An article in Dogs Naturally magazine (Part I) profiled six holistic veterinarians and asked them about holistic treatments for cancer.  A follow-up article (Part II) goes into more detail on nutrition and specific supplements.  Feel free to read the articles, but I thought I would summarize some of the specifics that were mentioned.  Of course, I recommend that you consult your veterinarian before making any decision about a treatment path for your dog.

Part I:

In a nutshell, the best treatment for cancer is prevention — eating a raw, whole food diet, minimizing vaccinations and exposure to toxins (think cigarette smoke or chemical parasite prevention), and strengthening a dog’s natural immune system.  But that is not super helpful if your dog already has cancer, in many cases, since we typically find the cancer only after it has already metastasized.  At least, that was the case for me with each of my dogs.  Dogs can be so stoic when it comes to pain and discomfort, that it can be difficult to know when something is really wrong.

Some of the top recommendations were:

• Herbal chemotherapy agents like Essiac (I cover it in my book; it’s a combination of burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root) and Neoplasene (bloodroot extract)
• Intravenous vitamins B and C
• Banerji protocols (homeopathy), which are not considered classical homeopathy because more than one remedy is used to treat the disease
• Essential oils, such as Boswellia sacra
• Chinese herbals, such as Yunnan Bai Yao (I used this in each of my dog’s cancer treatment)
• Herbs, such as Artemisinin (see my prior post on using this herb)
• Mushrooms that are cancer-fighting, such as coriolus
• Caustic herbs to remove external masses that cannot be operated on

Whatever route you choose to take, always remember that each situation is different, and what is appropriate for one dog is not necessarily appropriate for another.  You know your dog best, and trust in yourself to make the right decision for your dog.

Part II:

This article stresses the importance of good nutrition and a raw diet, high in protein and devoid of carbohydrates.  Why?  Because cancer cells thrive on sugar and carbs and cannot metabolize proteins and fats.  Two vets provided a list of their favorite supplements, listed here:

Dr. Marty Goldstein, DVM

• Immustim Complex by Professional Formulas (purchase through your veteriniarian)
• Beta Thym by Doctor’s Best For Your Pets
• Fish Oil
• Mushrooms:  CAS Options by Resources; PETFraction Maitake tincture; K9 Immunity
• Artemisinin
• Poly-MVA
• Apocaps

Dr. Charles Loops, DVM

• Fish Oil
• Mushroom Complexes, containing maitake, reishi, and agaricus mushrooms
• Colostrums
• Astragalus
• Antioxidants
• CoEnzyme Q10
• Grape Seed Extract
• Glutathione
• Essiac
• Curcumin
• Hoxsey Formula