In the western countries people can really freak out about missing even one meal – never mind that a big portion of the world is blessed to eat even once a day!
Resting our digestion is a REALLY good thing considering how much happens in the body during that – all the expended energy used up as well as free radicals formed. Resting digestion helps the body to clean up debris and healing will happen faster.
For our dogs as carnivores, resting digestion isn’t really optional. The carnivore anatomy and physiology makes fasting a necessity – they were designed to gorge and fast as nature never promises a meal, especially to the carnivore predator.
When we rest from food a lot of good can happen in the body. Same for our dogs. DIG in and learn about this!!
Articles
http://livingtraditionally.com/scientists-discover-fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-fights-cancer-1/
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/161016/cell-strategy-how-fasting-makes-the-human-body-better.html
Just so you KNOW our dogs ARE carnivores, here is an excellent post shared by my most excellent, close friend Bre Altherr (she’s one of our graduates from our former animal naturopathy school – owning this like the pro she is!). The photo is hers and of her puppy, Asa:
“Asa (as all puppies should be) was weaned to raw, but this is his first My Pet Carnivore meal so I wanted to post for fun and for educational purposes 🙂
🤔 How do we know that dogs 🐕 are carnivores, designed to consume raw meat, bone, & organ?🥩🦴
✅ all teeth are pointed (designed to bite, rip, chomp, & swallow) unlike those of an herbivore or omnivore who have flat back teeth
✅ saliva that does NOT contain amylase (enzyme found in herbivore and omnivore saliva, but not that of a carnivore)
✅ hinged jaw allowing only vertical movement rather than side to side movement
✅ digestive process starts in the stomach, not the mouth like herbivores and omnivores
✅ gut containing hydrochloric acid and a ph of .5-1 (very acidic compared to our 6-7 level) designed to break
down and assimilate raw meat & bone and even those rancid dead animals they so adore
✅ a pancreas designed to secrete small amounts of amylase in times of famine where food is scarce. NOT designed to be taxed daily by feeding a cooked or omnivorous diet which in turn often leads to diabetes & pancreatitis
✅ digestive tract that is just 3x the length of the body vs that of a omnivore which is closer to 10x the length of the body
✅ smooth short unsacculated colon designed to allow raw meat & bone to pass through quickly
✅ a body that is able to digest 95% of its species appropriate food (raw meat, bone, & organ) within 2-3 hours compared to the 12-24 hours it takes for conventional food
🌟 Fun Fact: 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut (true for us and our pets!) which is why a species appropriate diet is paramount. Ya are what ya eat! 🙃”
Until next time…
Have a PAWsitively, tail waggin’, NATUROPATHICALLY healthy day!
Kim Bloomer, V.N.D., N.D. is an animal naturopath as well as being certified in small animal nutrition, with years of experience in animal wellness. Dr. Kim is a published author, writer, and blogger. Subscribe to her DOGgone Newsletter for updates or to her blog via email. Copyright ©2005-2024 Aspenbloom Pet Care, Dr. Kim Bloomer, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Author/Publisher. This article is intended to be educational. However, it is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified animal health professional. Dr. Kim Bloomer and Aspenbloom Pet Care, do not assume any legal responsibility for misuse of the products discussed in this article. The only essential oils referenced on this website are Young Living.
