Fasting and The Positive Impact of Fasting on Your Dog's Health

Although it may sound cruel to deprive your dog of food for an entire day, you are actually doing a great service to your dog's digestive and immune systems. An occasional fasting day every few weeks will make your dog's body healthier and live longer. It is important to clarify at the outset that there is a big difference between fasting and fasting. Fasting implies that on the days when the dog eats it has optimal nutrition, and on fasting days the organism is renewed from the resources obtained from food. As about 80% of the body's immune system is located in the dog's digestive system, the digestive system has a role not only in digesting food, but also in defending the body against bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins. 

Fasting allows the digestive and immune systems to remain in top form. Important immune reactions take place during fasting:

• The activity of macrophages increases.

Macrophages are one of the types of cells of the immune system. They are important in cleaning the body of harmful substances. But also cleaning the organism of its own failed, old, damaged and pathologically changed cells, in cooperation with other cells of the immune system. Such destroyed cells enter the digestive system through the bloodstream and are expelled from the body. The treatment of autoimmune diseases, as well as the treatment of some types of cancer, involves the stimulation of macrophage activity. 

• The activity of neutrophils increases.

Neutrophils are also responsible for destroying bacteria and other microorganisms. They are the first to arrive at the point of penetration of microorganisms into the body, so they are also called the first line of defense. Damaged neutrophils release substances that summon other cells of the immune system to the 'battlefield'. tumor cells. Research on mice has shown that a one-day fast causes mild stress to the cells, which then function much better in situations of more serious stress. In comparison, muscle cells are exposed to stress when lifting weights, but become increasingly resistant to stress. Fasting is recommended for healthy adult dogs, puppies need more energy and nutrients due to their growth and development, and fasting is not recommended during this period. For dogs with chronic diseases, it is necessary to seek the advice and opinion of a veterinarian before applying fasting. Selected articles related to nutrition:

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