Debbie Meier Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I've heard of people that suggest skipping a feeding now and then when the dog is on a raw diet, is there any benefit to it other then on the pocketbook? Legally, I'm not allowed to do it, but if there was a health benefit I could make and argument. Also, if you do skip, how often, once a week? Once a month? Also, those that feed their puppies raw, how fine are you grinding it? Or are you grinding it? Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I don't feed my healthy adult dogs 1 day per week. My pups up to 1 year skip 1/2 day per week. I would do this on raw or kibble. The dog is designed as a gorge eater, and they need a chance to empty out. You will find their poop scheduled is unchanged on the day you skip. My vet recommends 1 day a week, and occassionally a longer fast depending on the dog and issues. I know at least 2 kennels that feed the dogs every 2 days. On the days they feed, the dogs rest. On the other day they work. The dogs are sleek and fit, with good stamina. what do you mean legally you are not allowed to skip a meal? Wth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I do a "half fast" on Sundays except for the pupper. The adults get a light meal of canned salmon and tripe in the morning and skip their usual evening raw meaty bones. It is figured into their weekly kcals so they are not being "deprived." I think it helps the digestion to have the weekly rest. There's much evidence for the benefits of regular fasting in humans and plenty of anecdotal evidence supporting it as a healthy part of a canid diet too. Never cats however, and really tiny dogs need to eat at least once every day, as do growing puppies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I fast mine on days when it gets late while I'm out doing chores and I haven't put anything out to thaw (I know a lot of folks feed it frozen, but I'm not going to do that). How's that for pretty much completely randomly? Wendy, I'd be willing to bet that not skipping a meal is some sort of provision in their kennel license. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseAmy Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 No official skipped meals here. Out of 4 dogs I have 2 that once or twice a week on their own won't eat. Now the other 2 would drive me crazy if I tried to skip a meal. As for puppies what age are we talking about? Don't breed my dogs so any pups that i get are in the 8 weeks old range. I don't grind..will take a hammer to a chicken breast to help break up the bone...It's pretty surprising what those pups can gnaw on. One benefit it keeps them busy a long time..cuts down on the chewing and tires them out.. I love feeding pups raw LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I've had a few fasts based on forgetting to thaw anything too LOL If it has to do with a kennel license it's still wth stupid. Talk about Big Brother in your house. It's nobody's busines when and how I feed my dogs provided they are of good weight and health. Regarding puppies - I grind or chunk according to how well they chew. My theory is that their dam would for them for a while anyway. By 6 weeks they can pretty much take out a chicken back or a lamb rib slab without any help. I fast mine on days when it gets late while I'm out doing chores and I haven't put anything out to thaw (I know a lot of folks feed it frozen, but I'm not going to do that). How's that for pretty much completely randomly? Wendy, I'd be willing to bet that not skipping a meal is some sort of provision in their kennel license. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Meier Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Thanks everyone. Yes, per state law and kennel license we must provide food at intervals no longer then 24 hours. I'm going to run it past the vet on Wednesday when he is here, hopefully since it is suggested by vets per people here if he is unaware he can look into it and approve it as an option "per vet approval" on our inspection report. I figured to ask around to see if it is a founded practice or just something some people do before putting it in front of the vet. It's one of those deals, we don't have to tell anyone that we skip if we decide to, but it's a bunch easier to have it approved and documented then I don't have to worry about is slipping in an conversationg and have an eaves dropping "do gooder" calling in a report. Yeah, they do it, sucks. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRipley Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not all dogs do well with a fast. Sadie vomits acid and bile if she skips a meal. My vet said no big deal, just don't try to fast her if it doesn't work out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not all dogs do well with a fast. Sadie vomits acid and bile if she skips a meal. My vet said no big deal, just don't try to fast her if it doesn't work out! That's actually an indication that you've got a problem. Usually I straighten dogs like that out on raw, pr at least get them on digestive enzmes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRipley Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 That's actually an indication that you've got a problem. Usually I straighten dogs like that out on raw, pr at least get them on digestive enzmes. Thanks, but she is on raw. Only time she ever has a problem is when I've tried to fast her. I go to a holistic vet who said not to worry, just don't do it. She is healthy otherwise, for whatever reason her system just can't handle an empty stomach for an amount of time. Maybe it's the sheltie in her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Thanks, but she is on raw. Only time she ever has a problem is when I've tried to fast her. I go to a holistic vet who said not to worry, just don't do it. She is healthy otherwise, for whatever reason her system just can't handle an empty stomach for an amount of time. Maybe it's the sheltie in her I've discussed this a great deal with several vets, and experienced quite a few dogs with this over the years. Carnivores should *not* be time food dependent. Hungry yet, but not sick from normal fasting. I would be concerend about ulcers, other stomach issues But hey, that's my thing...and I've not yet had a dog I couldn't get straightened out on that problem. Perhaps yours is the one exception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRipley Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Perhaps yours is the one exception. Ok, sorry I posted that bit of misinformation in the first place. All dogs do well with a fast except my one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 That's actually an indication that you've got a problem. Usually I straighten dogs like that out on raw, pr at least get them on digestive enzmes. I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Not to bring this off topic or anything. But Daisy does seem to get some sort of stomach upset one or two times per year. I don't know if it's related to the same kibble all the time or if she does in fact get into something she shouldn't. I wondered if a raw diet would help and if fasting her once in a while would be a good thing. Are there reliable links out there where I can find good information on these two topics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseAmy Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not to get on my soap box here..BUT if you knew what was in kibble you would not question why your dog get stomach upsets. Google rendering plants sometime and find out how kibble is made. Okay sorry off my soapbox and back into my crate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Not to bring this off topic or anything. But Daisy does seem to get some sort of stomach upset one or two times per year. I don't know if it's related to the same kibble all the time or if she does in fact get into something she shouldn't. I wondered if a raw diet would help and if fasting her once in a while would be a good thing. Are there reliable links out there where I can find good information on these two topics? I don't think you'd be able to get a definitive answer unless you put her on a raw diet and then she never had another stomach upset. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not to get on my soap box here..BUT if you knew what was in kibble you would not question why your dog get stomach upsets.Google rendering plants sometime and find out how kibble is made. Okay sorry off my soapbox and back into my crate. I am fully aware of what's in kibble, I've put a lot of research into the food I actually do feed my dog and I feed her the best quality I can afford. Feeding a raw diet is something that one has to know a lot about in order to do it properly, and I don't know enough to feel safe feeding it to my dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooky Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 I never knew about this, but it sure does make sense when you think about it. Odin already tries to skip meals 3-4X a week, but then seems ravenous. Also clumsy. Maybe I'll add more raw and tripe and institute a fast day and see how that goes, I'm now thinking it could be the carbs in the kibble that makes for a bit of a blood sugar drop when he tries to do a natural fast. Thanks for the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 My Lynn is the reason I only half fast the gang. She can't go 24 hours either, same result - bile vomiting. She'll never die from it but I'm not fond of cleaning up foamy yellow-green vomit. She had a severe gi virus (possible parvo) as a pup and never really got 100% back on track from that, in spite of holistic care from day one - probiotics, enzymes, herbs, and a custom diet designed by a consultant. I had another like that too. She has IBS. She and Lynn share some ancestors so maybe it's a weakness in the lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Skipping meals here is pretty random, too. When I get home from the day job at 9:30 at night, and have forgotten to thaw something, we skip. Also, on days when we are on a road trip, and they are all just snoozing on the back seat for 12+ hours, we get where we're going, they have a quick run, and then it's bedtime (since *I* need to sleep to drive another 12 hours the next day). That's often a day we skip, too, A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne Joy Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 Deb, You can give safely withhold solid food from your dog once a week (on a day of rest) and instead give them low sodium beef or chicken broth. Pups going through rapid growth stages probably shouldn’t be put on a fast unless they are experiencing some type of stomach upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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