feeding plays a fundamental role in our dog's he alth, which is why it is an aspect that we should never neglect,adapting the menu to the needs of the dog at every moment of its life, since a puppy does not require the same amount of nutrients as an adult dog or a pregnant female.
Of course, when a dog is sick, the appropriate diet for its pathology will be a key factor in maintaining its quality of life. In this article on our site we are going to focus on explaining the diet for dogs with cancer Don't forget to consult your veterinarian about any changes in your dog's diet.
Feeding dogs with cancer
To choose a correct diet for dogs with cancer we must take into account some particularities such as the following:
- These dogs usually have loss of appetite as their main problem, which, if left unchecked, can end in malnutrition, so that a basic aspect for preparing your menu should be palatability, so that it motivates the dog to eat. In this sense, moist foods are more attractive than dry ones.
- We must also pay attention to the consequences that cancer is causing in our dog's body. Many times the significant loss of muscle mass stands out, so the diet must contain a high energy density.
- Dogs with cancer can also exhibit cachexia, which is the simultaneous loss of muscle mass and fat. The diet should try to alleviate the effects of this state.
- If the dog stops eating for several days, it will be necessary for us to feed it or even resort to a tube.
- Some tumors can make it difficult to eat, such as those lodged in the digestive system. We must take into account the inconveniences that they can produce, as well as the side effects of chemotherapy, including vomiting, which can be alleviated with antiemetics.
- If the senses of smell and taste are impaired, dogs may refuse food. This aversion can be solved by offering another diet, changing the place of the feeder or heating the food, if we verify that the high temperature does not increase its aversion, in which case we must offer it cold or at room temperature.
- It is recommended to distribute the ration in 2-3 times a day.
- Finally, it is more important for the dog to eat even the wrong diet than to stop eating a "perfect" menu.
Food for dogs with cancer
The kibbles for dogs with cancer may be the same ones that the dog was consuming before getting sick, since the nutritional needs are similar to those of a he althy dog, unless the veterinarian indicates otherwise.
An example of composition of the feed that we would choose as a diet for dogs with cancer would be the following:
- High quality protein 30-40%.
- Carbs less than 25%.
- Fat between 25-40%.
- Fiber less than 2.5%.
- It may also be enriched with fatty acids (less than 5%) or arginine (less than 2.5%). [1]
Supplements for dogs with cancer
Inside the diet for dogs with cancer it can be interesting to add some supplements such as the following, always in agreement with the veterinarian, since that a balanced food does not need supplements:
- Fatty acids: They will not increase survival but are beneficial to the immune system and have no side effects. Highlights the omega 3, found in various oils and fish.
- Aminoacids: we can mention the taurine, present in the fish, chicken or pork. arginine and glutamine enhance the immune response.
- Vitamins and antioxidants: fight free radicals. The flavonoids stand out, present in tangerines, beets or soybeans. There is controversy about vitamins such as A, C or E since their protective effect could also be for tumor cells. Also, they are not recommended during chemotherapy.
- Minerals: we can talk about selenium, with anticancer properties. We find it in meat, fish or soybeans.
- Fiber such as soy prevents colon cancer.
- There are specific nutritional supplements for dogs with cancer that our veterinarian can inform us about.
- There is no scientific evidence of the beneficial effects of garlic or shark cartilage. [two]
Homemade diet for dogs with cancer
We can easily find homemade recipes for dogs with cancer but we must know that, if we want to follow them, we must follow strict veterinary control to that the nutritional amounts are adequate and do not aggravate our dog's condition.
Therefore, the diet must always be individualized Throughout the article we have pointed out the most important aspects of feeding dogs with cancer that we can use to create a menu, especially for those dogs that reject commercial food. However, we must take into account some recommendations such as do not offer raw meat, since the immune system is weakened and infections could arise.
On the other hand, the information that can be found online about some foods supposedly beneficial for cancer patients is based on human studies and very few are specific to dogs. For this reason, before preparing any menu, we must agree with the veterinarian. There is also no scientific support for claims that baking soda for dogs with cancer cures it.
