Diet for Dogs With Cancer

Inherited or not, canine cancers affect different dogs in different ways. Early detection is the key for treating cancer in dogs, just as it is in humans. If your dog is diagnosed with cancer, there are things you, with the help of your veterinarian, can do to help him fight the disease and still live a long, happy life. Changing your dog's diet, paying attention to levels of fat, protein, carbohydrates, antioxidants and vitamins, will increase your dog's chances of fighting the disease and improving his condition.

  1. Modifying Food Intake

    • One dietary approach is to feed dogs that have cancer a diet high in protein and certain fats while reducing carbohydrate intake. The goal is to deprive the tumor cells of carbohydrates, from which they derive their energy, and increase protein to replace the amino acids used by the tumor cells. Start by adding high-quality protein sources, such as chunked or ground lean meat, to your pet's normal food.

      While you are adding meat to the diet, also begin to add fresh vegetables. Raw vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, celery, carrots, and bok choy are full of vitamins and antioxidants. A convenient way of adding both meat and vegetables is to make special patties for your dog that you can keep in the freezer until mealtimes. You will need the following:

      4 pounds ground meat (lean beef, lamb, chicken or turkey)
      2 cups raw goat milk or 1 cup yogurt or cottage cheese
      3 raw eggs
      1 apple
      1 clove garlic
      2 carrots
      1.5 pounds mixed veggies (such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, kale and spinach)

      Mix all ingredients in a food processor and shape the mixture into patties to freeze. Serve one a day.

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    Adding Herbs and Vitamins

    • Many herbs, such as echinacea, cat's claw, pau d'arco, and milk thistle, are thought to have cancer-fighting qualities. You can also incorporate vitamin supplements with antioxidants into your dog's diet. Vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, ginkgo bilboa, omega-3-fatty acids and coenzyme Q-10 are just a few of the supplements recommended for cancer patients. Dosage amounts and frequency will depend on the individual dog and course of treatment, so only begin supplementation under the supervision of your veterinarian.