may fast with no problems for 24 hours, small dogs and kittens should not be fasted for more than 12 hours. This applies as well to toy breed puppies which can get hypoglycemic pretty quickly. Sick, weak and lethargic pets as well should not be fasted unless recommended by a veterinarian. Owners should consult with their veterinarian if uncertain.
Fasting benefits pets in many different ways. As in humans a fast will detoxify, it will rest the intestinal tract and it will stimulate the appetite while purifying the blood. This is a great time for obedience training, as hungry dogs often have better attention spans. For this reason, dog trainers often recommend skipping a meal before training.
Wild food versus Modern Kibble: Some Interesting Facts
In nature, wild canines naturally needed more food in the winter than in the summer. It is quite normal therefore for dogs to lose appetite during warm hot days. They may linger more nearby the water bowl and show less interest in food.
Because in the wild dogs used to hunt for their food, it was quite rare they would ever consume any ground meat. The most common meat they would have consumed therefore were large bite size chunks. The only exception to this were puppies that often were found to consume their mother's regurgitated meal.
Dogs today may find it difficult to digest vegetables. The most common source of vegetables in nature, consisted of the digested vegetables found in the prey's stomach. This is why when dogs are offered carrots, they will pass through their intestinal tract undigested and often still whole.
The Controversy of Feeding Raw Bones
Raw food is the natural diet of wild canines. This includes bones. Raw bones are much safer than cooked bones which tend to splinter. Owners may feel intimidated in feeding their dog's raw bones but after all, this is what dogs have eaten in the wild for thousands of years before humans arrived and started feeding them kibble. Yet, owners and even some veterinarians, are particularly cautious of this diet.
It is interesting to learn that in the wild, bones were further cushioned through the gastro-intestinal tract by the consumption of the prey's fur which acted as a cocoon, effectively wrapping around the bones and protecting the dog's intestines from being punctured. For hesitant owners, therefore, it is best to feed first meat and then the bones so that the meat meal has a chance to wrap around the bones, further cushioning their passage through the intestinal tract.
While bones were quite safely consumed in the wild by canines, modern dogs may have to learn again how to properly chew their bones. It is not unlikely for an owner to call his veterinarian alarmed because the dog just ate a chicken wing whole. First time bone eaters, therefore, must be supervised carefully the first time they are fed raw bones. If feasible, and if the dog is not food aggressive, in some cases it helps to hold the other side of the bone to ensure dogs do not swallow it whole. One of the safest bones to start feeding raw food newbies are chicken or turkey necks.
In the wild, dogs do not get their yearly dental cleanings done. They however, have strong white teeth from the constant bone chewing. They also are rarely prone to halitosis on the contrary of commercially fed dogs.
Dogs rarely suffer from diseases derived from eating raw meat such as Salmonella. Their digestive tracts are enriched by bacteria which are helpful in keeping such bad bacteria at bay.
As seen wild canines have done well eating the foods nature intended for thousands of years. It is not surprising therefore, to recognize the multitude of health problems derived from the interference of human kind forcing dogs to eat food that is a far cry from natural.
Many dogs have been reported to heal from chronic health problems once they were fed a raw meat diet. Raw meat diets therefore, can be the solution to solving many annoying health ailments that affect our pets today.
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