Pet Food and Cancer
A substantial body of studies from the middle of the 20th century shows unequivocally that those with cancer, whether they are humans, cats, or dogs, should eat a low-carbohydrate diet. This can—and frequently is—taken to the extremes of a strict ketogenic diet of the "Atkins type" or a no-carbohydrate diet.
Cancer cells, especially those in more advanced stages of malignancy, feed preferentially on glucose as a source of energy, which explains why ketogenic diets help fight cancer. Malignant cancer cells can only utilise protein for energy after it has been broken down by the liver into glucose and have little to no ability to burn fat for energy. In the severe case where cancer cachexia has set in, this type of calorie-dense diet can be especially helpful.
It is undeniable that obesity can promote cancer, and there is some evidence that certain types of fats (the omega 6's) do as well. On the other hand, people who are incredibly thin are undoubtedly more likely to develop cancer. The idea that certain types of fats, specifically the so-called Omega 3 group, actively prevent or inhibit cancer has a strong body of data. Through obesity, insulin resistance (which follows obesity), and free radical generation (which follows obesity), saturated fat almost probably has a negative impact on carcinogenesis. Numerous anecdotal reports support the use of specific nutraceuticals and herbs as advantageous and potent anti-cancer treatments.
The regular evolutionary diet for dogs and cats serves as the foundation for the best diet for the prevention and treatment of canine cancer when the aforementioned information is taken into account in relation to cancer. In other words, any dog or cat with cancer should adopt a diet high in meat, bone, and organ meat along with other wholesome foods like eggs (and other good protein sources), probiotic sources, and different supplements (nutraceuticals and herbs).
The most crucial questions still need to be addressed after the basic diet type has been determined, including what percentage of each will work best for each individual, which specific meats, bones, and organ meats should be picked, and which nutraceuticals would work best for the particular pet. Obviously, the total diet selection will be greatly influenced by the patient's level of cachexia versus obesity as well as how advanced or aggressive the cancer in question is.
In general, the selection of meat is best compared to that of any other inflammatory condition because cancer is a disease of "inflammation." 'White and wild,' then. For the white and low-fat game, this entails chicken, rabbit, and fish as well as organic, range-fed red meats like deer and bison.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids (fish oils), conjugated linoleic acid, B complex vitamins, coenzyme Q10, IP6, selenium, zinc, chromium picolinate, arginine, and carnitine are the most crucial nutraceuticals or functional foods to choose. Probiotics taken in high dosages are advantageous, as are sea vegetables and the organs of ruminants given a grass-based diet.
