Thursday 8 January 2015

HELP YOUR DOG FIGHT CANCER WITH FOOD

My  reason for writing this blog is Sky, a five year old Saint Bernard .Thank you Sky for letting me be a part of your journey as your healer and  your advocate and helping me create awareness among pet parents, about cancer and  that they can actually help their pets so much just by feeding the right foods when their pets are diagnosed with cancer.

 YOU TRULY ARE A SAINT







WHY DO DOGS WITH CANCER NEED A SPECIAL DIET?

Dogs with cancer need a special diet because when they are sick their immune system gets weak.When your dog is sick every day, the immune system grows more weaker.Some of the aggressive cancer therapies may strain their system further. All this makes it harder for them to recover.If you want the best chance for a good outcome , you need to give your pet the proper building blocks to use in fighting this disease, and keep out those things that will do further harm. Diet is crucial for a dog with cancer.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT DIET?

When your dog has cancer and their body does not have the right proteins and fats their body will rob the nutrients from the other areas of the body.This could lead to:

Muscle wasting.
Severely weakened kidneys.
liver complications.

That is why it is critical that dogs receive the right supply of quality protiens and cell memberane compounds from their diet.

WORST FOODS FOR DOGS WITH CANCERS:

The first rule of thumb is to STAY AWAY FROM GRAINS.
Dogs are not naturally grain eaters.As grains are stressful on their digestive system.Unfortunately , most commercial dog foods( even the most expensive ones) include rice , wheat or corn.Keep in mind , dogs are primarily carninvores. They thrive on species appropriate diet.

"Diet is one thing that is easily controlled, and is often the only thing that makes the difference between a successful treatment outcome and failure."

CANINE CANCER DIET:

The general rule of thumb in a cancer fighting diet is low carbs and high omega 3 fatty acids.Cancer cells thrive on carbohydrates so we do not include them in the diet, fatty acids nourish the dog not the cancer , so they are our friends.

Dr. Ogilvie states that not only fatty acide will give the dog energy but also can help stop the tumour growth.

Raw food diet/Home cooked diet.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER .

Bones ( MUST BE RAW).

Meat- chunked or ground beef, lamb, chicken, pork , venision, turkey, fish etc.

Offal- liver, kidneys, heart, unbleached green tripe,

Whole egg, cottage cheese, flaxeed , spirulina, chlorella, kelp.

Vegetables-  broccoli, kale , shitake mushrooms, brussel sprouts.

Liver cooked or raw should be included in every meal.

Flaxeed oil and cold pressed coconut oil and one clove of garlic  added to meals.

VITAMINS- A, C, D (SUNSHINE), SELLENIUM, CALCIUM.

Cancer loves an  acidic environment because it cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Sugar causes acidity plus it feeds cancer , so avoid all sugars.

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR VET IF YOUR DOG IS HEALTHY ENOUGH TO EAT HIGH PROTEIN , HIGH FAT DIET  ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM PANCREAS, LIVER, SPLEEN, KIDNEY CONCERNS.

HOLISTIC APPROACH:

There are many complimentary and alternative approaches that can be very beneficial either as a stand alone treatment or when combined with conventional cancer treatments such as chemothrapy or radiation.

Some of the most commonly used therapies are accupuncture, herbal supplements, homepathy,and Reiki. While all may provide some level of benefit, one or two may seem to suit you and your dog more than the other. You may also have limited access to experts in all of these areas. So instead of trying to incorporate all of these modalities, choose them based on what feels right to you and how easily you can access professionals who have experience using these methods with animals who have cancer.

DO NOT BE A SUPER HERO:

Put together a good medical team that you trust and who respects your role as your pup's advocate. Trust their expertise and guidance , but still make the final decisions based on your own gut feeling  and what feels right for you.

Reach out for the emotianal support that you need  whether it is from friends or family or any support group. Research has shown that grief is the same whether we are mourning the loss (or anticipated loss) of a loved human or animal.

Stress affects us the same way too no matter what the cause. You can be a better care giver and advocate for your dog  if you take care of yourself first. So, connect with others and spill your fears and worries, request time off from work if you need it, ask friends or family members for help to get your dog to vet appointments, or watching them while you are away, or whatever it is that you need. 

Your dog will pick up on  your stress and anxiety and it will eventually affect them if you aren't managing it well, so do not try to do it all by yourself , let others help take some weight off your shoulders.

I strongly believe that dog lovers should be their dog’s Primary Health Advocate. While your vet is the expert in what he’s been trained in, you are the expert on your dog… and you need to be the leader of the team. I deeply hope more pet parents will make themselves aware and make wise choices  when it comes to their pet's health and wellbeing.




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