A dog or cat suffering from cancer requires a holistic approach to living conditions and nutrition. Proper nutrition can support the animal in this debilitating disease, as well as slow down the development of cancer by reducing the energy supply of cancer cells. These are the main reasons why you should consider changing your diet permanently.

Ketogenic diet for dog or cat

In the case of sick animals, it is recommended to introduce an increased amount of high-quality protein with adequate digestibility in the diet. Choose meat, not offal, so as to increase the digestibility of meals. On the other hand, introduce increased fat content. In this way, you increase the energy value of the meal – the animal can eat smaller portions, providing the body with the right amount of calories. It should be remembered that wasting the body, weight loss, weakens the natural capabilities of the dog or cat’s body to fight the disease.

On the other hand, by increasing your protein and fat content, you can reduce your carbohydrate content significantly.

Cancer cells have altered metabolism due to impaired mitochondrial function. To grow (develop cancer), they need the right amount of energy from glucose. And where does this glucose come from in the diet of a dog or cat?

It comes from the metabolism of carbohydrates. So if you get more carbohydrates, you feed the cancer cells.

In the case of a high-fat diet, it is important to remember to choose the right level of fat. Too much fat can cause diarrhea in animals and also cause pancreatitis.

Type of fatty acids

In the case of sick animals, the quality of fat becomes important – provide your dog or cat with polyunsaturated fats instead of saturated fats, so it is better to give lean meat and add oils that are a source of nutritious fatty acids to meals. A particularly important role is played in the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids – EPA/DHA, which are often lacking in the daily diet of dogs and cats. They are mainly found in fish and algae.

Read more about acid supplementation and quantity HERE.

You will also find information in the book: LINK

Nutritional recommendations for dogs and cats

Providing the right proportion of nutrients supports your dog or cat in the fight against cancer and strengthens its body. According to expert recommendations (NRC, 2006):

– carbohydrate content should not exceed 25% in dry matter

– fat content -25-40% in dry matter

– protein content for a dog – 30-45% and for a cat – 40-50% – in dry matter, respectively

In the case of Omega-3 acids, their content of more than 5% in dry matter is recommended.

In our calculator you can convert the analytical composition from food to the content in dry matter LINK.

Summary

A proper diet for a dog or cat can extend its life and increase its comfort. In the case of cancer, by changing the diet properly, you can prevent excessive growth of cancer cells and nourish the emaciated body of your dog or cat.

The material is the property of Smart Solution Bożena Wróblewska. Copying and distribution is prohibited.

Wróblewska B, (2024) I’ll tell you what to put in a dog’s bowl. A practical guide to dog nutrition, Smart Solution Publishing House, 2024