Healthiest Diet for a Dog You Love

[Mike03]

I've lost two dogs to cancer in the past seven years, and I fed them on advice of veterinarians the dry and moist food that is generally available over the counter.

I LOVE dogs and am considering adopting another, but before I do that, I very sincerely want to know how I can avoid losing another precious animal to cancer.

1. Is there some healthier diet that might prevent dogs from getting cancer?

2. Do we know why cancer rates seem to be rising in dogs (or at least in particular breeds)?

3. Is it smart to get all these vaccinations for my dog, and put them on exotic medicines to prevent things like heartworm? Not to sound tin-foil-hat, but could these medications be causing cancer?

I would appreciate any personal experiences, advice, recommendations, etc...

Thanks,
Mike

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. You can minimize, but not eliminate the risk of cancer.

All you can do is give them the best life that you can. Feed them foods that are less processed. Do your best to take them to the vet and to make sure they get enough exercise.

I have three tiny little dogs. They're very active and I feed them well. However, I don't think that there's any guarantee that they won't get cancer. :(

[Mike03]

3. I appreciate you comments

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your dogs sound adorable, and they obviously have a wonderful caretaker in you. I hope they all live very long, healthy lives.

[xchrom]

2. some of the cancer rates are attributed to the dogs

living so much longer than they used to.

my dog -- who i loved more than anything in this world -- ate the age recommended foods -- eukanba, science diet -- premium stuff -- but he also shared my dinner -- and what ever else he could scrounge.

at eleven he had to go through cancer treatments -- he lived to a little past fifteen.

one thing i would do differnt for my next dogs annuals though is besides an x-ray -- i would ask for soft tissue pics as well.
a sonogram -- or whatever they call it.

[Mike03]

4. Aw, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your dear friend

Fifteen years sounds like a lot to me, and your sweet dog was so lucky to have a guardian like you looking after him.

My veterinarian is excellent, but she was unable to detect lymphoma in my last dog until it had metastasized, in spite of running all sorts of tests. Medicine can perform miracles, but sometimes it takes a while to get a correct diagnosis.

[xchrom]

6. sigh -- indeed --

my big dog's little brother -- peewee, a yorkie i found on the street -- suffered from every ailment you can think of.

it was often a struggle to find out what was wrong with him.

still -- i managed to keep him til he was nine.

but i miss sport -- his big brother -- every damn day.

[jgraz]

5. I adopted a 14-yr-old poodle and switched her to a raw-food diet

She looked like she was about 6 months from the grave when I got her, now she's doing really well. The only time I took her off of it she got pancreatitis.

Here's what I feed her: http://www.auntjeni.com/

[flvegan]

7. I lost my big boy to cancer this year. I don't think

there's much you can do, diet wise, if a dog is predisposed. I do think, that like people, dogs do better on a lesser processed, vegetarian or vegan diet.

We feed every dog in our rescue Nature's Recipe Vegetarian, which is commercially available at Petsmart, etc. I'd cook for them if I had the time/money (14 dogs, rescues and personal dogs).

[Beausoir]

9. I had no idea you had 14! Wow.

[flvegan]

12. Yup

11 rescues, 3 keepers. 2 of those keepers started out as rescues, though.

[Mike03]

13. You are a true saint

You have my total and absolute admiration, as does anyone else who pours their heart into rescuing a homeless animal.

Is it a myth that dogs are carnivorous?

I noticed an unusual thing with my last sweet dog. Even though she loved meat, she also would eat fresh peppers, nut butter, strawberries and some healthy stuff.

She even liked red leaf lettuce with a bit of olive oil on it.

I have always been told that dogs need meat--have I been lied to? (It wouldn't be the first time--lol)

I just wish I'd known that sooner.

[flvegan]

14. Thanks.

Many of our dogs kinda...uh, HAD "homes" that were pretty unkind to them. We remove/rehab/rehome.

Dogs are omnivores, like people are. Sometimes they're referred to as opportunistic carnivores. Our dogs LOVE carrots, asparagus, etc.

[Beausoir]

15. Ewww..my dogs and asparagus...well, the thought kinda scares me. PU.

Bless your heart, sincerely, for loving all those dogs.

[Mike03]

18. This sweet dog I am thinking of adopting

also had a brutal, traumatic background. I seem to gravitate towards adopting these animals. For whatever reason, I just relate to them and love them. It's such a good feeling to take a mistreated animal and give it a great home and tons of love.

[flvegan]

19. Good for you!!

That's awesome!

[Beausoir]

8. My dog died of rare salivary gland cancer. I am suspicious of rawhide chews.

Most are made in China or Mexico and, according to 2 vets I have consulted, contain or are coated with nasty chemicals.

Only smoked big cow bones for my dogs now.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. i woudl feed the human grade food. wellness is a brand i recommend

[Beausoir]

17. We feed Canidae. But my 8 month old is showing signs of allergies, so we have to switch.

[JanMichael]

11. My wife works for a vet

can we send you a PM, but also, for everyone else on this thread:

Solid Gold. http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

[Mike03]

21. Yes, Please, of course

Sorry, even though I have been on this site for almost five years, I don't know how to get private messages, but I would LOVE advice on this issue, I am so open and welcome to help at this point. Whatever I need to do to get advice, please let me know!

Thanks,
Mike

[Critters2]

22. Private messages....

Click on "My DU". You'll see an "inbox" icon. Click on that. If you've received a private message, that's where it'll be. Also, if you've got a message in your inbox, you'll see a blinking message at the top of your screen, saying you've got a message in your inbox.

To send a PM, either click on the envelope in a post by the person you want to PM, or go to My DU, then to inbox and search user profiles.

I'll send you a PM, to show you how it works.

[Critters2]

23. Check your PM! nt

[driver8]

24. Please send me one, too.

I am always interested in anything that is good for my dog!

[JanMichael]

26. Hi!

My wife works for a vet--- We like the Solid Gold Hund 'n Flocken--just out of personal preference--but, there are some really awesome brands out there that don't have a bunch of crap, cheap fillers like corn---and don't source their stuff from China.

When all those recalls came out, Solid Gold was one of the first to put an announcement on their website that they were not involved--

Best part? It's almost as cheap as grocery store food! Scout weighs 12 pounds, so it costs about 15-20 bucks a month for her food! Pretty good for a family member, eh!

Michael

I edited this so as not to upset the vet that posts on DU! Meant to send you a PM, but hit the wrong button-- ;)

Don't want to insult the vet's choice of food; just that we disagree on that point--and really, that point only.

[China_cat]

16. Raw diet seems to be best. But it takes work to make sure

it's well balanced. There are lots of foods that are made with human grade ingredients and eliminate grains (one of the worst offenders is ground yellow corn, followed by wheat and soy). A google search will turn up tons. None of them are cheap and a lot have to be shipped because they aren't national brands, are made in small batches and are a lot fresher when you get them.

Vaccines are necessary for puppies...especially parvo and the new leptospirosis vaccine. (Lepto can be transmitted to humans and a new strain came out of the Katrina dogs). After that you will need rabies as prescribed by your state and, depending on what you do with your dog, you may need others. Groomers, boarding facilities, training facilities won't accept dogs that don't have the whole spectrum of shots. You can, if you worry about the combos, ask your vet to give them singly...but that IS likely to cost you an office visit for each shot.

Heart worm preventative? HELL YES. Heartworm is a terrible thing to happen to an animal and it kills slowly and agonizingly. Treatment for it is expensive and dangerous. That chewable once a month will save you vet bills and a lot of heartache.

Flea preventative? For us it is (again) HELL YES. Once we got the fleas under control we've only had to use Frontline 3 times a year at most. Some years only twice. Consider that fleas can give them tapeworms and the different control methods can be a lot more dangerous (not to mention ineffective). I don't see them as a cancer cause. If they were, the breed I love (Bouviers) who used to have an average life span of less than 10 years wouldn't be living to 14 and better now.

And yes, cancer is a disease of age in animals. When they lived 5 to 8 years you didn't see it but now the smaller breeds are inching up to a 20 year average and big breeds are heading for 15 so yes, you see more cancer in older animals especially.

[Dangerously Amused]

20. FYI: Helpful link re: common foods which are toxic and potentially lethal to dogs:

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/dog-poisons.html?fs=canyon


It's a good reminder list to have on the fridge. Good luck with lucky dog!


Edit: Eh - I double-checked the link and the page won't take you there directly. Click on the "continue" link at the bottom of the first page.

[Kali]

25. feed the best food you can afford, or better yet make your own

the vast majority of chronic health problems (skin, eyes, ears, digestive) are food allergies.

Get and read this book:
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.
(recipes too if you decide to try that approach)

Changed my views on pet food completely. Most allergies are FOOD allergies. Try this guy's basic diet for a month and see what happens. You will be amazed. No more skin, eye, ear problems.

He talks a lot about vaccinations as well. Not sure I buy it all but it makes you think and options beyond what is always pushed.

[warrior1]

27. I loss

my Sara to cancer this year as well. She was almost eleven. She had bone cancer in her jaw, with surgery she had six month. I opt not to do surgery and she lived five months. I miss her every day. I adopted an eight year old black German Shepherd from out SPCA. He's doing very well and he's company has made it better with my loss. Good luck

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Loads of essential information in this thread....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x4388

[WindRavenX]

29. our adopted pit bull girl is on a raw diet

Loves turkey legs! ::crunch::

[Maraya1969]

30. I hate those heartworm medications. They are basically pesticides

that kill any bug that the dog ate that month. I learned a lot from this site.

http://www.banditsbuddies.com/

I put black walnut extract in my dog's water a few days a month. He is very old and lived with someone else most of the time so I did not get to train him to take pills and he is AWFUL AT IT.

I also used to put green powder on their food. I had a big jar of it that lasted for a few years and they all loved it. They all lived long lives and no cancer.

I still put the flea killing stuff of them only when I see a flea though. I don't cover them with that stuff regularly. But my cat brings them home.

CoQ10 is great for dogs. When my Emily had heart disease the vet even suggested giving it to her.

[Colorado Progressive]

31. My vet thought my 8 year old dog was 4, and almost accused me of lying,

til she saw the records in the system. She was the new vet who replaced my buddy who retired. She kept saying "he is in such awesome shape, he looks perfect" etc, until she finally added "for a four year old". I laughed. "He's eight and a half!" Well she looked through his records, which included a photo from 7 years ago, and she looked incredulously at her vet tech. The vet tech was also astounded. "What", the vet asks, "do you feed him???"

"Organic people food, mostly homemade!" He loves salad, homemade muffins, you name it. I think he might live to 16 or so, which is old for a greyhound/lab mix. He eats almost exclusively the same food I feed my kids.

[BrklynLiberal]

32. Lucky boy with a very smart Mom. Any pics?

[Adsos Letter]

33. ""Happy Dog"...and "Grand Dad's"

both combo's of meat and cereals...but ya' gotta be willing to cook 'em...we cook large batches and freeze 'em in individual portions (in baggies)...works great, dog is healthy...