Anti-Cancer Foods for Dogs

If you want to use nutrition to help prevent, manage or treat canine cancer, then you won’t want to miss this article on anti-cancer foods for dogs.

I have just completed an anti-cancer diet for a client whose dog has oral melanoma, and in putting together this recipe, I was once again struck by the power of nutrition and its role in combating this insidious disease.

It is a sad fact of life that as many as half of our beloved dogs and cats die of cancer. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over two years old ^[1][2] That is equivalent to a human teenager. But there are great strides being made in preventing, managing and treating canine cancer, and nutritional therapy should play a key role in an anti-cancer regimen. Whether your dog has suffered from cancer in the past, is going through it now, or you just want to help ensure that he avoids this horrible disease in the future, there are many anti-cancer foods for dogs that you can use to stack the deck in his favor.

Researchers contend that only 5% to 10% of all cancer cases are genetic in origin, and that the vast majority – 90% to 95% – result from environmental factors, such as exposure to environmental toxins, as well as nutritional influences such as obesity and diet. This is because environmental and nutritional factors communicate with our epigenome, which in turn affects our gene expression and whether cells will be healthy or diseased.^[3] In fact, researchers believe that as many as 30% to 40% of all cancer cases are preventable with simple dietary changes.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}Given this, it should come as no surprise that we want to start feeding our dogs more anti-cancer foods!

In this blog entry, I will discuss some of the most powerful and researched anti-cancer foods for dogs to help your dog live a healthy, happy, long life. But before we delve into the foods you want to feed your dog to fight cancer, let’s first take a look at some of the ingredients we want to avoid.

Avoid Over-Feeding

Okay, “over-feeding” isn’t an ingredient, but it is an essential contributor to cancer and other inflammatory-related diseases. Obesity contributes to cancer via several mechanisms, including: creating inflammation; disrupting the normal balance of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (cell death); and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines that play a role in carcinogenesis and other inflammatory diseases.^[4][9][10]

Types of cancer linked to obesity in people include:

• Breast
• Cervical
• Colon
• Endometrial
• Esophageal
• Gastric
• Gall bladder
• Liver
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgin’s lymphoma
• Ovarian
• Pancreatic
• Rectal
• Renal
• Uterine^[4]

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of keeping your dog fit and trim, let’s move on to ingredients to avoid in an anti-cancer diet.

Ingredients to Avoid in an Anti-Cancer Diet

Artificial Colors:

Synthetic coloring agents and color protectants, including azo and nonazo dyes, nitrites/nitrates and potassium bisulfate are linked to a wide variety of negative health effects in both humans and pets, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chronic allergic symptoms, inhalant dermatitis and behavioral disorders.^[11]

Artificial Preservatives:

Butylated hyroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are chemical preservatives that have been shown in animal studies to promote carcinogensis and are suspected of contributing to cancer and tumor growth. Many countries have banned BHA and BHT from use in human foods, however they are still allowed in pet foods. Ethoxyquin is another chemical preservative found in pet foods, however it has been clinically linked to liver and kidney cancer in dogs and should be avoided.

Fluoride:

Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, strikes more than 8,000 dogs per year in the United States, targeting primarily large dogs with rapidly developing bones. In young boys, osteosarcoma has been linked to consumption of excessive levels of fluoride. Once consumed via food or water, fluoride accumulates in the bones and may stimulate mitosis (cell division), causing rapid proliferation of osteoblasts (cells that form new bone).^[12] An independent laboratory test of dry dog foods found that 8 of 10 major national brands contained fluoride in levels 1.6 – 2.5 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum legal dose in drinking water. In each case, bone meal, meat meal or meat byproduct in the food was implicated as the source of fluoride contamination.^[13][14]

Gluten:

Gluten causes the body to release a protein called zonulin, which causes the lining of the gut to become permeable, or “leaky,” allowing undesirable particles to pass from the intestines into the bloodstream. These particles are seen as unwanted “foreign invaders” by the body, which launches an attack against them, leading to inflammation. As we’ve previously discussed, inflammation is linked with a host of diseases, including cancer.^[15][16][17]

High-Glycemic Carbohydrates:

High-Glycemic foods are ingredients that create a rapid spike in blood sugar after consuming them. Hi GI foods include corn, sugar, wheat (white or whole wheat) and white rice. Hi GI foods promote obesity, which as we just discussed has been strongly correlated to cancer.^[6] Hi GI foods are also associated with Type 2 diabetes, which has been linked with several types of cancers.

Vitamin K3 (Menadione Sodium Bisulfate):

Vitamin K3, a synthetic form of vitamin K, has been implicated in causing a variety of health problems, including causing toxicity of liver cells and weakening the immune system.^[18] While it is found in many mass-market commercial pet foods, it has no place in an anti-cancer diet.

Now that we’ve discussed ingredients to avoid to help stave off cancer, let’s talk about foods that you do want to include in an anti-cancer diet.

Anti-Cancer Foods for Dogs

Foods for an anti-cancer diet:

• Berries: Berries contain anthocyanins, which have been shown to reduce cancer cell proliferation and inhibit tumor formation.^[19] Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries are excellent choices for dogs. Strawberries should be avoided, as they may trigger an allergic reaction in dogs.
• Curcumin: A phytochemical in turmeric, found to contain powerful anti-cancer properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiangiogenic and antitumor properties, as well as inhibiting cancer cell division and growth and inducing cancer cell apoptosis (cancer cell death).^{[7][20][21][22]} Since curcumin is poorly absorbed across the GI tract and rapidly cleared from the blood, giving a high-quality curcumin supplement in conjunction with a fatty food such as olive oil or fish oil can increase its absorption. An exact dose has not been determined in dogs, however studies have used curcumin in doses ranging from 500 to 3,600 mg per day. Consult with your veterinarian if your dog is on chemotherapy, as curcumin can decrease the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.^[20][23]
• Cruciferous vegetables: According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and bok choy contain compounds shown to stop the growth of tumors in several types of cancers.^[24] Cruciferous vegetables also contain compounds, including sulforaphane, crambene and indole 3-carbinol (I3C), which may activate enzymes in the body that detoxify carcinogens before they have a chance to damage cells.^[6][24]
• Folate: An important B vitamin that controls the repair of DNA methylation. Many types of cancer have been linked to folate deficiencies, including brain, breast, cervix, colorectal, ovarian and lung. The richest sources of folate are leafy greens, such as bok choy, escarole, kale, watercress, dandelion, mustard and collard greens. Beans and whole grains are also good sources.^[7][25]
• Ginger: An ethanol extract of ginger has been shown to possess numerous anti-cancer benefits, including producing changes in gene expression that trigger apoptosis of breast cancer cells.^[26]
• Green leafy and yellow-orange vegetables: These vegetables contain many beneficial phytochemicals, including beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and quercetin that exhibit important antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.
• Isothiocyanates: Found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, radish, turnip, and watercress, these phytochemicals inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.^[7]
• Medicinal Mushrooms: Medicinal mushrooms are credited with a variety of properties that may help in combating cancer, including antioxidant, antitumor, radical scavenging and immunomodulating effects.^[27][28][29] I recommend checking out the medicinal mushroom product I’m-Yunity, a polysaccharopeptide (PSP) compound that has been clinically shown to lengthen the lives of dogs suffering from hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive, invasive cancer originating in the blood vessels.^[27]
• Milk Thistle: This beautiful, purple flowering herb plant contains the compound silymarin. Silymarin is actually a collective name for three bioactive agents – silibinin, silidianin, silicristin – and is demonstrated to protect against a variety of cancers.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to induce cancer cell apoptosis, thereby inhibiting the formation of tumors and preventing cancer from metastasizing.^[30] I give my own dog Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet.
• Pomegranates: Pomegranates contain the most potent antioxidant activity of all commonly consumed fruits, thanks to a polyphenol complex known as punicalagins. Studies show that pomegranates contain powerful anti-tumor and ant-cancer properties.^[31]
• Probiotics: Probiotics promote healthy gut flora, which aids in much more than improving digestion. Since the vast majority of the immune system is contained in the gut, a healthy environment of good bacteria in the GI tract is essential in creating a strong immune system that is able to fend off disease.
• SAMe: SAMe plays a key role in normal cellular methylation and function. Since it is not found in food, it must be taken as a supplement.^[32]
• Spirulina: Phycocyanin (C-PC) in spirulina inhibits the pro-inflammatory COX-2 pathway. Disrupting this pathway is critical to preventing cancer, since COX-2 activity is known to increase in malignant tissue.^[33]
• Vitamin B-12: Found in fish, meat, poultry and eggs, vitamin B-12 acts as a methyl donor and plays a role in making DNA. When possible, opt for low-mercury, wild-caught fish, antibiotic-free meat, sheep or goat’s milk and organic pasture-raised eggs.

A note on herbal supplements: While several herbs contain important anti-cancer properties, it is critical to use them safely and effectively. You should also watch for interactions that may occur with your dog’s current cancer therapy. I highly recommend partnering with a holistic veterinarian who is knowledgeable about herbal therapies to guide you in this area.

Feed Your Dog to Starve Cancer Cells

Angiogenesis is the process of creating new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels.^[34] It is a normal and necessary response to certain situations, such as facilitating wound healing. However, when these blood vessels have finished their job, the body releases antiangiogenic substances to return them to their previous level. When this process fails and angiogenesis gets out of control, resulting in the growth of too many blood vessels, a variety of health problems can occur, including obesity, arthritis and cancer. In fact, angiogenesis is related to every type of cancer.^[35] By blocking unwanted angiogenesis, we may effectively starve tumor cells of their nutrition. The following dog-approved foods are antiangiogenic:

• Apples
• Artichokes
• Berries (avoid strawberries due to possible allergic reactions)
• Bok choy
• Cherries
• Curcumin
• Ginseg
• Kale
• Lavender
• Maitake mushrooms
• Olive oil
• Parsley
• Pumpkin
• Sea cucumber^[35]

Wrap-Up

Nutrition plays an important role in preventing, managing and treating cancer, and these anti-cancer foods for dogs will help keep your best friend in top shape.

References

Parts of this article were adapted from the book Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health by W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Diana R. Laverdure, MS (Dogwise Publishing, 2015).

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