My Dog Won’t Eat…And That’s OK!

It’s meal time!

And you’ve got a juicy keto beef patty ready for your pup. You take it out, place it in your dog’s bowl and add some warm broth to entice their senses.

You know it’s about to be devoured. So you wait…and wait…and then…

Nothing happens.

What is going on?

You buy them the best. You do everything right. And yet, sometimes your dog just doesn’t want to eat.

If this is you, don’t worry. We’ve got some good news: it’s OK!

Your dog knows when it’s time to eat, and when it’s not. Keep reading to learn why...

What is Selective Feeding?

Many of us grew up feeding our dogs 2-3 times per day. While this may seem like the norm, it’s actually a VERY recent trend.

For most of canine history, dogs (and their wolf ancestors) were lucky to find a meal even once per day. And much like humans, it was with the advent of modern agriculture that EVERYTHING changed.

Fasting was a way of life for most of dogs’ long evolutionary history. And just as the benefits of fasting and caloric restriction are supported for human health, our canine companions also benefit from going without food from time to time.  

How Do I Fast My Dog?

Many dogs will instinctively know how to practice selective feeding. All you need to do is let them.

The next time your dog’s bowl goes untouched, don’t be alarmed. Give them up to 24 hours to selectively feed. After that time, start with some gentle encouragement to eat again. 

However, if your dog is one that is ALWAYS looking for their next meal, you may want to intentionally limit their food from time to time. After all, the concept of selective feeding can break down a bit when we’re talking about a hungry pug!

Here are 2 easy ways to implement a 24 hour fast for your dog.

1. Don’t feed your dog for 24 hours.

2. Transition your dog to a schedule of 1 meal per day.

Yes. It’s that easy.

If it takes few tries to get to a full 24 hour fast, don’t get discouraged. Some dogs need some time to work up to a full day’s fast.