07/24/2025
Yes canine species especially normally fast.
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You've heard of IF for humans, but can it benefit your dog...? đ§
Intermittent fasting mimics the natural eating patterns of wild dogs, who typically hunt & eat in a feast-or-famine pattern.
So, if you believe your dog should follow their ancestral habits, you might want to try this.
But what do the studies say? đ¤
They're quite positive đ One study randomly assigned 10 healthy dogs to 3 different diets. Dogs in the intermittent fasting group tended to lose more weight and had lower blood glucose and insulin concentrations.
However, 10 dogs on 3 diets is a rather small sample size... that's 3.33 dogs who were practicing IF.
But! A study using data from The Dog Aging Project looked at 10,474 dogs (that's more like it!). This study found that adult dogs fed once daily showed better average cognitive scores and were less likely to experience gastrointestinal, dental, orthopedic, kidney, and liver or pancreas health issues compared to those fed more frequently.
While this study doesnât establish direct cause and effect, it aligns with previous research in mice and humans suggesting that time-restricted feeding may contribute to improved cognitive function and overall physical health.
Other possible benefits include:
Weight management
Fasting can help dogs burn stored fat for energy, promoting weight loss and preventing obesity-related health problems.
Improved digestion
Giving the digestive system a break can allow it to rest and reset, which may be beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues.
Reduced inflammation
Fasting can help reduce inflammation throughout the body by lowering insulin levels and triggering processes like cellular repair and autophagy.
Cellular repair and renewal
Fasting can trigger autophagy, a process where cells remove damaged components and promote the regeneration of healthy cells.
Improved insulin sensitivity
Fasting can improve the bodyâs sensitivity to insulin, potentially reducing the risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Detoxification
Fasting can help the body eliminate toxins by giving the digestive system a break and promoting the removal of toxins stored in fat cells.
Despite this, our in-house expert, Laura Ward, is careful to point out that, as with everything diet-related, it's important to figure out what works for your own dog. She says: âAlthough there is science that suggests once-a-day feeding is beneficial and many dog parents have incorporated such feeding methods over the years, it ultimately comes down to the individual dog.
âItâs also important to note that some dogs can vomit bile when they are hungry so if this starts happening during a fast, it indicates that more regular feeding times suit your dog best,â says Laura.
Laura also cautions that you should generally avoid fasting puppies. âWe initially feed puppies four times a day because their fast growth means they cannot regulate their blood sugar over longer periods of time,â says Laura. âPuppies should continue to be fed smaller meals, regularly, to ensure they receive the nutrition they require for their development.â
For more information on intermittent fasting for dogs, see our article đ
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/is-intermittent-fasting-good-for-dogs/