Thousands of articles have been written about the dreaded illness of pet cancer. The very word strikes anxiety and fear into every pet owner when their vet speaks it. I’m sure everyone reading this article has either lost a pet to cancer or knows of friends’ pets who have suffered from this disease. Since cancer is the #1 cause of canine deaths and the #4 cause of feline deaths, it is only natural for pet parents to be concerned.

In the not-so-distant past, a diagnosis of cancer was considered a swift death sentence, but with new veterinary techniques and drugs, cancer can often be regressed, giving us more time to spend with a beloved pet. Unfortunately, most conventional medical answers to the cancer conundrum, i.e., strong medications, surgery, and chemotherapy, come with unpleasant side effects that can diminish our pet’s quality of life and many are prohibitively expensive. Still, we love our pets and many of us will do whatever we can to keep them with us for as long as possible.

While there are no guarantees, the best defense against cancer is to be proactive and try to prevent it from happening. This prevention must start as early as possible, even before your pet is born. Here are some preventative steps to take:

1. In researching a future breeder for your puppy or kitten, find one that raises all their animals (specifically the sire and dam of your litter) using Natural Rearing principles, i.e., feeding a raw, species-appropriate carnivore diet, providing plenty of fresh air and outdoor exercise, engaging in mindful socialization and eliminating toxic chemical exposures.  This natural environment promotes a strong immune system in the parents and their offspring, providing your pet a foundation for future good health.
2. Pick a puppy or kitten that is outgoing seems well-adjusted to its litter mates and reacts positively to you. Sadly, just as with humans, cats and dogs are not all born normal.  Mental quirks can affect physical health and can cause problems that you may not be able to solve, leading to stress for the animal and for you.  Stress is often cited as a factor in cancer.
3. Feed a species-appropriate raw food diet, consisting mainly of a variety of meats. Science has proven that cancer cells feed on carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in grains (wheat, corn, etc.), starchy vegetables (legumes, all types of potatoes, etc.), and simple sugars (corn syrup, fructose, etc.). When trying to avoid cancer, eliminate all foods and treats containing carbohydrate-dense ingredients.
4. Include a judicious amount, somewhere in the range of 5% – 20%) of cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables in canine diets (felines fed a raw, balanced meat diet need no fruits or vegetables). Experiment with your dog’s individual metabolism to find a range that suits his or her system.
5. Find and work with a holistic or integrative veterinarian for the most up-to-date natural diagnostic and healing modalities. Unfortunately, most conventional vets tend to treat symptoms rather than search out causes of ailments.
6. Do not rush into chemical treatments for your dog or cat’s everyday problems. Many minor health issues do not need harsh drugs that will gradually weaken your pet’s immune system, leading to a bodily environment that is prone to cancer.
7. Keep your pet’s weight within normal limits for their breed. Obesity is the #1 health problem for our pets. Can you see the correlation between that and the highest rate of cancer deaths in dogs and the high cancer rates in cats?  Fat cells produce estrogen which feeds certain types of cancer cells. It is estimated that obesity increases cancer risk by nearly 20% in our pets.
8. Consider an occasional fast to rest and rejuvenate your pet’s digestive system. A well-functioning digestive system is crucial to our pets’ overall health.
9. Include some immune-strengthening foods in your pet’s diet on a regular basis. More on this in Part 2 next month.
10. A well-exercised pet is a happy pet. Exercise reduces stress and helps keep weight within normal limits.
11. Provide a healthy environment free of secondhand smoke, lawn chemicals, and asbestos, all of which are carcinogenic. Cats in particular are sensitive to cigarette smoke which is a causative factor in feline lymphoma the #1 cancer for cats.
12. Regular veterinary visits will help your vet catch warning signs of diseases at an early stage when treatments can be moreeffective.

All of the above suggestions will increase the health and well-being of your pet, but cancer is a diabolical disease, and even the best-cared-for pet can succumb. As pet owners, we all wish we had that elusive magic bullet to guarantee a cancer-free life for our pets. Sadly, it simply doesn’t exist.  However, next month we will expand on some of the topics mentioned above and see how some of them can offer exciting assistance in our fight against cancer.