Hearing your beloved pet has cancer is not an easy thing to process. There are many questions that arise about treatment, quality of life and much more. One of the things many don’t think to ask their veterinarian though is about their pet’s diet. There is plenty of nutrition that may help dogs suffering from cancer, or at least boost their quality of life.

It is important not to change your dog’s food without consulting a veterinarian during cancer treatments. So much in your dog’s life is changing at that time, and rapidly changing their food can already lead to diarrhea, nausea and more. In fact, some high carbohydrate foods can help the cancer grow. It’s important to make sure your pet’s diet is helping them during treatment, not harming them. Consult your veterinarian before putting your pooch on any special diet during treatment.

With that said, it is wise to do some research on your own about your pet’s diagnosis. You may search and find available natural dog cancer remedies that have had profound success.  Study the research done about ingredients that can help boost your dog’s immune system and help them fight the disease. Below are a few of the best ingredients to help your dog in their fight:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

We mentioned earlier that foods high in carbohydrates can actually help feed the tumor to grow. Foods high in fat have the opposite effect though and are not a great host for cancer, which is what you want. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oils, are a great source of this “good fat” and can have an anti-tumor effect that may help prevent cancer growth. It is recommended that canines suffering from cancer eat a diet composed of 25-40% fat and 5% or greater of dietary omega-3 fatty acids.

Besides immune boosting properties, these fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory benefits which can greatly help a dog’s comfort during cancer. Besides that, it also can help with arthritis, kidney disease and can help maintain the shine of a dog’s coat.

Protein and Animal Fat

Cancer eats up a significant amount of protein from other zones of your dog’s body, which can cause muscle weakness, slower healing periods and much more. It’s important to ensure your dog is receiving plenty of protein to supplement this. Animal fat and protein is essential for this. Foods such as chicken, turkey, pork and fish are good examples of this, as they are easy to digest and high in protein. Beef is high in protein, but not easy to digest, which is not ideal. Finding high fat meats that are to digest is key.

Blueberries and Blackberries

As we all know, blueberries are full of antioxidants, which you’ll want when fighting a disease. They contain a lot of resveratrol, a natural compound with anti-cancer properties. Their antioxidant ingredients come from anthocyanins, the pigments that make blueberries their vivid blue. These tasty little treats can obstruct metabolic trails that may help fuel the tumor. Blackberries also have many of these same properties. Cancer is driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, which dark berries help prevent. They help protect DNA from cancer mutations and can help kill cancer cells with a process caused apoptosis, which also helps prevent the spread of cancer.

Broccoli

Protein is important for dog’s battling cancer and certain meats, such as beef, can be very hard to digest. Broccoli is a great source of protein. It has nearly the same amount of protein as steak. Broccoli is jam packed with sulforaphane, which has many cancer fighting ingredients. Much like humans are encouraged to eat leafy greens, so are our canine companions. This ingredient helps protect cells from damage, kill cancer skills, prevent metastasis, and inactivate carcinogens, all of which are benefits a dog fighting cancer will need. On top of all of this, it also boasts anti-inflammatory agents and is full of antioxidants.

Garlic

You may have heard that garlic is bad for dogs in the past. In fact, garlic is good for dogs as long as it’s the appropriate amount. Garlic has been used in medicine for thousands of years, and is robust with zinc, magnesium, Vitamin, A, C and B6, amino acids and more. It helps boost the immune system, detoxifies the liver and lowers cholesterol. It is important to give the appropriate amount of garlic, though. The recommendation is ½ a clove per 20 pounds of weight. For example, a 10-pound dog would receive a ¼ of a clove of garlic per day. As with anything, moderation is key.

Diets are Specific to the Dog

Just like humans, not every diet works with every dog. Always monitor how your pet is reacting to food changes and get any changes approved by a trusted veterinarian. Any sudden unapproved changes could affect your dog’s treatment plan and recovery. There are many healthy and natural alternatives when you’re trying to find the best diet for dogs with cancer.  Always consult with your veterinarian prior to any changes that you may be considering.  Keep in mind that vets will typically encourage conventional treatment though, whereas natural non-conventional treatments have been long known to be able to heal without major side effects.