Cancer – A Pet Owner’s Nightmare

By Admin - Deanna, on February 6th, 2008 |

Cancer is becoming more common in our canine companions and if you know more than just a few other pet owners, you probably know someone who has experienced this horror with one of their pets, if you haven’t went through this nightmare yourself.

Here’s an article from Natural Health for Pets with some tips and advise.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in pets.

More than 50% of dogs and cats over the age of 10 will develop cancer.

It often doesn’t respond well to the more traditional medical treatments, yet there are a number of at home pet care remedies.

SIGNS
Signs for you to watch for include, a firm lump that grows and does not go away. Some pets have an increased appetite but continue to lose weight. Others have respiratory problems and may show overall weakness if they are becoming anemic.

The most common malignant types of cancer ( cancer that spreads) in dogs are lymphoma and mast cell tumors. The most common malignant type diagnosed in cats is lymphoma, often secondary to Feline Leukemia Virus infection.

CAUSES
It is usually a disease of older dogs and cats. It causes over half the deaths of pets 10 years and older.

The exact causes of cancer are unclear.

Certainly there is a genetic correlation as we are seeing an increased incidence in certain breeds.

Golden Retrievers are now the number one breed to be diagnosed with cancer. Boxers are a close second.

Environment also plays a big roll with exposure to smog, herbicides, and insecticides being contributing factors.

Food is of utmost importance – preservatives and other chemical additives may also cause cancer.

SOLUTIONS
What is Your Pet Eating?

This is the most important thing that you can do to prevent cancer in your pet!!
When the body is supported with the building blocks needed to maintain healthy cells and repair damaged ones, healing from within can begin.

It is best to feed a premium quality holistic diet- avoid artificial colors.

Ensure that a natural preservative is used.

Some dogs thrive on a raw food diet- if you take the proper precautions, then this is a great option.

Cancer cells thrive on carbohydrates and proteins, but can’t grow as fast with fats. Certain veterinary diets have been designed for this, but you can also make your own low-carbohydrate, high-fat cancer diet.

Simple Cancer Diet: 50% chicken/fish, 50% mixed vegetables, 1/2 tsp of olive oil per 10 lbs, salt and garlic to taste.

Supplements
The next most important thing, is to supplement your pet’s diet. The omega 3 essential fatty acids should be added to EVERY pet’s diet.

FATTY ACIDS ARE ESSENTIAL. Omega 3 fatty acids are great anti-inflammatories and have been shown to prevent the spread of cancer. Flax is the best source for dogs. For cats, the liquid form is the only option, and they should receive it twice daily of Salmon oil or a supplement such as EFA Caps purchased from your veterinarian.

FLAVONOIDS. These are compounds in a class of their own. They compose the thousands of structures that give the bright color to fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidants as well as having anti-cancer properties. These include flavones, (apigenin), isoflavones (genistein), flavanols (quercitin). Purchase a mixed bioflavoniod product that contains polyphenols, particularly EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate), which is the specific flavonoid isolated from green tea.
ANTIOXIDIZE. Antioxidants have been shown to slow the growth and spread of some types of cancer. Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium are the most effective ones.

Written by Dr. Andrew Jones – Veterinary Secrets Revealed