There are many foods that can help prevent cancer in dogs or fight the effects of cancer, and creating a special anti-cancer diet for your dog is something that takes research and guidance. It’s always a good idea to consult your vet before making any dietary changes for your pup. Here are a few foods that you should discuss with your vet that may have cancer-fighting and cancer-preventing qualities.
1. Fish Oil
Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 which is a fatty acid that shrinks tumors and reduces inflammation. Fish oil has a host of other benefits for your dog, and many owners add it to their pups’ food to help keep coats shiny and fight skin dryness. Fish oil can slow the growth of cancer and is often recommended for dogs who have it.
2. Animal Fat And Protein
Tumors take a lot of protein from other areas of the body, leaving less protein available for muscle growth, disease immunity, and wound healing. To make sure your dog’s body has enough protein, they’ll need a high-protein diet. Some dogs with cancer also have a reduced appetite, which means that their body will start using up stores of fat. A more fatty diet is needed to replace those stores. Animal fats and proteins should make up the majority of the diet for a dog with cancer.
3. Blueberries
Blueberries are full of antioxidants, and they contain ellagic acid, which blocks metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer. The antioxidants in blueberries prevent cell damage, and the anthocyanins or dark pigments that give the fruit its color have anti-inflammatory properties, as well. In laboratory tests, blueberries have been shown to kill and prevent many types of cancer.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in glucosinates, which are broken down into biologically active compounds that have anticancer properties. These compounds protect cells from DNA damage, make carcinogens inactive, induce cell death in tumors, prevent tumor blood vessels from forming, and provide anti-inflammatory effects.
5. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is high in beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A within the body. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that prevents damage caused by free radicals. Beta-carotene, which gives pumpkin its orange color, can also slow cancer growth and boost enzymes that help clear cancer-causing substances from the blody.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. It works as a cancer preventative as well as a treatment. Curcumin interferes with cancer development and can reduce or even kill tumors. Combining it with coconut oil can help increase the absorption of curcumin.
7. Apples
Apples are an antiangiogenic food, meaning it prevents the formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels. This is important in fighting cancer because it stops blood vessel formation in tumors, which starves the tumors and prevents them from growing. In tests on dogs, antiangiogenic foods starved tumors with a 60% response rate.
8. Coconut Oil
The fatty acids in cocount oil provide a lot of health benefits, and they have anti-tumor properties. Coconut oil is beneficial for the skin and can clear up precancerous lesions and protect against cancerous growths. Coconut oil is also able to kill some bacteria that is associated with higher rates of certain types of cancer.
9. Asparagus
Asparagus has a high concentration of glutathione, an antioxidant that prevents damage from carcinogens and free radicals. It also contains saponins, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Asparagus has tumor inhibiting effects, and it is still being researched for its cancer fighting capabilities.
10. Blackberries
Much like blueberries, blackberries are rich in anthocyanins, giving them powerful anti-inflammatory effects. The USDA ranked blackberries as one of the top antioxidant foods in the United States. They boost defenses against free radicals and can easily be mixed with other foods for a tasty treat for your pup.
What other cancer-fighting foods do you feed your dog? Let us know in the comments below!
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