We've all heard the saying, "You are what you eat," but you should also be aware that the timing of your meals impacts your health, happiness, and lifespan, as well as those of your dog.

Studies examining the impact of intermittent fasting and restricted food on circadian rhythms highlight the need to respect the body's internal clock to achieve optimal health and well-being.

The feeding and fasting cycles that your dog naturally experiences coincide with daylight and dusk. However, the natural circadian cycle of your dog is confused by our modern lifestyles, which include artificial lighting and light-blocking window coverings. 

To ensure the healthiest possible lifestyle for our pets, we, as dog parents, must help them with food, exercise, and sleep routines.

There are three basic feeding plans, free feeding, restricted feeding, and intermittent fasting. 

Free feeding or free choice is having food available to your dog at all times, allowing him to eat when and how much he wants. Free feeding is the easiest option; you top off the food bowl whenever it gets low. However, this is not typically the best option for your dog.

First, let's not forget our dog's ancestor, the wolf. Wolves never knew when their next meal would be, so they gorged themselves whenever they made a kill. Their stomachs allowed vast amounts of food to be consumed at once. So it isn't unexpected that your dog will eat more than required when offered a large bowl of food that is continually topped off. They are programmed to eat in excess when food is available! It is not surprising that free-fed dogs have a higher rate of obesity. 

Free feeding makes it challenging to keep an eye on food consumption. Clinical signs of numerous diseases include both losses of appetite and binge eating. It could take a few days to notice if your dog's feeding habits have changed, primarily if multiple people ensure the bowl is always full.

From a training perspective, dogs that have access to food at all times may be less food motivated. The value of treats can become devalued. Other motivators that are not as rewarding or convenient may need to be used.

Another issue with free-feeding is that dog parents often top off the bowl rather than properly clean it between meals, allowing a build-up of bacteria or mold on the bowl surface. Food particles surrounding the bowl attract ants, insects, or disease-carrying rodents.

There are two types of restricted or controlled feeding, restriction on the amount provided and regulation of the time the food is available to your dog. Amount restriction offers a specific amount of food each day, leaving it out if necessary for your dog to consume over time. This allows your dog to choose when he eats, but the amount is controlled.

Time restriction makes food available to your dog within a feeding window and removes it after the set time. Time windows can be short, but avoid having your dog feel rushed to finish his meal before it is removed. 

Intermittent fasting (IF) has numerous health benefits, including improved immune function, faster recovery from injury, decreased diabetes and heart disease incidence, and increased longevity through delayed aging! By practicing intermittent fasting, you can increase your dog's lifespan and quality of life. 

During a fasting period lasting more than twelve hours, your dog's body enters into metabolic phases that require less glucose and more ketone body-like carbon sources taken from the existing stores in the body. The fasting period usually coincides with sleep.

Intermittent fasting activates autophagy, the process by which cells break down old, damaged, or abnormal proteins, making the components available to the body to recycle for essential cellular processes. Autophagy is critical during periods of stress or starvation. Autophagy impacts the immune system, affecting the body's immune response against viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells.

A simple overview of how fasting benefits your dog's body is that it activates glucagon, the hormone that counterbalances insulin, allowing blood glucose levels to balance.

In the wild, wolves do not eat two meals a day. They occasionally fast for one or more days. The canid body is designed to thrive during times of fasting. 

Fasting allows the body to rest and heal without expending energy on digestion and provides a break from ingesting toxins such as pesticides or herbicides often found in food. The gut microbiome follows the circadian rhythm of the body. Fasting creates a different environment in the gut, with beneficial bacteria flourishing.

The immune system can recharge and promote healing. Specialized cells, such as white blood cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, have increased activity. 

The white blood cells, including neutrophils and monocytes, are part of the first line of defense in the body's immune system. Macrophages that "eat" or destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders break down old or abnormal cells throughout the body. Natural killer cells are very aggressive cells that penetrate abnormal cells and release toxic granules into them.

Ketosis can occur in the body when your dog eats a diet of high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrates or during times of intermittent fasting. The body switches from utilizing glucose to burning fat for fuel during ketosis. Ketosis boosts metabolism, increasing fat burning and muscle toning. 

Ketosis should not be confused with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition in dogs with uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes.  

Fasting allows for a natural detoxification process, activating autophagy and enabling the cells to break down damaged or abnormal proteins and other cellular components. Catabolism, the breakdown of proteins or fats, increases the release of energy for use as fuel.

Fasting conditions the body's cells by causing mild stress. These prepared cells can better cope with severe stress, such as a traumatic injury which decreases the recovery time from the injury. 

Diseases that benefit from intermittent fasting include chronic diarrhea, chronic pancreatitis, yeasty skin and ear infections, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth.

Fasting does not mean starving! There are two methods to use for intermittent fasting. 

Provide no food for 24-48 hours. In nature, the wild dog does this regularly and still thrives. However, as a pet parent, this may be very difficult as your dog expects daily meals.

Use the restricted feeding window plan, with an 8-hour time frame during which your dog will take in all his calories for the day. Utilizing a feeding window is easy to adjust to your schedule, creates less stress for you and your dog, and is still very beneficial.

Some dogs will voluntarily fast, especially if they are experiencing GI upset or after a substantial meal. Allow your dog to take a break from eating if he is inclined to do so. It is only an issue if it continues for more than 48 hours.

Intermittent fasting may not be suitable for all dogs. Dog trainers and behaviorists have raised concerns that intermittent fasting can exacerbate aggression in some dogs. Follow the clues your dog offers and choose the best feeding option for him. 

Never fast, puppies! Dogs should reach their adult size and weight before they implement intermittent fasting.

Only use the daily restricted time frame method for ill dogs, on specific prescription medications such as insulin, or for older dogs.

Don't feed any other food, even small treats, during the fasting period to achieve maximum results. 

Intermittent fasting is appropriate for all diets. Kibble-fed dogs will benefit from long rest from starch and carbohydrates, allowing the body time to detoxify. 

Free feeding often leads to obesity as most dogs do not have the restraint in eating only what they need.

Intermittent fasting has numerous health benefits for your dog, including increasing quality of life and longevity!

Many body systems benefit from intermittent fasting as it allows the body to focus on routine maintenance at the cellular level without disrupting the digestion and processing of food.

Habib, Rodney; Becker, Karen Shaw. (2021). The Forever Dog. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Metabolic and Immunological Effects of Intermittent Fasting on a Ketogenic Diet Containing Medium-Chain  Triglycerides  in Healthy Dogs  

In situ neural isolation of the entire canine upper gut: Effects on fasting and fed motility patterns   

Intermittent Fasting for Dogs Boosts Health Quickly    

5 Benefits of Fasting Raw Fed Dogs | Keep the Tail Wagging   

Fasting, Circadian Rhythms, and Time-Restricted Feeding in Healthy Lifespan   

Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding and Dawn-to-Sunset Fasting on Circadian Rhythm, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease   

The role of intermittent fasting and meal timing in weight management and metabolic health | Proceedings of the Nutrition Society | Cambridge Core   

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 1 - The Evolution Of Different Breeds 

Unit 4 - Pesticides Plague Your Dog Daily 

Free Feeding Can Be Detrimental

Feed Real Institute

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