All dogs need to eat a balanced diet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But for dogs with cancer, it’s even more important that their diet contains all the right ingredients.
The weight loss that occurs in dogs with cancer is referred to as “cancer cachexia.” Both fat and muscle are lost, leaving your dog malnourished. Even if your dog is consuming an adequate amount of food, it’s the cancer cells that are actually eating it.
So what does cancer like to eat, and more importantly, what doesn’t it? Tumor cells prefer to feed off of carbohydrates, so your dog should be put on a low carb diet. Foods with lower glucose carbs such as apples, oatmeal, and brown rice, are good options for dogs with cancer. With less carbohydrates, there will be less for tumor cells to grow on.
A dog with cancer will probably not eat as much as they used to, so it’s important that what little food they eat contains as many calories as possible. The food should also be high in fat and moderately high in protein, but not processed protein like the kind found in hot dogs or bologna. A diet with high fat and protein levels will help to combat the loss of weight and muscle mass caused by cancer cachexia.
Added nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids may also be beneficial to dogs with cancer, but it’s best to consult your veterinarian before supplementing.
As a quick recap, the recommended diet for a dog fighting cancer includes:
Small amounts of carbohydrates
High in caloric content
Moderately high in quality proteins
High in fat
Omega-3 fatty acids
Remember to talk to your veterinarian to determine what combination is best for your dog’s cancer.
