Nutritional Requirements of Dogs and Cats with Cancer

Any illness, be it cancer or a benign disease, will have an impact on the patient's metabolism. During disease, there are many changes in the way the body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is important to realize that, for the most part, these are adaptations that are geared toward survival. In effect, the body is prioritizing its available nutrients for purposes like wound healing and maintaining the immune system. Sometimes, these metabolic changes can become exaggerated or prolonged to the point that they are harmful rather than beneficial to the patient. Significant weight loss and muscle wasting can occur rapidly and can be difficult or even impossible to reverse.

The specific nutritional requirements of the pet with cancer are unknown. We do know cancer loves carbs. Cancer cannot utilitize fats and proteins that well to grow. Besides dogs are carnivores. Some nutrients are of higher priority than others. Water is the most essential nutrient. Next, a pet requires adequate calories and protein, followed by minerals and vitamins. 

A pet with cancer loses weight in part because of decreased food intake and in part because of the metabolic effects of the disease. There is usually more than one cause for decreased appetite and food intake. Some of the causes are related to the disease itself and some are side effects of any cancer treatment. We know that human patients with cancer can experience alterations in their sense of smell and taste. Sometimes this is the result of the disease, sometimes secondary to a nutrient deficiency such as zinc, and sometimes due to side-effects of drugs or other forms of treatment. Feeding them fresh cooked meat  or eggs and some vegetables will work wonders on their appetite and health.

Tumors may physically interfere with eating and digesting food. For example, tumors of the oral cavity may cause difficulties with chewing and swallowing. Tumors of the stomach or intestines may obstruct the normal passage of food or the absorption of nutrients. Cancer therapies may also have a direct impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Some drugs cause nausea and vomiting. Others may actually injure the cells lining the intestines. Radiation is often used to treat tumors of the oral cavity which can cause inflammation and ulceration of surrounding mucous membranes. Surgical removal of tumors involving parts of the digestive tract can obviously affect a patient's ability to eat or digest food. For example, it might be necessary to remove part of a patient's jaw, tongue, or intestines. Surgery and radiation therapy require anesthesia which involves periods of fasting before and after each episode.

One serious potential outcome of unpleasant side effects (such as nausea, pain or indisposition) is that the patient may associate them with the act of eating or even the sight or smell of food. This is called learned food aversion. Food aversion is a well-recognized phenomenon in human patients. Most everyone has experienced an occasion when they have become ill after eating a particular food. Whether or not that food was responsible for the illness, it becomes associated with it in our minds. Although difficult to prove, we believe that this occurs on dogs and cats as well. One of the greatest challenges in feeding the pet with cancer is preventing the development of food aversions whenever possible, and dealing with this condition when it does occur. Again, feeding them fresh cooked meat  or eggs and some vegetables will work wonders on their appetite and health.

Because we have to guess what a pet is experiencing when he refuses food it can be hard to determine the best course of action. On the one hand we might work hard to coax a pet with palatable or novel food items in the hope of finding something that will be eaten voluntarily. On the other hand it might be best to back off for awhile and rely on an artificial form of nutrition (such as tube feeding) or even not feeding at all because of the risk of causing or exacerbating a learned food aversion. Listed below are some general guidelines on how to approach these patients. Remember that every patient is different, and requires individualized care and attention. No one thing will work in for every animal--be patient and sensitive to the pet's changing needs.

Resist the temptation to coax a pet to eat when he or she is feeling or showing overt signs of nausea or discomfort. Pets that gulp or drool at the sight or smell of food, turn their heads away, spit out food when placed in the mouth, or bury the food under their bedding should be left alone. Pushing food on a patient who clearly does not want it is a good recipe for creating a learned food aversion.

Discuss the possibility of anti-emetic drugs with your veterinarian if you think nausea and vomiting are a problem. Also discuss the use of tube feeding. Many factors must be considered when deciding whether a pet is a candidate for nutritional support. These techniques are not appropriate or feasible for every pet, but can be used successfully in many cases.

A few drugs have been used to stimulate the appetite. In our opinion, these drugs are best used in helping patients get over learned food aversions AFTER they have begun to feel better. Prednisone will make them hungry. But it is normally best for short term use due to side effects.

If your pet is showing some interest in food, there are many things you can try in order to increase interest in food.

Try novel food items. If your pet has begun to associate a previously favorite food with unpleasant sensations, introducing a very different type of food may overcome the aversion to eating. This can backfire if the patient is still unwell, since the aversion may simply transfer to the new food. Any type of food can be used including dog foods (for dogs), cat foods (for dogs or cats), and palatable table foods. Remember that table foods will not provide all of the nutrients that a pet needs. If a pet eats an exclusively home-cooked diet for any period of time, you should get some advice on how to make that diet more complete and balanced. There are many dog cancer diets.

Try offering food in a novel setting or have someone different do the feeding. Sometimes an animal will associate its surroundings with past unpleasant experiences. For instance, a patient may no longer eat in the kitchen but will eat on an outside deck. Also, remember that dogs are social animals and may be more likely to eat with their pack--which includes you! Coaxing a dog to eat during family mealtimes or with other pets present might be successful.

Make mealtimes as comfortable and unstressful as possible. Try not to schedule them at the same time that you do other treatments such as pilling. Avoid pushing food on your pet. Stroke and talk to your pet with food nearby and watch for any signs of interest.

Divide the day's food into as many small meals as your schedule will permit. The food ingredients that increase palatability for most dogs and cats are moisture, fat, and protein. Adding warm water to a dry pet food or switching to canned food may improve food acceptance. A pet's tolerance of certain nutrients must be considered when trying new foods. Animals with kidney or liver dysfunction may not tolerate high protein intake. Animals with some types of gastrointestinal disease cannot tolerate large amounts of dietary fat. Though if the fats are introduced slowly, tolerance usually occurs.

Because the syndrome of cancer cachexia (profound weight loss) can involve more than decreased food intake, even the best efforts in encouraging a pet to eat may not prevent weight loss. This is because cancer can involve alterations in normal metabolism that are not overcome simply by providing calories and nutrients. Certain types of tumors can produce substances that affect energy and protein metabolism. The tumor itself competes for some of the nutrients that should be going to the patient. In addition, the patient's immune system produces a variety of substances in response to the tumor. For the most part these are beneficial, but they can cause alterations in metabolism that result in decreased appetite, weight loss, and loss of muscle mass.

Meeting the basic nutritional needs of a cancer patient can be a significant challenge. In human cancer patients, it is established that malnutrition can increase the risk of complications and decrease survival rates. Patients with good nutritional status have an improved response to therapy and better quality of life. While the effects of malnutrition have not as yet been studied in veterinary patients, it seems likely that the results would be similar. Feeding them fresh cooked meat  or eggs and some vegetables will work wonders on their appetite and health.