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24.06.2008

Although you can get commercial food for your dog, the ideal way to feed is to use a combination approach of both commercial food and fresh people foods. Most commercial food is good for your dog, although it lacks nutrients and vitamins that fresh food has. Vets will tell you that fresh food is good, providing you don’t overdo it. All dogs love fresh food as well, as they can smell it a mile away. If it smells good to them – they’ll want it.

Most commercial foods will offer your dog great sources of protein and vitamins, although fresh food contains far more essential sources. Chicken and meat for instance, have far more protein and minerals than any type of commercial dog food. Fish is another great choice, as it contains a lot of the protein your dog needs to maintain a healthy brain.

All dogs are well within the capacity of staying healthy, although you need to provide them with the minerals they need. Each dog is an individual, meaning that you can’t continue to feed him the same food on a daily basis. Dogs love people food, and they also love variety. What they need one day may vary the next, so you should always mix it up a bit and give them something different each day.

To be on the safe side, you should give your dog a little bit of everything. This way, he will get everything he needs with his diet. When you design the diet for your growing puppy, you should always make sure to include animal protein. This is very important for your pup, as he has to have it. Without animal protein, your dog will find himself literally struggling to stay healthy.

To keep your dog healthy, it is very important that he gets quality nutrition. Although quality nutrition is very important, you should never him eat so much that he gains weight too fast. If you monitor his diet and know exactly what you are feeding him, he should remain in his weight class. Sometimes this can be hard to help though, especially if your dog starts to develop allergies to a certain type of food.

If you ever have any questions regarding the diet of your dog, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your vet. Your vet could make some recommendations for you, even tell you the best type of commercial food for your dog.

Depending on his individual needs, what he requires may be totally different than what another dog needs. As long as you keep your dog on a healthy diet and make sure he gets the food he needs – he should grow to be a healthy dog with plenty of energy.

15.05.2008

Tips for promoting food safety in pets

While pet owners often take extra precautions in the kitchen when preparing food for their own meals, it is likely that the same hygienic habits are overlooked when handling their dog or cat’s food.

Although the pet food scare of last year may have altered consumer pet food buying habits, it is likely that the knowledge of how to properly feed a pet its daily nutrition requirements is still inadequate — which can impact their overall health and well-being.

Many people think of their pets as “garbage disposals”, as many dogs and cats have the tendency to eat any leftover scraps or nibble on grass, plants, or other inappropriate snacks… therefore giving the false perspective that their stomachs are infallible to afflictions.

However, dogs and cats are just as susceptible to food borne illness as humans. Therefore, it is important to strongly consider and enforce the same measures of safety when buying, preparing, and storing their food and treats to help prevent bacterial infections.

For pets, many health problems can be harbored internally and symptoms may be disguised for quite some time, sometimes only surfacing once the problem has metastasized and too late.

Therefore, the importance of giving pets the same attention in the kitchen during mealtimes cannot be stressed enough. Food borne illnesses like Salmonella are just as prevalent in pet foods and treats, and contamination can even be spread to human foods — creating the possibility of a chain of ill health in the household!

While the FDA has increased its efforts to minimize the incidence of infection, there are still precautions to take. Remember, prevention is best, and maintaining pet health now can save time and money in the future!

1. When buying food, make sure that containers are in good condition, free of signs of package damage such as dents or tears
2. Thoroughly wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling
3. Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with hot, soapy water after each use
4. Properly dispose of old food in a covered trash receptacle
5. Refrigerate at 40 degrees or throw away any leftover wet pet food
6. Store dry product in an airtight container in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees
7. Keep pets away from all food storage, preparation, and garbage areas

Also consider the pet’s diet. While some owners believe the “raw food diet” is the healthiest, the FDA actually advises against raw meat, poultry, or seafood for pets due to the increased chance of illness associated with raw foods. If choosing to feed this diet, consult with a vet first and follow the following tips to help ensure safety:

1. Raw meat and poultry products should be kept frozen until ready to use

2. Avoid thawing foods on the counter; do so in refrigerator or microwave

3. Separate raw foods from other foods, and be sure to thoroughly wash surfaces, utensils (including cutting boards, preparation and feeding bowls), hands, and any other items that touch or contact raw meat, poultry or seafood with hot soapy water immediately

4. Properly store and refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard safely

Unfortunately, even with the best attempts to provide good care, pets often encounter some disturbances… however; most common problems can be managed with at-home care. In addition, just increasing awareness of these preparation habits alone can go a long way in helping maintain pet health.

Related Products

For supporting digestive and overall health:

* Digestive Support – Herbal digestive tonic supports healthy digestion in pets
* Flatulence Preventer – Promote digestive health and reduce common gas and unpleasant smells
* Immunity and Liver Support – Herbal tonic to support healthy immune system and liver functioning
* Kidney Support – Support healthy kidney functioning
* LiverAid – Effective natural tonic for the liver and pancreas
* Natural Moves for Pets – Treat constipation and improve digestive health
* Parasite Dr. – Natural remedy to promote digestive health and integrity
* RunniPoo Relief Maintain healthy digestion and bowel functioning
* Parvo-K – Promote digestive harmony and fluid balance
* SlenderPet – Helps your pets stay within normal body weight & maintain healthy metabolism and efficient digestion
* DetoxPlus – Support the body’s natural ability to eliminate waste & toxins, and promote systemic health
* GlucoBalance – Natural pancreatic tonic keeps blood sugar & insulin levels within normal range

It is a mad jungle out there when it comes to selling dog food. Seeing the number of brands, the different types of sales pitches adopted by marketers and the fancy names with tongue twisting ingredients printed on labels, it appears the focus is on attracting buyers and grabbing a share of the whopping $ 11 billion pie..

In addition, each manufacturer launches numerous types of pet food under one brand. There are moist, semi moist and dry dog foods. Their use of terminology, like ‘premium’, ‘super-premium’, and ‘gourmet’ are mere nomenclatures since they hardly mean any thing. Even though the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulates what must be printed on the labels. The warnings are all mentioned in small print and therefore do not serve to warn the consumers adequately.

Apart from checking the nutritional adequacy and information about the manufacturer, you should focus on the ingredient list. Ethoxyquin is one of the most common preservatives used in dog food. This is used to prevent fats from turning rancid. There is verifiable evidence that there is a connection between Ethoxyquin and the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX and the elevation in liver related enzymes that can ultimately cause liver disease in dogs.

Some times dog owners indulge in over-feeding their dogs under the mistaken belief that the dog is hungry. Even a so called ‘light diet’ can lead to obesity in dogs if the calorie intake is more than recommended. Obesity can directly cause liver and heart conditions, diabetes, arthritis, skin disorders and cancer exposing the dog to a higher risk.

Diet plays an important role in liver health. It is one of the major reasons behind many diseases in cats too, including the feline liver disease. Instead of waiting for symptoms of liver disease in dogs or cats to surface, it is highly recommended that you be proactive and feed your dog with a healthy and nutritional diet to maintain health.

A huge majority of commercial foods contain toxins that destroy the immune system and gradually kill your dog as you feed him. Dogs are basically meat eaters. Meat based dog food may appear to be the best to provide the required proportions of proteins and other substances needed by the animal. Manufacturers, however, use synthetic additives and preservatives to increase shelf life, which can be detrimental to the health of your dog.

It is not only the type of food but also the quantity that makes a difference. The age, weight and breed of your pet are key aspects that determine the amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that the dog requires every day. The level of activity is another factor for arriving at the calorie intake. Your veterinarian is the best person to suggest where and how to source this information.

As much as possible feed your dog home cooked food, raw meat and a natural diet that is free from toxins. The purpose of a natural diet is to boost the immune system and help the liver to regenerate its cells so that it can function to its fullest capacity. A toxin free diet is the key to longevity and liver health.

Understanding dog behavior is important before arriving at any conclusions about the reasons behind certain types of behavior. Much as humans feel offended at certain things and resort to aggression, dogs too respond similarly. Just as certain foods do not suit humans, there are many foods that should not be fed to dogs.

If you continue to feed your dog with a diet that disturbs his system, he is liable to show his irritation in his behavior. Persistent feeding of unsuitable diet ultimately leads to aggressive dog behavior .

Dogs are not obligate carnivores and can be often seen hunting for roots and fruits. Dogs evolved from wolves. In the wild if you see wolves and dogs eating an herbivore prey that they have killed, you may notice they first go for the stomach area of the carcass. That is where they will find roots and leaves and berries. Many times you can also see dogs eating grass.

Left to him, a dog will eat only what he can digest and pass easily. Domesticated dogs do not have that option available to them. They have to consume what they are fed by dog owners. It is a known fact that commercial dog food contains synthetic preservative, coloring and fillers.

Some manufacturers even stoop to add addictive ingredients to boost their sales. These substances can do serious harm to the dog. Constant intake of such substances often leads to dog aggression when the dog’s discomfort exceeds tolerance levels.

If your dog is becoming overly aggressive and you perceive that even re-training efforts are coming to a naught, check the diet that you are feeding him with. If you are feeding your dog with a diet that is not providing him with enough energy he is likely to be non responsive towards training.

One of the reasons behind your dog getting hyper, unfocused and out of control may be the cheap grain based kibble that you might be feeding him. Actually, grain based diet should never be fed to a dog. It can ruin his digestive system because it is not his natural diet. The biological and physiological basis of this is related to blood sugar levels.

High carbohydrate diet leads to wild swings in blood sugar levels, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Even if you look at it in the evolutionary perspective, wild dogs consume only minimal quantity of grains and that too in the shape of already digested paste and juices in the intestines of a seed eating prey.

The recent shooting up of incidence of aggression led dog biting can be an outcome of generations of diet that is incompatible to the dog’s digestive system. It is never too late to start to save an animal that has earned the distinction of being a man’s best friend.

A high quality protein based diet in conjunction with roots, fruits, green beans, tomatoes and bananas can ultimately lead to a healthier generation of dogs. Remember that a healthy and mature dog does not normally bite.

Most pet owners don’t know that their refrigerators are likely to contain common human treats that can kill or severely harm their pets!

While for pet owners the passing holiday season means overeating and an expanded waistline, for our pets, being overindulged with too many table scraps could result in a fatal outcome.

Recently, the ASPCA ran a report on toxic foods for pets, and for most of us, the foods that can hurt your pet are a shocking surprise.

To ensure your pet’s health and safety, take a look at some foods that can be harmful:

Chocolate—This delicious treat is made with cocoa beans, which contain a chemical called theobromine that is toxic to dogs. Keep this in mind, especially on Valentine’s Day!

Grapes—While the exact reason why they are harmful is unknown, they have been linked to cases of acute kidney failure.

Cocoa mulch—The bean shells of cocoa, which are a by-product of chocolate, are used as mulch for landscaping. Many people are unaware that the toxic chemical theobromine is present in this type of mulch that is often ingested by curious pets.

Fatty foods—Fats are difficult for a dog to digest and can overtax the pancreas, leading to potentially fatal pancreatitis.

Nuts—The high phosphorus content in nuts is linked to the formation of bladder stones. Macadamia nuts in particular are especially harmful.

Onions—Studies show that onions as well as onion powder can prompt hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Potatoes—Though rare, the toxin solanine can be found in a potato’s green sprouts and skins. Potatoes should therefore be cooked and mashed in order to be safe for your pet’s consumption.

Artificial sweeteners—Consuming large amounts of these synthetics can lead to an abrupt drop in blood sugar levels, causing symptoms such as depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. In as little as 30 minutes, signs of toxicity can become apparent, and immediate veterinary treatment is necessary.

Turkey—The consumption of turkey skin is linked to acute pancreatis most likely caused by its high fat content.

Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:

Alcoholic beverages

Avocado (the only “fatty” member of the vegetable family)

Coffee (all forms of coffee)

Moldy or spoiled foods

Salt

Yeast dough

Garlic

To help counteract any internal damage that may have been caused from these foods, consider supplementing your pet’s diet with natural remedies to restore health.

PetAlive Digestive Support is a great detoxifying agent which soothes gastric mucus membranes and inflammation, while also relieving symptoms of chronic digestive disorders and conditions.

PetAlive DetoxPlus also works to purify the blood and eliminate toxins, and can be very effective for systemic recovery after illness.

In addition to human foods that can be toxic, think twice about the prescription drugs you are giving your pet, as recent studies have shown that they can be harmful, too.

The FDA reported new information on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which have been linked to 22,000 cases of illness in dogs, with nearly 3,000 of those being deadly. Meanwhile, manufacturers continue to tout the safety of these drugs when used according to the label, and claim that vets are provided with information on their potential side effects.

However, there are natural options available for treating your pet without risking harmful side effects or fatal consequences. Preventative measures can also be taken to promote vitality and balance in the body. PetAlive Immunity & Liver Support acts as a liver tonic to boost immune functioning and resistance to disease and infection, while aiding overall systemic function and toxin elimination.

You can also try Flatulence Preventer, Parasite Dr. and RunniPoo Relief for effective support.

“This product (Flatulence Preventer) definitely works! I wouldn’t have believed it without seeing the difference. Our cat has food sensitiveness which causes terrible gas and bloating and she has been on a special diet for years with not much improvement I must say. Your remedy makes her more comfortable after food and we can give her a bigger variety than before. It looks like we found the cure after so many years and so much expense – a simple natural remedy!” — Ziggy

“My daughter has been using your (people) products for her family for some time and she has always recommended them for me. As I am very healthy, I have not had much need for any medicine :-) (Thank goodness!) My cats do get worms no matter what I do and it was great to discover that you have a pet website. The Parasite Dr has lived up to its promise and I can certainly recommend it to other pet owners” — Carole

“Pet Alive is the only product line I trust for my animals. I use your remedies for all my cats and dogs and have just added RuniPoo Relief to my collection. I just wanted to let you know that once again I am not disappointed. RuniPoo Relief is just as effective as all your other products.” — Tammi Berera

Herbal Dog Supplements

Author: poster
14.01.2008

1 cup Powdered milk

1 cup nutritional yeast

3 Tablespoons Spirulina

2 Tablespoons kelp powder

2 Tablespoons comfrey root powder

2 Tablespoons comfrey leaf powder

2 tablespoons nettle leaf powder

Âź cup bone meal

Make sure all herbs are finely powdered. sift together. Add two tablespoons to food each day.

11.11.2007

How Low Quality Foods can be Hurting Your Pets

A few short months ago, pet owners everywhere were afraid to feed their pets for fear of what they might be ingesting. Every time you turned on the news, there was an update on the “Pet Food Scare”.

Although the situation has now subsided after more than 60 million bags and cans of pet food were recalled, concerns with production and safety standards were raised regarding the high levels of hazardous food that slipped through to the retail market. The situation caused pet owners to question the quality and safety of even the well-recognized brands on the market.

Disturbing Findings on Nutritional Content

James Morris and Quentin Rogers, two Molecular Biologists at the University of California at Davis, found a lack of information on the bioavailability of nutrients in many of the common dietary ingredients used in pet foods. “These ingredients are generally by-products of the meat, poultry and fishing industries, with the potential for a wide variation in nutrient composition,” the biologists stated.

Given the varying degrees of quality, it is impossible to be sure that your particular batch of food will be of the same nutritional value as another.

Understanding Packaging Lingo

If you examine the ingredients listed on a bag of pet food, chances are you’ll see the word “meat byproducts”. While this may seem like a harmless term, by definition, it means that the food is of such low quality that it is unfit by human consumption standards.

The Animal Protection Institution explains that when an animal goes to the slaughterhouse, the nutritious lean meat is used for human food, while remains of the carcass end up in pet food.

“Bones, blood, intestines, lungs, ligaments, and almost all the other parts not generally consumed by humans — are known as “by-products,” “meat-and-bone-meal,” or similar names on pet food labels. Many of these remnants provide a questionable source of nourishment for our animals.”

Common Ailments Linked to Low Quality Food

In addition to your pet not receiving adequate nutrients, they can develop serious health problems by eating food of poor quality. Common problems reported among both dogs and cats are urinary tract infections and urinary system problems.

These are most commonly the direct result of a poor diet, as the Animal Protection Institute reports that many pet foods have an overabundance of certain minerals that can cause stones and blockage in the urinary system.

Pets can develop heart disease as a result of a deficiency in certain amino acids. Since the protein sources for most pet food are byproducts and of such low quality, they don’t provide full nutritional value.

Other conditions that have been linked to low quality food and insufficient diet are hypothyroidism, prostate and urinary conditions, liver troubles and a wide range of digestive problems. Some reports indicate that low quality pet food may cause trouble with managing diabetes in pets as well.

What You Can Do

While most commercial pet foods still leave something to be desired in terms of their ability to provide complete nutrition for the life of your pet, some are much better than others. Get Tips on How to Read Pet Food Labels

Supplementing your pet’s diet to receive optimal system functioning is also key. Natural remedies can be an extremely effective way to both guard your pet against some of the negative effects of poor food as well as to keep their immune systems and natural detoxification systems working at their highest potential.

Natural Remedies work to treat your pet’s system as a whole so that it can protect and heal itself.

ThyroPet – Treat causes and symptoms of hypothyroid conditions

Heart and Circulation Tonic – Improve circulation and promote heart and artery health

Immunity and Liver Support – Strengthen and improve immune system and liver functioning

Digestive Support – Treat digestive conditions and improve digestive functioning

Liver Aid – Stimulate and improve liver functioning and prevent disease

ProsPet Drops – Maintain prostate and urinary health

UTI Free – Treat causes and symptoms of urinary tract infections

If you are making a switch in your dog’s diet, consider detoxifying his or her system if you are worried about the effects their old food may have had on them.

Controlling your pet’s diet and nutritional intake is one of the most important ways to help maintain health and happiness throughout their life, and the Native Remedies line of natural herbal and homeopathic products can help.

Detox Plus – Cleanse the system and eliminate toxins from the body

LiverAID – Stimulate and improve liver functioning and prevent disease

“Your DetoxPlus capsules have been marvelous for my Golden Retriever who has been looking under the weather lately due to, we believe, preferring to eat our food than hers! Your Detox Drops for people have helped me and so I thought I would try them from your Pet website. I have been very happy with the results. Now… my husband????”-” — Freda

“I have a tiny Yorkie name Tiffy. At about 6 months of age, she developed a liver shunt. She has been on Liver Aid and Liver Detox products for about three weeks now, and we cannot believe the positive changes, particularly in her energy levels. I also decided to give my Maltese both of these products, and I realized that she stopped itching and licking herself all the time. I am so glad I found your products and I look forward to trying many others. I would recommend your products to anyone. I had nothing to lose, and I gained everything because our animals are everything to us. They are part of our family, and they are priceless.” — Dena

26.10.2007

Being the largest and the most exposed organ of the body, pet skin is likely to be affected with mild to severe conditions. One of the major dog skin problems arise from allergies. Allergies can cause canine or feline acne. Allergies may arise from contact with an allergen or from food that does not suit your pet.

Before starting treatment for any type of allergy it is of paramount importance that you establish the cause of allergy. It is erroneous to assume that only new foods cause allergies and consequent itching. The truth is that any food can cause an allergic reaction in dogs – new or old. The commonly known skin condition of ‘hot spots’ can develop if your dog becomes allergic to his routine diet that he is no longer able to digest.

Food allergy often forms a typical distribution pattern and your veterinarian is the best guide in this matter. You can suspect food allergy in your dog in conditions where:

* there has been poor response to treatment for mange
* there is little or no improvement on administration of steroidal treatment
* the dog has not previously experienced any seasonal allergies

Dogs are often fed various commercial diets that contain processed proteins, fillers and artificial colorings. These undergo a further change inside the body. The auto immune system may recognize them as foreign substances and respond accordingly. In such an eventuality the most commonly affected organ in dogs and cats is the skin.

The only method to arrive at what is causing food allergy in a dog is through putting him on a trial diet. A trial diet can be one that is based on a protein source the dog has never eaten before. Through a method of elimination by trial and error the allergen can be identified. The latest approach to the problem is through the use of hydrolyzed proteins. A conventional source of protein is broken down with the aid of water into molecules so small that the immune system cannot recognize it.

During the trial period it is important to avoid all unnecessary medication and chewable treats not compatible with the trial diet.

Pets are exposed to external and internal risks. Attacks by external parasites cause mild conditions like dog or cat dandruff and canine or feline hair loss and other dog skin problems. Food allergy is a condition that has its roots in what your pet is eating, which can potentially damage the skin of your pet to a great extent. Lesions caused by food allergies result in skin problems that can be extremely uncomfortable and may distort the very appearance of the pet.

Traditionally, home cooking has been the best non-allergic diet for pets. In many cases home cooked food may still be the only choice to avoid food allergy.

References:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Skin-Care&id=222254

http://www.superk9.com/article-doghealthcare06.asp

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_food_allergies.html

04.10.2007

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56 pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix who ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn’t call my emergency service until 7 AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute renal failure but hadn’t seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me—had heard something about it, but…. Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog’s BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an I V catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids.

At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care. He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn’t control his vomiting.

Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case—great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville, Ohio

Read rest of article here: http://www.snopes. com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

If the reason behind cancer was known then it would have helped a great deal in finding a definite cure for the deadly disease. But apart from the fact that there are certain carcinogens that cause cancer, very little is known about what causes cancer. In the recent years there has been a significant increase in the incidence of cancer in dogs and feline cancer causing lot of concern to pet owners.

It has been proven that there is a high probability of some cancer cells present in a body. A perfectly conditioned and healthy body does not let cancer take roots. It is the immune system of the body that inhibits these cancer causing cells from multiplying.

When the body is unhealthy, the immune system triggers off certain changes in the body to fight back. When cancer takes root, the immune system causes certain symptoms to appear in the body. These symptoms are basically the body’s mechanism to fight back in order to self-heal.

As the cancer progresses, the self healing process can go awry. The body cannot handle the constant ‘war’ situation. With changing priorities of the body system, the normal growth processes are compromised. A diet that can strike a balance in priorities of attending to the cancer and the routine growth processes can be of great help in prolonging the life of a dog.

Your dog’s body requires a typical diet that is compatible to his structure and needs. It should be kept in mind that human food is not always good for the dog. And a dog who suffers from cancer requires specific nutrition that can allow him to fight back the disease and continue the other regular body functions.

It is too optimistic to believe that a diet can help in treating cancer in dogs. But a certain combination of nutrients can help in preventing cancer. It can also ensure a good quality of life if cancer has already set in.

Not much research has been conducted to understand how diets can manage or prevent cancer from occurring in dogs. Whatever research is available suggests that a diet that provides the following substances in sufficient quantities can be of help.

* Vitamins C, D and E along with beta carotene and chemical compound of Vitamin A known as retinoids
* Minerals like selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, lead, iron, potassium, sodium, iodine and germanium
* Enzymes that help in immunization against cancer causing pathogens. These are available as oral preparations.
* Natural substances like garlic have shown excellent results in fighting cancer in experiments performed on rodents.
* Green and black tea is believed to have cancer inhibiting properties and can be introduced in the dog meal.

Cancer treatments and surgery can drain the energy out of a patient. If the energy levels dip to extremely low levels a condition known as cancer cachexia occurs. One of the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs is a loss of appetite and extreme weight loss. Managing the amount of energy spent and supplementing with a healthy diet are the best ways of countering the condition.

References:

http://b-naturals.com/Sum1998.php

http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=22&s=69&ss=550&id=6002