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The information contained in this newsletter should only be used as a guideline. Always make sure you have a correct diagnosis from your veterinarian before proceeding and always follow their directions and protocol.

New research in the 90's showed some promising developments for specific diets for dogs with cancer. It was found that diets that appeared to work best were those low in carbohydrates, high in protein and with good levels of fat. Carbohydrates are made up of chains of saccharides, which are sugars. Sugars in turn offer good fuel for cancer cells.
        With that information in hand, the current commercial dog
foods were too high in grains and starches to be the best defense for a
dog with cancer. Hills Science Diet did develop a canned diet called
N/D to fit these guidelines, but this article will offer suggestions to
add variety to the dog's diet with recipes both cooked and raw. And
often the best meals made are those made with love.For an
overview on this subject, check my article, Nutrition for Dogs with
Cancer which explains this in more detail at www.b-naturals.com/Sum1998.phpAlso Dr. Oglivie's research may be seen online at this address.To prepare the diet, we need to look at carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is important to know what to avoid and what to incorporate into the diet.

Carbohydrates
Foods included in this category are fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains (oatmeal, wheat, rice, barley, millet, amaranth, corn). For a dog with cancer, some carbohydrates are more 'friendly' than others, especially those that contain less sugar, or have a lower glycemic value.In other words, carbohydrates that you can eat when on the Atkins diet. These would include summer squashes such as zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and patty pan squash, along with dark leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and bok choy. Avoid or use sparingly, the starchy types of vegetables, such as potatoes, yams, carrots, green peas, sweet potatoes and winter squash (hard rind squashes). I would probably avoid all grains if possible.

Protein
It is important to use proteins from animal sources. Avoid plant protein sources such as tofu or other soy products, grain proteins or plant based protein powders. Proteins from plants are incomplete for dogs. They need the additional amino acids found in animal sources. Soy products are also high in phytates, which can block absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine and zinc.
Good sources of animal protein include beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, canned fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines, eggs and dairy products such as whole fat yogurt and cottage cheese.

Fats
Meat is a good source of fat, and the fattiest meats include lamb, pork and goat. When feeding poultry, leave the skin on, which is where most of the fat resides, and use dark meat, which is higher in fat, rather than light meat. Canned fish is also a good source of fat. Always use whole milk dairy products. Eggs also contain fats. Another kind of fat that is very beneficial is that found in salmonfish body oils (not cod liver oil). Suggested dose is 1,000 mg (with 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA) per ten pounds of body weight daily.
        For a cancer starving diet, I would suggest using a ratio of approximately 40% protein, 40% fat, with the rest being carbohydrates. It is also possible to feed a lower amount of carbohydrates, when feeding a raw diet that contains bones. I will cover this is the raw diet recipes, but for those who prefer home cooked, carbohydrates are added as fiber. In a raw diet with bones, the bones provide this benefit to help keep stools firm. Since a home cooked diet will be missing the nutrients found in bones, these will be added to the home cooked diets.
        For a raw diet, you will probably feed around 2% to 3% of the dog's body weight daily. This amount can be split in half and fed twice daily, as listed below, or served four times daily in smaller amounts. Variety is suggested to keep the dog's appetite stimulated.