Feeding the Dog with Cancer

“You are what you eat” has never been truer than in the case of a dog with cancer. The dog undergoing cancer and its treatment needs the highest quality nutrition, with some special considerations, additions, and omissions. If you’ve just received a cancer diagnosis, you may be confused about whether to change his diet, and why and how to do this. Because there is no valid “one size fits all” product, I’ve outlined some basic rules to guide you to better nutrition for your cancer dog.

My first rule, for all dog foods, but especially for those fed to dogs with cancer, is to feed only human-quality ingredients (also termed food quality). This rule excludes the vast majority of commercial kibble and canned, as they can be made with meat meals, or with meats, grains, and vegetables that were rejected from the human food chain (termed feed grade). These might be animals that died other than by slaughter (think died on the farm last week), moldy grains, with the risk of mycotoxins, or spoiled vegetables with risk of bacterial contamination. Not only do these types of ingredients provide substandard nutritional quality, but they also pose a health risk to the dog.

My second rule for feeding dogs with cancer is the proteins fed must be of the highest quality. They must contain the full array of required amino acids and be highly digestible. These proteins should not be cooked at high temperatures multiple times, as is done in kibble or canned food production. Doing so damages the proteins and results in the production of AGE’s. Learn about AGE’s in pet food and human concerns at the Anti-AGES Foundation.

My third and fourth rules are interconnected. Food for the cancer patient must taste great and be nutrient dense. These dogs may be struggling with nausea from medications or their disease, or may have become suspicious of their food because medications and supplements have been hidden in it. Further, cancer dogs may have trouble with muscle loss and weight loss, so we need them to eat! Providing a very nutrient-rich diet that appeals to their taste is vital, so that they can eat smaller amounts and still get all they need.

My fifth rule relates to the fats in the diet. Fat contains 2.25 times as many calories per gram as protein or carbohydrates. This is very helpful in getting more calories into a dog who only wants to eat a small amount of food. Many dogs also find higher fat diets more appealing.

High levels of omega 3 fatty acids relative to omega 6 fatty acids have been shown to benefit many cancer patients. So the feeding plan should focus on both lowering omega 6 fatty acids and increasing omega 3’s.  Fish oils are a common source of omega 3’s, while chicken contains very high levels of omega 6’s. In general, I avoid or minimize chicken for my cancer patients, preferring beef, turkey, fish, and egg as proteins. Because of the problem of fat degradation (discussed below), I prefer to supplement omega 3 fatty acids using a high quality fish or marine oil supplement.

As well as having my rules for what to feed my cancer patients, I have rules for what not to feed. Of course, at the start are foods made from less than human quality ingredients. This list is topped by any meat meal (chicken meal, beef meal, meat and bone meal, etc). These are ultra-processed rendered products that have undergone multiple cycles of cooking at high temperatures and in some cases pressures. They are loaded with ALE’s, compounds comparable to AGE’s, produced from the extreme cooking of fat.

My next rule is to avoid excess carbohydrates or starches. These macronutrients are considered pro-inflammatory and break down to glucose, the preferred fuel of the cancer cell. Most commercial kibbles are a minimum of 40% carbohydrates, while my ideal cancer diet is below 20%. For some cancers, a ketogenic diet with carbohydrates under 5%, has been shown to be beneficial. Carbohydrates in commercial pet food usually come from grains or starchy vegetables, of less than human quality. So not only could they be thought of as feeding cancer, they may also carry mycotoxins and bacteria, and be less nourishing than human quality versions.

Feed grade fats should be avoided. These ultra-processed fats are not made from human quality ingredients and may be loaded with cytotoxic ALE’s. This fat is typically sprayed on kibble as the last step of production. This explains why your hands may feel oily if you handle a freshly opened bag of kibble.  

It’s important to remember that fats go rancid when exposed to air, and given that they are largely on the surface of kibble, this can happen quickly. The rule of thumb for kibble is that the fats it contains are rancid about 2 weeks after opening the bag. To lessen this risk, purchase small bags that are airtight or vacuum sealed. Do not buy more than a 2-week supply. Storing in the freezer will help slow down the rancidification process.

The same risk of degradation occurs in fish oil supplements. If refrigerated, most are stable for a month, with capsules being stable a bit longer than liquids. The best fish oils will be sold in glass or metal bottles. Avoid those sold in plastic, as plastic “breathes” and the oil may be degrading before you bring it home.

You have probably realized by now that a fresh food diet is optimal for a dog with cancer. Kibble and canned diets are completely unsuitable for many reasons. Do not be fooled by slick marketing or endorsements by those on the payroll of a pet food company. Of course, the diet must be nutritionally complete, which is not as difficult as the pet food industry and some veterinarians will tell you. Commercial options exist in the form of base mixes to which you add the protein, as well as raw and gently cooked products. If you are willing to put in the work and follow it closely, many experts can tailor a complete diet plan to the requirements of your individual dog, so that you can prepare food at home. Whatever form you decide upon, feeding your dog will during cancer treatment is crucial to both quantity and quality of life.

Related articles:

• Processing and Ultra-processing in Pet Food
• Effects of Intermittent Fasting
• Supplements for the Cancer Patient

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