What Is The Best Canine Cancer Diet?
Choosing the best canine cancer diet is a vital part of a new holistic approach being taken by some owners to help prevent and treat the deadly disease.
Alongside conventional cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryotherapy, hypotherapy and immunotherapy vets and dog owners are starting to realise the importance that a good diet can be in controlling some cancers. The aim of a good cancer diet is for it to include various important nutrients including moderate amounts of complex sugars like carbohydrates and limited simple sugars. The diet should also include moderate amounts of highly digestible protein and a set amount of certain types of fats.
It is thought that by following these rules and guidelines the cancer cells are starved allowing the normal cells to remain healthy. There are numerous types of commercial cancer diets available to purchase but you can also make your own recipe (more on this later).
So what is the ideal canine cancer diet?
One of the leading experts in canine nutrition is a Dr G K Oglivie who has published research highlighting a condition called ‘Cancer Cachexia’ – this is a condition that causes a cancerous Tumor to continue growing with the subsequent side effects also affecting a dog’s already weakened system.
Canine cachexia is (as described by Dr Oglivie) is a condition that occurs when cancerous cells inside a dogs body start to use the dogs sugars as a source of energy – unfortunately this also causes a negative side effect as a bi-product called lactate is produced. So as the cancerous cells continue to feed on the dogs sugars more and more lactate is produced.
The build up of lactate (a waste product) will then start to poison the dog’s body meaning that the already weakened body has an even poorer defence against the Tumor allowing it to grow and develop further.
Due to the fact that many carbohydrates contain simple sugars a diet that has less ‘carbs’ is highly recommended. However, some carbohydrates are better than others such as Oatmeal, Rice, Millet, Grains, Wheat and Barley as these have ‘better’ sugars especially those that have a low glycemic value.
About proteins for dogs with cancer
When it comes to protein Dr Oglivie recommends that a good quality canine cancer diet should contain high quality amino acids and protein as there is some evidence that these can have a a beneficial effect on the toxic build up dogs with cancer can experience – sometimes actually reducing the the toxins in the dog’s body.
One particular ingredient that seems to be beneficial to dogs with cancer is Glucosamine as this can reduce sickness and diarrhea – some of the ingredients that contain protein and are thought to be of benefit are…Chicken, Turkey, Pork and Lamb.
What about fats?
You might be surprised but fats are actually a very important ingredient in any canine cancer diet with some healthy fats actually helping to stunt and even stop the tumors development. These ‘healthy fats’ include Omega 3 (the same fat that humans are often recommended to include in their diet).
Although Omega 3 should be included in any canine cancer diet you should avoid feeding your dog Omega 6 fats as they have the reverse affect (they are not good for tumors as some research states that these fats can actually make the tumors grow faster)! Make sure you check the food’s ingredients so you know exactly what type of fats they contain before you feed it to your dog or puppy.
The perfect canine cancer diet should include 40% protein, 40% fat and the rest carbohydrates.
Why make your own recipe..? If you want to make sure that you are feeding your pet the perfect canine cancer diet why not make your won recipe (speak to the vet first or a dog nutritional expert before you change your dog’s diet – you want to make sure that you don’t make things worst)!
Recipe for dogs with cancer
Chicken Supreme
1. 1 Chicken (1 pound) of finely chopped or ground chicken.
2. 3/4 ounces of chicken livers.
3. A couple of cooked eggs – you can scramble the eggs.
4. 1/2 a cup pf steamed and chopped spinach.
5. 1/2 a cup of cabbage
6. 4 ounces of cottage cheese.
Mix all the ingredients together and serve.
Fish Surprise
1. 1 can of Salmon
2. 2 eggs (boiled or scrambled).
3. 1/2 a cup of Broccoli
4. 1/2 a cup of Spinach
5. 4 ounces of cottage cheese. Mix together and serve.
As previously mentioned it is very important that you speak to an expert before you change your dog’s diet!
Anyway good luck in choosing the perfect canine cancer diet and we hope your beloved pooch gets better.
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