Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 11/14/2010

Question
I have an 18 year old, 25 lb mixed terrier Beavis, who is a rescue, my absolute best friend in the world.  He has slept on my bed with me his whole entire life, been on vacations with me, to work with me, has basically been a constant presence in my life.  I am heartbroken to find out that he was recently diagnosed with either a splenic mass, splenomegaly or cancer.  The mass was seen on current x-rays performed due to an exacerbation of his underlying spinal pain. Apparently this mass has been present for at least two years, as I have acquired his past x-rays from his old vet, who never made me aware of this!!  Unable to make a definitive diagnosis by way of biopsy or excision due to risk of bleeding and risk of anesthesia due to his age.  Fluid in his right lung was seen incidentally as well.   He also has elevated liver enzymes, (although he has been off and on Prednisone for most of his life - skin allergies in his youth, undiagnosed cough present for at least four years and severe cervical and lumbar pain due to DDD, osteoarthritis and spondylosis).  A few of his other lab values are slightly abnormal but not unexpected due to his age.  His current medications are Tramadol 25 mg and Methocarbamol  180 mg b.i.d. – t.i.d. prn, Prednisone 2.5-5 mg q.d., NeoPolyDex oint q.d.  I am also using supplements: fish oil 1000 mg q.d., Milk Thistle 175 mg q.d. and Vit B12 IM monthly.  I am doing further research as to what other vitamins and supplements I should be adding to his daily regimen with regard to his age, liver, spleen and spinal issues.

I am currently feeding him Halo holistic canned and dry dog food once a day and will be adding chicken liver/cottage cheese/boiled eggs in some combo for breakfast.  However I am starting to question my choice of dog food.  Apparently grains are not indicated in dogs with cancer and I thought that Halo was grain-free but it is not.  I just started the Halo about two weeks ago.  Prior to that he had been fed Purina ONE his whole life.

My questions are, with regard to his cancer (if present) I’ve found that he should be fed a high protein diet, mostly meat, no grain.  However I’ve also found that with regard to his liver, he should be on a low protein, low fat diet!  What do you think?  Should he be fed high or low protein?  I am trying to treat him as naturally and holistically as possible (I even give him massages), however unfortunately, prescription medications are absolutely necessary due to his spinal pain.  Do you have any suggestions with regard to vitamins and supplements?  I am wondering about vitamin K as I am concerned about a bleed from the spleen. I’m not real familiar with it.  Would this strengthen his blood vessels and possibly prevent a bleed?  Would its clotting effects help this?  Would it be beneficial?  If so, at what dose?  I believe CoQ10 25 mg might be indicated, but I can’t remember for what reason!

So, basically, the end questions of this rather lengthy letter are:
Dietary/food suggestions?  Supplement/vitamin suggestions?  Any other suggestions that you can think of to increase the quality of his life (perhaps extend it), make him comfortable and address his spleen and liver issues?  Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give me!


Answer
Hi Judie,
I am sorry to hear that your best friend is suffering from cancer. We see way too much of this disease in dogs as well as us humans. While you can't undo 18 yrs of past diet issues, we often wonder if better quality foods help prevent this disease in the long run.

While it's too late now to change to a high quality food such as Science Diet, I do want to point out that dogs and cats raised on Science Diet seem to have a much lower rate of cancer than pets fed Purina, Nutro, Iams and of course the garbage grocery store brands. I have first hand experience with this myself. I have seen clients dogs also grow way past their expected life span (which Beavis has also done) on these foods. It's actually a miracle he has lived so long on this food but your love and good care has made that happen.

Having said that, we will deal with the problem at hand. Hill's once made a neoplasia diet for dogs with cancer but have since discontinued it. The diet was made with high quality proteins, fats and low carbs. That is the key to a cancer diet.

So I found this page for you and here is what the University of Florida has to say about it. I have included much more on this for you. The page can be found here:
http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/AltMed/Cancer/Cancer_AltMed.htm

The Cancer Diet:
Although eating healthy is the best tool in the fight against cancer, once cancer takes hold certain dietary changes may be help the patient fight against the effects of the cancer. Tumor cells rely heavily upon carbohydrates for their energy and rob the body of amino acids. On the other hand, tumor cells cannot utilize lipids (fats) for energy while the rest of the body can. As such, diets with increased fat content may slow tumor growth, allowing the patient to fight against the tumor. Protein content must be maintained a levels sufficient for tissue repair, but carbohydrates should be held to a minimum. For those who prefer to prepare their dogs food, the following diet contains the ingredients important for cancer patients. In addition, it supplies the important nutrients for cancer protection. For those who can not cook for their dog, a commercial food should be of good quality, moderate protein (18-22%) content, low carbohydrate (3-13%) content, and high fat (55-60%) content. One of these is Mighty Dog Bacon & Cheese dog food. Your veterinarian can assist you in finding a food which fits these criteria and is satisfactory to your dog.

     Home cooked cancer diet: (for 60-90 pounds body weight)
      
         o 4 oz Pork Back Fat (boiled, baked or fried in olive oil)
         o 4 oz Tofu (firm soybean curd)
         o 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
         o 2 Whole Carrots (boiled and then cut up)
         o 1 cup Spinach (cooked)
         o 4 Tbs Green Bell Pepper (chopped and steamed)
         o 4 Broccoli Spears (boiled and then cut up)
         o 2 Sardines (in olive oil, drained)
         o 2 cloves raw Garlic (crushed and added before serving)
         o 1 tsp dry, ground Ginger (added before serving)
         o ½ tsp dry, yellow Mustard (added before serving)

Dietary Supplements:

     Vitamins & Antioxidants:

     The vitamins and antioxidants for cancer patients are the same for all dogs, including vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, beta-carotene, ginkgo bilboa, green tea and grape seed extract. In addition, the membrane stabilizers omega-3-fatty acids, gammalinolenic acid and coenzyme Q-10 are important for cancer patients. Many of the antioxidants help stabilize DNA and help reduce cancer development or progression. Some data suggests that antioxidants can reduce the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy, but this is not well documented. It may be best to stop antioxidants 3 days before radiation therapy or at the start of chemotherapy, reinstituting the antioxidants a few days later. Most of the herbal antioxidants are good for preventing cancer, too.

     Immunostimulants:
      
           Echinacea:

           American Indian medicine gave us a useful native plant that is another immune-system booster: purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea and related species. The root of this ornamental plant is held in high esteem by herbalists, naturopathic doctors, and many lay-people because of its antibiotic and immune-enhancing properties. You can buy echinacea products in any health food store: tinctures, capsules, tablets, and extracts of fresh or dried roots. Although few medical doctors in America are familiar with echinacea, much research on it has been done in Germany, and the plant is in widespread use as a home remedy in Europe and America. Follow the directions for adult dosing.

           Astragalus:

           Another Chinese herbal remedy with similar properties comes from the root of a plant in the pea family, Astragalus membranaceus. This plant is a relative of our locoweed, which is toxic to livestock. The Chinese species is nontoxic, the source of a very popular medicine called huang qi that you can buy in any drugstore in China for use against colds, flus, and other respiratory infections. Recent studies in the West confirm its antiviral and immune-boosting effects, and preparations are now available in most health food stores here. Follow the directions for adult dosing.
            
     Anti-Cancer herbs:
      
           Cat's Claw (una de gato):

           Cat's claw (name derived from the pattern of thorns found on the vines), Uncaria tomentosa, comes from the Peruvian rain forest and was traditional used by the indigenous people to threat cancer and arthritis. Recent studies indicate that it contains immune-enhancing substances, including several antioxidant compounds. These compounds may account for the antitumor properties reported for cat's claw. Treatments have been reported to lead to remission of brain and other tumors. While published data is lacking, cat's claw should be considered in tumors of the central nervous system. Use ¼ the adult human dose for small dogs, ½ for medium dogs and the equivalent dose in large dogs.

           Reishi and Maitake Mushrooms:

           Like astragalus, mushroom extracts stimulate the patient's immune system by presenting unique macromolecules to the intestinal tract, where they alter the immune regulation by intestinal antigen processing systems. In addition, maitake mushroom extract has been shown to activate NK Killer cells which attack tumor cells and to prevent destruction of T-Helper cells. There is no known toxicity from these mushroom extracts. Use ¼ the adult human dose for small dogs, ½ for medium dogs and the equivalent dose in large dogs.

           Pau D'Arco:

           This herbal extract from the inner bark of trees of the Tahebuia genus (found in South American rain forests) contains lapachol which has been reported to induce strong biological activity to cancer. No adverse effects have been reported with the drug. Studies with pure lapachol have not indicated that blood levels are inadequate to provide the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory actions attributed to Pau D'Arco. On the other hand, its effectiveness may not be related solely to lapachol, but influenced by other phytochemicals in the extract. Use ¼ the adult human dose for small dogs, ½ for medium dogs and the equivalent dose in large dogs.
            
     Other Dietary Supplements:
      
           Milk Thistle:

           Milk thistle is an herbal product that help protect the liver from toxic damage. It may be useful in treating chronic active hepatitis or as a prevention of injury from other drugs. It has been used to protect the liver from damage from chemotherapy in human patients. It may help prevent damage from traditional anti-convulsants (phenobarbital). I recommend starting at 1 capsule twice a day.

           Shark Cartilage:

           Mounting evidence suggests that shark cartilage has anti-angiogenic properties, reducing blood vessel development into tumors. While it is not ecologically sound to harvest sharks for their cartilage, it is hard to deny to benefit of reducing tumor blood flow in reducing tumor size and preventing distant metastasis. On the other hand, a recent study using shark cartilage in terminally ill human cancer patients showed no evidence of benefit either in tumor growth or in the quality of life of the patients. If your dog has neoplasia, you can consider using 1000-2000 mg of shark cartilage daily, taking into account that it may do nothing beneficial.

           Miscellaneous:

           You may want to add Essiac tea, Wheatgrass extract, Soybean Concentrate or Chlorella (see www.wheat-grass.com) {these are not proven, only antidotal}

           Soybean concentrate contains may of the same compounds found in Tofu, in a liquid form. My feeling is that if you use the diet which is based upon Tofu for much of its protein, you do not need soy concentrates. On the other hand, this might be useful in dogs who remain on commercial dog food.

           Barley grass, wheat grass, and alfalfa are green plants that some people believe to be full of nutritional blessings. The first two are the young shoots of sprouted grains. Freshly squeezed wheat-grass juice is sold in some health-food stores as are dried green powders and tablets of all three plants. There is no evidence to back the claims made for these products, and I do not recommend using them. Alfalfa may contain natural substances that harm the immune system.

           Spirulina and chlorella are two varieties of freshwater algae, primitive plants that are cultivated for nutritional use, dried and sold as dark green powders or tablets. They are very expensive and heavily promoted as miracle supplements. What they provide is mostly protein, which you do not need, along with some vitamins and minerals. Claims made for these products are not substantiated by research.

Additional Measures:

     Acupuncture:

     While acupuncture cannot prevent cancer, it can be very effective in relieving pain caused by cancer and may help balance the energy flow throughout the body, directing the bodies healing system to fight the tumor. Acupuncture is widely accepted as a method to provide analgesia without the side-effects of drugs. It stabilizes the adrenal gland function and may increase endogenous corticosteroid secretion without the side-effects of exogenous steroid medication. Electrical acupuncture will stimulate reflex activity, improving muscle strength and allowing more rapid return of function. Post-operatively, needle acupuncture is useful to reduce muscle spasms without drug intervention. Generally, acupuncture is given over several treatments. If it does not provide benefits within 3-5 treatments, then further therapy may not be warranted. Acupuncture should be performed only by a veterinarian who is trained and certified in its use; your veterinarian should be able to refer you to a qualified veterinary acupuncturist in your area.

     Static Magnetic Therapy:

     Magnetism has been used for years to treat a number of medical conditions; however, only recently has the use of magnets been rediscovered as relatively simple and safe methods of promoting health with few or no side-effects. Static magnets have a number of physiologic effects which can be useful in the treatment of tumorous growths. "North" pole magnets create alkalinity by decreasing hydrogen ion concentration in the tissues (since the north pole of a magnet is positive, it repels positively charge molecules. In addition, north pole magnets suppress cell mitosis, inhibits viral and bacterial growth, shrinks tumors and decreases both tissue edema and inflammation. Applying north pole magnets over the area of the tumor for 15-20 minutes a day may help in tumor control. Most medical magnets need to be of 1000-3000 gauss. The higher the magnetic strength, the greater the tissue penetration. For superficial tumors, lower gauss magnets are fine.

     Healing Touch:

     Healing touch is based upon the capacity of human beings to pass "life-force" from themselves into others willing to accept this gift. Although many forms of healing touch are taught in the West, they represent teachings of the same physical process. Many studies have indicated that human contact can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve the state of well-being of the recipient. Human contact has also been shown to increase the immune resistance of others. These principles can be used to help animal patients heal, as well. While it is not easy to demonstrate measurable results in all cases, certainly healing touch does no harm. When done as taught by practitioners of healing touch, it does not cost the "giver" personal energy, since the "giver" acts as a conduit of "universal" life-force which is freely available from a limitless supply of life-force within the cosmos. The "recipient" is free to accept and use this life-force energy. Most Eastern philosophies of healing are based upon the concept that living beings are based upon energy which flows in the body. When the energy level is low or there is a blockage of energy flow, disease develops. Healing touch, by providing life-force energy above or below this blockage, can re-establish the natural flow of energy, allowing healing to take place.

     While healing touch has a spiritual aspect, it is not a religious practice nor does it require any particular belief by the giver or recipient. What is required is a recognition by the giver that this process can occur and for the giver to practice the technique to establish pathways for energy flow from them to the recipient. Distant healing touch can also be beneficial to patients. In this form of healing touch, the giver establishes a "psychic" connection with the recipient and mentally visualizes offering the life-force to the patient. Many double blind studies have shown that prayers directed at patients in human intensive care units reduce the complication rates of those patients and their ultimate length of stay in the intensive care unit. Distant healing touch and prayer seem to work through similar mechanisms, in their benefits to patients. On the other hand, belief in any specific religion is unnecessary to practice healing touch. Any person can learn and practice healing touch. In fact, most people perform healing touch without knowledge of doing so. For information about the practice of healing touch see Dr. Weil's web pages and search for "healing touch". For a discussion of healing touch, see  http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/courses/vem5208/centering.html .

     Healing touch may be helpful to maintain normal health in dogs who might develop cancer. It also will assist in slowing progression and maximizing recovery once cancer has developed. Since this can be done without risk of injury, it will do no harm; yet healing touch may increase the chances of full recovery. It also helps develop the human-animal bond. The outcome of healing touch is non-judgmental. It is a gift which is shared between the patient and healer.

Here is another diet for dogs with cancer. Again the idea is that of high fat and protein, lower carbs. Brown rice is a good carb to use, but buy organic.

http://www.caninecancer.com/diet.html

and here:

http://www.caninecancer.com/nutrition.html

Good luck Judie and let me just say that while I know that you will give Beavis the best care you can during this trying time, I also know that you will give him the hardest gift of all in the end, the gift of ending his suffering. That is something we cannot even do for each other. He will let you know when he is ready.

But that is not now. Now you need to be there for Beavis and give him the best care that you can. I hope that this helps you.
take care and let me know how he does.