Every once in a while you meet someone in a strange way and it turns out you have more in common with them than you would have originally guessed. I was at an ice cream social and ended up seated next to a guy named Jet. Eventually we ended up discussing dogs, dog behavior, and then the touchy subject of diet. I feed Lilly a partially raw diet. Even the best processed dog food is, well, processed. I know that eating processed food for long periods of time makes me restless, dumb and ichy… I can’t imagine it is any different for an animal. Biologically on a cellular level are we really that different. Lilly has a much shorter digestive tract than I do. She is also less susceptible to food poisoning from salmonella due to her short tract. There are a few differences between her and me. However, I’ve traveled all over the world to some pretty amazing places and have yet to see a kibble tree or bush where wild dogs go to feast. The similarities far out weigh the differences, and some raw food choices for Lilly has served us both well.
Jet asked me if I would like a copy of a letter he sent his friend outlining a raw food diet to combat a returning cancer in her dog. I of course jumped at the chance. For her privacy I’ve changed her name.
Debra,
You are about to embark on a quest that has the power to not only help your loving pet, but also make her much healthier.
First, you have to ask yourself if you are ready to commit to this type of regiment. It is time consuming and confusing in the beginning but will become a common daily routine in time.
Now, ask yourself this question: Do diseases and viruses exist in a host that has a perfectly functioning immune system? Of course not… So, since your dog has cancer a second time, her immune system is not functioning well, and I presume the vet will recommend either she go through the process again (which will not be good), let nature take its course (also not good), or put her down when she shows signs of additional weakness (not good a third time).
Well, from my perspective, I would address the immune deficiency immediately, since that is the most important system to fight her condition on its own. Once it becomes stronger, it has the power to stop the spreading or even reverse it, and the vet may not tell you that. If he did, he may lose a patient.
I’ll give you a list of things that will most definitely help her, and where to find them. But you have to believe in your heart that you truly want to help her because unless you begin this protocol and stick to it, don’t bother, and nature will take its course.
The introduction: When you introduce this type of diet and supplementation protocol to your dog, there is something you have to do first, and that is to get her ready to accept it. What I mean is that you have to get her body ready to accept the foods and process it efficiently the way nature originally designed her to do.
Eighty percent of her immune system exists in her digestive system so you have to focus on getting it to work at its peak and to always keep it healthy thereafter. Remember, nature designed her system to accept unprocessed and uncooked foods for optimum health.
Step 1: If you haven’t already done so, introduce plain yogurt to her. I use a brand called Mountain High, Original Style All Natural Yogurt Plain flavor. Its reasonably priced and the quality is good. Don’t get the reduced fat or nonfat. The yogurt will feed the good bacteria in her digestive system that will begin the process of the change you have to make in her diet soon after.
For a fifty lbs dog, a tablespoon twice a week for two weeks, then every other day from then on, either in her food or as a treat.
Step 2: If you’re not already doing so, give her good quality drinking water at all times and never give her tap water ever again. Very important too. If you take her to a dog park, don’t let her drink from the community bucket of water (its tap) and always bring your own water with you for her.
Step 3: Now, chicken, rice, and carrots, especially cooked, has very little nutrients outside of whatever protein that’s left after cooking and some trace minerals so you will have to broaden her nutritional intake. Variety is the key.
Step 4: The introduction transition to the new diet should be at 25% intervals that last several days each, so in roughly two weeks, your old diet should be gone and replaced with the new one. Also introduce the Essiac tea at the same time along with the new food and keep the yogurt going as stated above.
Below you will find one of my dog’s diets but don’t be overwhelmed… His diet is extremely simple once you get into a routine with it. Besides, he has hip dysplascia and a deformed knee joint that this diet targets very well.
Since your dog has cancer, I will modify Jager’s diet towards your situation so to address it the best way. The bulk of the diet will stay the same for your situation.
Jagermeister’s Typical Diet
Raw:
Daily (two meals)
Natural Chicken with bones and skin
Brown rice
Other Rotations (or added to): Natural Beef, Natural cottage cheese, Natural Beef Liver, Natural plain yogurt, Natural Lamb , Celtic sea salt Mackerel, Raw organic egg (with shell), Alaskan Salmon, Tuna, Sardines
Vegetables: Broccoli, Ginger, Carrots, Garlic, Peas, Spinach, Alfalfa sprouts, Green beans, Kale, Shiitake mushroom, Parsley, Red cabbage, Dandelion leaves, Collard greens
Also rotate: Beets w/ greens, Watercress, Squashes, Eggplant, Yam, Swiss chard, Potatoes (no skin or eyes), Bean sprouts, Red bell peppers, Bok Choy
Green bell peppers, Green cabbage, Tomatoes, Mustard greens, Cucumber, Celery, Stewed tomatoes
Fruits (Daily): Wild organic blueberries, Dried cranberries, Apple
Also rotate: Apricots, Oranges, Peaches, Assorted Melons, Plums, Mango, Blackberries, Pear
Supplements, Herbs, etc: Glucosamine Chondroitin, Sea Cucumber, Licorice root, Tumeric, Cumin, Ashwangharu root, Kelp, Boswellia, Wheat grass, Alfalfa, Maitake mushrooms, Reishi mushrooms, Flax seed, Horsetail grass, Yucca root, Salmon or Cod liver oil, Safflower oil (vitamin E), CoQ10 Complex, Canola oil, Olive oil, Sesame oil (vitamin E)
Treats: Natural beef bones (meaty only), Cucumber, Lamb neck bones, Bean sprouts, Carrots, Alfalfa sprouts, Celery, Pizza crust, Melon, Low sodium V8 juice, Hummus and Pita bread with olive oil, Mango, Apple juice, Mango juice, Cranberry juice, Guava juice, Peanut butter and honey sandwich, Orange juice, Red cabbage, Orange / tangerine, Apple, Tomato, Frozen organic long green beans, Melons, Banana, Asparagus
Acupressure points (approx every third day or twice weekly):
GB34, BL40, BL60, BL28, BL54, GB29, GB30
Reiki treatment: Weekly
Deep massage: Weekly
Homeopathy: Arnica, Hypericum, Rhus Tox., Constitutional Pain Combo
Cancer diet protocol on following pages
Cancer Diet Protocol:
Daily (two meals)
Natural Chicken with bones and skin
Brown rice
Fruits and Vegetables
Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Other Rotations: Natural Beef, Natural cottage cheese (or added to), Natural Beef Liver, Natural plain yogurt, Natural Lamb, Celtic sea salt, Mackerel, Raw organic egg (with shell), Alaskan Salmon, Tuna, Sardines
Vegetables: Broccoli, Ginger, Carrots, Garlic, Peas, Spinach, Alfalfa sprouts, Green beans, Kale, Shiitake mushroom, Parsley, Red cabbage, Dandelion leaves, Collard greens
Also rotate: Beets w/ greens, Watercress, Squashes, Eggplant, Yam, Swiss chard, Potatoes (no skin or eyes), Bean sprouts, Red bell peppers, Bok choy, Green bell peppers, Green cabbage, Tomatoes, Mustard greens, Cucumber, Celery, Stewed tomatoes
Fruits (Daily): Wild organic blueberries, Dried cranberries, Apple
Also rotate: Apricots, Oranges, Peaches, Assorted Melons, Plums, Mango, Blackberries, Pear
Supplements, Herbs, etc:
H. A. –Hyloronic Acid – for joint pain, limping, etc.
Dong Quai – helps to balance hormones for spayed female animals
Wild yam – same as above
Glucosamine Chondroitin- for her joints
Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar – full of wonderful nutrients (daily)
Celtic Sea salt – the only real salt still full of nutrients from the sea (occasionally)
Kelp- tons of great minerals and vitamins
Tumeric- circulation
Wheat grass- tons of great minerals and vitamins
Maitake mushrooms- anti-cancer properties
Reishi mushrooms- anti-cancer properties
Horsetail grass- for her coat
Safflower oil- rotate with other oils below daily
Canola oil
Olive oil
Sesame oil
Licorice root- once a week for hormone balancing
Dong Quai- for hormone balancing
CoQ10 Complex- for her heart functions
Ester-C- antioxidant
Vitamin E- antioxidant
Carnivora (Dionaea muscipula)- anti-cancer
Chaparral (Larrea tridentate)- anti- cancer and anti-tumor
Essiac Tea- powerful detox tea with anti-cancer properties
Hoxsey Therapy- You will have to find this yourself
Treats: Natural beef bones (meaty only), Cucumber, Lamb necks bones, Bean sprouts, Carrots, Alfalfa sprouts, Celery, Pizza crust, Melon, Low sodium V8 juice,
Hummus and Pita bread with olive oil, Mango, Apple juice, Mango juice, Cranberry juice, Guava juice, Peanut butter and honey sandwich, Orange juice, Red cabbage, Orange / tangerine, Apple, Tomato, Frozen organic long green beans, Melon, banana
Acupressure points (approx every third day or twice weekly):
KI3 (kidneys)
ST36 (qi strengthening, digestion)
GV20 (mind and spirit)
Reiki treatment: Weekly (editors note: you may want to do remote work nightly, a great exercise before bedtime)
Deep massage: Weekly
Homeopathy: Thuja (anti-tumor), Hydrastis (mammary), Phytolacca (mammary)
Chinese Herbs: Astragalus, green tea, Licorice (short term use only), Ginseng (specially with and after chemo or radiation), Medicinal mushrooms or its extracts (Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, Cordyceps, Tremella, Coriolus Versicolor)
Ayurvedic Herbs: Tumeric, Ashwagandu
Western Herbs: Burdock root, Garlic, Red Clover
Flower essence: Rescue Remedy – by Bach Flower essences. For physical and emotional stress: The remedy will help cleanse the body and restore feelings of well – being.
Other considerations:
Color therapy – Use greens or greens with red; clothing, blankets, pillows, or even colored light bulbs.
Stay Optimistic – Your genuine positive energy and outward love sent directly from your heart to hers is crucial for her well – being and steady recovery.
Enjoy your time together and learn to live and love in the moment, just as your pet does. Stop focusing on the worse case scenario and instead focus all your positive energy on good thoughts. It is a very strong medicine.
Now that you’ve seen it, do you still want to go this route? To tell you the truth, most people would give it up without even trying once they see this protocol and I wouldn’t blame you if you did, it can be intimidating. However, this commitment is still cheaper than any conventional cancer therapies in the long run and your pet will be much healthier too, and your bond will only grow stronger because she will know she is special to you just as you have always been to her and she will spend each day in the kitchen with you as you make her meals.
Now, once you are well into the new diet for a month or so, consider a “fast” day for your dog. This isn’t a “starve your dog day”. What I mean is, a day away from the routine. Use this day to introduce her to new foods. Saturdays around here is “Bone Day”. My dogs get meaty bones, fruit and veggie treats, etc. Stuff they don’t get during the week. Like a change up. They love it. But the idea is not to fill their stomach like a meal. Snacking all day long in little portions is more like it. It gives their bodies a chance to absorb something new and unusual, yet still very healthy. It also gives them a day to experience an internal cleansing.
But lets go on…
THE FOODS:
THEY HAVE TO BE ORGANIC OR NATURALLY RAISED IS BEST!
A lot of the list in the food section is rotational, meaning offering your dog a variety of flavors is super beneficial for her immune system. The fruits and veggies must be organic because non-organic produce is full of pesticides and herbicides. You don’t want any stuff like that eaten by your dog anymore.
Always remember, aging decreases her ability to tolerate poor or mediocre quality foods, dietary excesses or deficiencies, and abrupt changes in the menu.
Its cleansing time.
I get all my produce at Sunflower Market. They are a lot cheaper than Whole Foods and have a much better selection than Trader Joe’s.
Always wash and rinse the produce well in drinking water, not tap (too many chemicals), before using them in her foods.
Meats should also be naturally raised, hormone and antibiotic free. The beef, beef liver and heart, and lamb can be found reasonably priced at Sunflower Market again. They are all natural. For the chicken, I go to Smart and Final and get Foster Farms All Natural, its hormone and antibiotic free and usually under a buck a pound with their club card. Get the whole chicken with all the giblets.
Now, I give all my food a detox bath. Meaning I want to make sure there is nothing on the surfaces of the meats or produce before I use them so I sterilize them. For this, I use 2 tablespoons of Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (Sunflower Market) per gallon of drinking water and soak up to 30 minutes, then rinse and soak for ten minutes. This takes care of your worries of Ecoli and Salmonella, etc. Fruits I have to peel don’t need this soak, but still need the rinse.
The canned fish is important for its Omegas but it also has salt so I only use them a couple times a week as a meal enhancer, not a meal in itself (she’ll love it). Be sure to use up all the liquid too and rotate as often as you like. The tomato sauce sardines also adds lipids to her diet and that’s a good thing. Reduce carbohydrates and increase fats. Tumor cells prefer carbohydrate sources for energy but have a difficult time using fats. By feeding less carbs and more fats, you can help starve the tumor cells, thereby helping to reduce the spread of cancer or slow the growth of existing tumors. The added fat will help stem the weight loss that will often occur when cancer cells rob the body of its nutrients.
More top quality protein (animal source) in the diet will also keep her from losing muscle mass, weight loss, and help the ailing immune system.
Vitamins A, C, and E (d-alpha tocopherol), will also increase the well being of her immune system and in some cases could have a direct anti-cancer effect.
Words of caution: Vitamin A and E should always be used together to avoid toxicity. Check with your vet for recommended amounts if you decide to supplement her.
Increase the protein to about 60% of her meal (poultry, meats, salmon, liver, heart, etc.).
Decrease carbohydrates to about 10% per meal.
Increase the produce intake to 30-35% per meal. Variety of raw, pureed fruits and veggies so they are loaded with phytonutrients and vitamin content.
Be sure to increase fats (fish oils, flaxseed oil, olive oil, etc) slowly. Otherwise it could give her runny poop.
Multiple vitamin and mineral and digestive enzyme supplement per meal. ( I recommend starting with a product called Seameal by Solid Gold. Provide a calcium source unless you already are, i.e. fresh meaty bones, organic egg shell crushed (pureed) in the food, etc. Be sure she is not diagnosed with high blood levels of calcium first (this occurs with some cancers). Bioflavanoids and other plant extracts (green tea extract, grape seed extract, lycopene, quercetin, fermented Noni juice, etc. I prefer rotating these every couple days.
Now, let’s put it together as a shopping list:
Smart and Final: Foster Farms All Natural Chicken (whole), canned sardines in oil, in tomato sauce, canned salmon, canned mackerel. You might also try the 99 cent store for some of these products.
Sunflower Market: Organic Fruits, Veggies, Natural beef and lamb, Apple cider vinegar, homeopathy, extracts and oils, Essiac Tea (Flo-Essence by Flora), dried cranberries (bulk section).
Trader Joe’s: Organic carrots ($ .79 / bag), wild organic blueberries (frozen), organic peas (frozen), organic brown eggs
Herbally Grounded: Good herb selection (Charleston and Decatur next to Smart and Final)
Certain produce should always constitute the base of each meal. I would suggest the following:
Red cabbage
Collard greens
Alfalfa sprouts
Wheat grass
Apple
Blueberries
Cranberries
Maitake mushroom
Carrots
Parsley
Dandelion leaves
Green beans
All your produce has to be processed in a food processor. Your dog’s intestinal track isn’t long enough to break down large pieces of produce so pureeing it will increase the bio-availability of its nutrients (important).
You’ll have to somehow get over your indoctrination of paranoia for feeding your dog raw foods. Her body has already been changed permanently from her last bout of conventional cancer therapy and as a result it will be even harder to fight it a second time for her. That’s why I must ask you to reconsider the raw diet. It is her best chance…
Call me.
Jet
PS Raw chicken bones have the perfect natural balance of calcium and phosphorus that nature set for dogs among many other minerals. Crush them if you have to. Oh, give her a raw egg at least once a week with the shell (calcium). If she’s not getting calcium from bones, crush the shell in her food too, she won’t mind.
PPSS One last thing… When you use the anti-cancer herbs and such outside of the mushrooms, be sure to use one or two at a time for at least one to two months before going on to the next one. You can use all of them at once but then you won’t know which one works best for her and which ones don’t. Give my best to your beloved pup.
Special thanks to Jet for sharing this so openly. Besides helping dogs deal with cancer & diabetes, He has had great personal success with rehabilitating one of his rescued dog with a raw diet. Hopefully his plans for a pet store will be happening sooner than later and we can get some great information here at Lilly’s Friends. If you have a great raw recipe that has worked for you and your pet please contact us, we would love to post it.
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