More Dog Cancer Diet Stuff

Recent research 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 quality fats (hey people heard this before? this is what we should be eating too). Carbohydrates are made up of chains of saccharides, which are sugars. Sugars in turn offer good fuel for cancer cells.


Current commercial dog foods are too high in grains and starches to be the best defense for a dog with cancer. 


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. Use sparingly, the starchy types of vegetables, such as potatoes, yams, carrots, green peas, sweet potatoes and winter squash (hard rind squashes). I would 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 salmon or fish 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. Better a fat dog than the alternative. Besides once you limit out those carbs it doesn't really change that much. My dog Lucy didn't really gain any weight.


Cooked Diets
Cooked diets also need to offer variety, and large batches can be packaged into meal sized portions and frozen for later use. Feeding amounts are the same, approximately 2% to 3% of the dog’s body weight daily. For instance, a 100 pound dog would eat two to three pounds of food a day, a fifty pound dog would eat one to one and a half pounds of food daily, and a 25 pound dog would eat 1/2 pound to 3/4 pound daily. A cup is approximately 8 ounces or 1/2 pound, some dogs will do well on two meals a day, others may need three or four smaller meals a day.
More vegetables are used in the cooked diets, to use as fiber. Do not overcook the meat, but rather cook lightly which will retain more of the nutrients. Butter can be used for cooking (unsalted butter for those dogs with kidney or heart problems), for flavor and palatability.

I am uncomfortable going the "Raw Diets" route because of e-coli and salmonella in todays meats at such high levels to a dog with a comprimised immune system.


Sample Diet One
 (one meal for a 100 lb dog, or two meals for a 50 lb dog, or four meals for a 25 pound dog)
- One lb regular hamburger, 4 oz beef liver or kidney, cook with small amount of butter
 - 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
 - 1/2 cup steamed or boiled broccoli
 - 1/2 cup cooked yellow crookneck squash
 - 4 oz whole milk yogurt
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add yogurt.
To this, add:
 - 1600 mg of calcium , or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
 - Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily


Sample Diet Two
 - One lb ground chicken, four oz of chicken liver, cook with small amount of butter
 - 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
 - 1/2 cup steamed or boiled Spinach
 - 1/2 cup cooked cabbage
 - 4 oz Cottage Cheese
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add cottage cheese.
To this, add:
 - 1600 mg of calcium, or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
 - Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily


Sample Diet Three
 - One lb ground pork, 4 oz of pork or beef liver, cook with small amount of butter
 - 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
 - 1/2 cup steamed or boiled Bok Choy or Chinese cabbage
 - 1/2 cup zucchini
 - 4 oz Whole Milk Yogurt
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add yogurt.
To this, add:
 - 1600 mg of calcium, or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
 - Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily


Sample Diet Four
 - One can 16 oz Mackerel or Salmon
 - 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
 - 1/2 cup broccoli
 - 1/2 cup Kale or other dark leafy green
 - 4 oz Cottage Cheese
Cook vegetables and eggs (no need to cook the canned fish, it is already cooked) and mix together. No calcium is needed as mackerel, salmon or sardines already contain soft, steamed bones for calcium content.
To this, add:
 - Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily




Snacks
 Snacks for these dogs are fairly easy. High protein, high fat treats without carbohydrates include cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, beef jerky and liver squares.


To Make Liver Squares
 Boil liver for ten to fifteen minutes and drain. Cook at low heat on either side for ten minutes in the oven. Let cool and cut into squares or cubes.


In the event you may run out of home made diets, you can keep cans of mackerel, salmon or sardines in the cupboard, and have a supply of frozen vegetables in your freezer. The vegetables can be quickly cooked and added to the mackerel. 


Scrambled eggs made with butter and adding yogurt is also another quick meal.






If this is all too much to deal with, you can just use something like Taste of the Wild or Earthborne Primitive Naturals kibble and just add some cooked ground turkey (pan fry a cheap chub of it and it lasts a few days) or fried eggs, veggies, and some fish oil to the kibble.