The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (60 page)

Your dog needs vitamins and minerals to maintain normal bodily processes, but how much of each can vary widely from dog to dog. The need for different vitamins and minerals varies based on the dog’s state of health, weight, age and even stress levels. There are so many factors at play, that it is nearly impossible to make a general recommendation about what to take every day for most dogs.

Instead of trying to find a one-size-fits-all multi-vitamin, it may be better and more accurate to realize that the vitamins and minerals found in natural food sources are easier for your dog to absorb than the ones found in pills.

Studies clearly show that there is a link between eating lots of vegetables and lower cancer rates. We used to think this was because vegetables have a lot of antioxidants; current studies show that it may be the other substances in vegetables – enzymes, bioflavonoids, apoptogens and others – that do the heavy lifting.

Switching to the dog cancer diet in the next chapter helps provide good levels of the following from natural sources:

• Vitamin A(found in liver)
  
• Vitamin C (found in red meat, fish, poultry and fruits and vegetables)
  
• Vitamin E (found in broccoli)
  
• Lutein (found in leafy greens, such as spinach and kale)
  
• Carotenoids (found in leafy greens, such as spinach and kale and colored vegetables, such as red and yellow peppers)
  
• Selenium (found in both vegetables and meat)
  

These agents, along with the anti-inflammatory compounds and natural apoptogens found in the foods I recommend, will give your dog a valuable baseline of support.

Supplementing this diet with a general multivitamin could be a good idea, as long as it is not a mega-dose of antioxidants. A general multivitamin that supplies maintenance levels of vitamins and minerals may have an overall good effect for your dog and help ensure that he is getting everything he needs for optimum nutrition. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) levels for dogs are set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which controls all animal food and supplements. Multivitamin manufacturers marketing to pet owners are following AAFCO’s guidelines on normal, dietary levels of vitamins and minerals. As long as it’s a general multi-vitamin designed for dogs, you can assume the amounts listed on the label are in accordance with their guidelines.

“My Boxer had mast cell tumors. We had them removed but were very afraid of recurrence. I have used several immune boosting strategies that Dr. Dressler recommends. I feed the highest grade food along with his recommended immune boosting food. I also use Birkdale K9 Immunity daily; give a good sleep environment and plenty of exercise and activities. She is doing great and it has been two years.”

– Jon Marshall, Norman, Oklahoma

Despite what’s on the label, some supplements may not be all they claim. They may contain fillers, be contaminated with substances such as lead, or not actually contain as much of a given substance as they claim. If you are concerned about this, you can
call the vitamin manufacturer directly and ask for the Certificate of Analysis or equivalent paperwork. They will be able to give you the breakdown of their supplements, in terms of purity and contaminants.

Your vet’s own experience with multi-vitamins and his knowledge of your dog’s general health and other disease conditions will provide the best guidance in this matter.

You can buy multi-vitamins through your vet’s office, online or in a pet store.

My bottom line on a general multivitamin that supplies maintenance levels of nutritional support is that it is a good idea, to help meet the nutritional guidelines set by AAFCO. However, it’s probably more important to feed the excellent “dog cancer diet” – which is packed with vitamins and minerals, good fats, and naturally occurring anti-inflammatories – and use other supplements, such as Apocaps and mushroom-derived polysaccharides. If you feed a completely home-cooked meal for your dog, a general multi-vitamin that provides maintenance levels, not mega-doses, of antioxidants is a good idea.

HOW TO GIVE MULTIVITAMINS

Follow the dosing instructions on the label or follow your vet’s recommendations. Some vitamins like A, D, E and K, are oil-soluble, which means that absorption is lower without some fat present. For this reason, I recommend giving multivitamins with food that contains some fat. Good fat choices include krill and fish oil (see the dog cancer diet in the next chapter). Please note that high fat diets are not appropriate for dogs with pancreatitis, so your vet may not want you to take this step. Always remember to consult with your vet about treatment steps.

Any change in diet, new supplement, or new multivitamin can cause stomach upset (nausea, vomiting or diarrhea).

You may have heard of pectin, a natural compound found in plants like apples, plums and the peels of citrus fruits. Pectin has been powdered and used for centuries as a thickening agent in food, as a natural stabilizer in beverages and as a supplemental source of dietary fiber.

In its original form, pectin cannot be absorbed by the body. When it is slightly altered into what is called modified citrus pectin, it can enter the blood stream, bind the outside of spreading cells, and help keep them from attaching to the walls of blood vessels.

Studies have shown that modified citrus pectin can help block cancer cells from binding to their targets and keep them from metastasizing. It can also reduce angiogenesis, which may stop tumors from creating new blood vessels. In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, mice with cancer experienced reduced tumor growth, less metastasis and less angiogenesis when they were given modified citrus pectin (MCP).

You can get MCP, in either powder or capsules, at health food stores or online at
www.DogCancerShop.com
.

While not as important as some other supplements, modified citrus pectin is a nice addition to your dog’s diet because of its demonstrated anti-cancer effects.

HOW TO GIVE MODIFIED CITRUS PECTIN

Open the capsule(s) and mix the powder or gel into your dog’s meal. If you are using powder, keep in mind that it is still a natural thickening agent, so it will turn into a gel as it gets wet. This is completely normal.

Capsules:

Note: If your dog is less than 35 pounds, you may have to open and divide capsule contents.

Under 10 lbs
.: 200 mg per day, mixed into food, once daily

10.1-35 lbs
.: 400 mg per day, mixed into food, once daily

35.1-60 lbs
.: 800 mg per day, mixed into food, once daily

60 lbs. and over
: 800 mg per day, mixed into food, twice daily (1,600 mg total)

Powder:

One heaping teaspoon is approximately 5 grams of powder. MCP is a safe supplement, so you can be approximate in your dosing.