NUTRITION FOR DOGS WITH CANCER

The general rule of thumb in a cancer-fighting diet is: Low carbs and High Omega-3 fatty acids. Cancer cells thrive on carbohydrates, so we do not include them in the diet - carbs are our enemies. Fatty acids nourish the dog rather than the cancer - they are our friends.

There are many new dog foods available: processed foods, raw foods, organic foods, frozen foods... some may benefit a dog with cancer and others may not. We are researching the contents of these new foods and will post recommendations after comparing them. In general, if you feed your cancer dog store-bought food, look for one that is low in carbohydrates and moderate in protein content. You can add the fatty acids to meals before feeding in the form of fish oil, flax seed oil and many other oils found in most health food stores.

The only commercially produced dog food that has been scientifically studied for its effect on dogs with cancer is Hill's Prescription Diet Canine n/d. This dog food was found to appreciably prolong the lives of dogs with lymphoma. It was not tested on dogs with other types of cancer but it may be presumed that it benefits dogs with all types of cancer.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be added to food in the form of oils such as fish, flax seed, cod liver, salmon and/or olive oil to name a few. Do not heat oils, add these after cooking the food. Many caretakers choose to feed their dogs raw diets with these same contents.
* Do not give fatty acids (oils) to a dog undergoing radiation therapy.

Meat may be raw or cooked as 3/4 of the meal; vegetables should be either steamed or pulverized in a food processor as 1/4 of the meal. Add oils at end of preparation (do not heat the oils). Additional ingredients can include eggs, tofu, garlic and others. Your holistic vet can help you choose. Use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Read an excellent article by Lew Olson

Never Feed A Dog...

Cocoa Mulch (do not use in flower beds that your dog has access to)
Chocolate (6 oz of chocolate can kill a 24 pound dog.)
Apple seeds
Avacado (including guacamole)
Walnuts and Macademia nuts
Grapes and raisins
Onions
Large quantities of Garlic
Sugar free foods containing Xylitol
(reference: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15066760/)
Antifreeze - even a very small amount can cause kidney failure and death in a very short time. Be alert and vigilant when walking through parking lots, don't let your dog lick any fluid off the pavement. They lick it because antifreeze has a sweet taste.

Bullet ate a home made diet. After het was diagnosed with cancer, I adjusted his diet accordingly. He ate zero carbohydrates, aside from the small amount of carbs in the vegetables and 2 biscuits every night. No rice, no potato, no pasta, no bread. No food containing sugar or starch.

You may choose to feed your dog cooked or raw food. There is controversy about feeding dogs a raw diet. Proponents of the raw diet say that dogs should eat what they (i.e., wolves) would eat in the wild - that their physiology is such that they can (and should) eat raw meat. A well known and widely used home made canine diet is the BARF diet, including Bones And Raw Food.

One veterinary oncologist I consulted flat out refused to provide treatment to Bullet while I was feeding him a raw diet. In general, holistic practitioners are in favor of feeding dogs raw diets and traditional practitioners are against it.

I prepared Bullet's food once a month. I filled containers or zipper bags with about 3 days of food each, and froze them. Freeze before feeding to kill bacterium.

After you decide where you stand on the question of feeding raw, it will then be up to your dog to decide. If you feed him raw food and he doesn't like it or has a gastrointestinal reaction, trust this as an indication that it doesn't agree with him. You can prepare Bullet's Cancer Diet for your dog, but as a home made cooked diet rather than a home made raw diet.