Cancer is becoming more common in senior dogs, and the incidence increases with age. Nearly 50 percent of dogs 10 years old and older are now dying of cancer. The role of diet in dogs diagnosed with cancer is important to survival rates.Â
Certain nutritional components can help slow the growth and spread of cancerous tissue and improve survival.
Dietary Considerations for Dogs with Cancer
- Dogs with cancer require consistent, high-quality nutrition. This likely means commercially produced foods alone are not enough. Homemade diets with the proper nutrient balance and containing specific additional nutrients may be the best approach. Organic, certified, contaminant-free whole-food supplements are imperative to lower toxic load.
- A poor appetite and weight loss can result from cancer in several ways. Cancer can affect appetite, smell, metabolism, and the physical ability to chew or swallow. Cancer treatment may also reduce appetite by inducing nausea or irritation to the intestinal tract. A freshly prepared homemade diet can stimulate appetite.
- To ensure the dog has enough building blocks to build muscle and other proteins, feed a food with a high percentage of calories from good-quality protein, with high bioavailability and a wide range of amino acids.
- An increased intake of specific omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, in a ratio of 1.5 EPA: 1 DHA.
- Eliminate or significantly reduce simple carbohydrates, while ensuring carbohydrates are whole foods known to stabilize blood sugar and contain phytonutrients that can slow the spread of cancerous cells—for example, whole grain brown rice and sweet potato. More fat intake can provide an ample source of caloric energy.
- Include functional foods known to have anti-cancer properties, such as beets, turmeric, and broccoli.
David’s Canine Cancer Support Recipe
The following recipe is set and balanced for a 55-pound, 12-year-old female dog with less than 1 hour of activity per day. Your dog may require adjustments to this recipe.
Ingredients
- 60 grams Beef, ground, 90% lean meat / 10% fat, patty, cooked, pan-broiled
- 50 grams Beef, variety meats and by-products, liver, cooked, pan-fried
- 1 tbsp Oil, vegetable, Natreon canola, high stability, non trans, high oleic (70%)
- 1.5 teaspoon Omega-3 Fish Oil
- 3 level scoops Kelp Powder
- 0.5 cup, mashed Sweet potato, cooked, boiled, without skin
- 0.51 cup Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked
- 1 large Egg, yolk, raw, fresh
- 0.75 cup Spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
- 1.22 beet (2″ dia) Beets, raw
- 1 teaspoon Bone Meal
- 2 cups, chopped or diced Broccoli, raw
Preparation Instructions
- Cook ground beef until done; set aside.
- Cut beef liver into small pieces and pan-fry until well cooked.
- Cook brown rice until soft (45 minutes or more, if needed); set aside.
- Peel the sweet potato, cut into small pieces, and boil in a pot until done (about 20 minutes); set aside.
- Cut spinach into small pieces, boil without salt for approximately 3-4 minutes, drain and set aside.
- Chop/dice broccoli into small pieces, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix beef, liver, sweet potato, brown rice, egg yolk, spinach, beets, and broccoli; add Omega-3 fish oil, kelp powder, and bone meal; mix well; serve.
Notes / Summary
Main ingredients are beef, beef liver, sweet potato, egg yolk, brown rice, beet, and broccoli.
This recipe uses fish oil, kelp powder, and bone meal as supplements.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 817.93 kcal | Â | Â | Â |
| Protein | 46.492 g | Â | Â | Â |
| Fats | 35.562 g | Â | Â | Â |
| Carbohydrate | 81.52 g | Â | Â | Â |
| Dietary Fiber | 16.516 g | Â | Â | Â |
| Â | As Fed | % of Calories | Dry Matter |
| Protein | 5.63 % | 23.10 % | 26.39 % |
| Fats | 4.30 % | 39.69 % | 20.16 % |
| Carbohydrate | 8.07 % | 33.11 % | 37.83 % |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.00 % | 4.10 % | 9.38 % |
| Moisture | 78.67 % | Â | 0.00 % |
| Ash | 1.33 % | Â | 6.24 % |
Printable Reports
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The Basic Report shows ingredients, preparation instructions, and a basic nutritional panel for this recipe.
The Recipe Preparation Report shows information needed to prepare this recipe, including ingredients, preparation instructions, prep and cook time, meal suitability, complexity, kilocalories, etc.
The Nutrient Report shows detailed nutrient values and energy analysis for this recipe. Macronutrient data are shown in table and pie-graph format.
Additional Information
I use specific brands of items used in supplementary form, including a fish oil that is third-party certified to be free of contamination and rancid oxidative compounds, while being ultra-concentrated to obtain EPA-DHA in the amounts needed without a substantial caloric load, while assuring the proper EPA: DHA ratio desired of 1.5:1
I also use a specific brand of bone meal that is certified metal- and contaminant-free and certified for nutrition/label quantities.
If you’d like to discuss the specific brands or recipe above, please contact me directly at craftedhealth@gmail.com. I am happy to help!
David Minzel, PhD, CNC, CNA
