Sunday, February 22, 2009

Homemade Cancer Diets for Pets


There are many "homemade" diets on the Internet for dogs and cats with cancer but unfortunately most are not accurate. When your pet has cancer, you need to be sure you are providing the right BALANCE of nutrients that support your pet's particular situation. For example, we have many patients who come to us who are following a "cancer diet" they found online that advises them to use an overabundance of fatty protein when their pet has elevated liver or kidney blood values. We strongly urge you to seek the advice of a veterinary professional to get the exact percentage of ingredients based on your pet's bloodwork and symptoms. At Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist, we do not have "canned diets" because every pet needs a different ratio and we use mathematical models to calculate the precise amounts specifically for your pet.

Ideally, most dogs and cats with cancer can benefit from a homemade prepared diet. However, this can be very tricky since the diet depends upon many factors such as the age of the pet, the type of cancer (e.g. liver cancer vs osteosarcoma) and the condition of other organs (e.g. many pets with cancer also have kidney issues as well.). DO NOT just go by a homemade recipe for cancer that you find in a book or online. While there are many "cancer" diets focusing on low carbohydrate, high protein---this may not be the right diet for your pet. All components of the diet should be balanced and proportionate to the needs of your pet.