Three Pet Cancer Supplements Vets Recommend Investigating

We all want to do something to help our pets beat cancer. Adding supplements to their diet is an easy thing to do, but with so many available, choosing a starting point is difficult. That’s why today we’ll share three pet cancer supplements vets recommend investigating during treatment.

Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. Tripawds receives a small compensation from all sales which helps offset the cost of keeping our community online.

But First, Please Start with Your Vet

Let your veterinarian know that you want to add supplements to your pet’s diet. You may be surprised at their insight into unconventional therapies. It’s also critical to keep them in the loop in case anything you add interferes with current medications.

If your veterinarian isn’t receptive to the idea of pet cancer supplements, or you just want more guidance, turn to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) to find a vet who specializes in holistic medicine.

Next, Do Your Research with Reputable Sources

The internet is full of wild claims that certain supplements can cure pet cancer. Before you spend good money on products that may or may not help your dog or cat, carefully research the supplements you want to purchase by browsing blogs and websites written by veterinarians. Two of our favorites resources for pet cancer information are  a Path with Paws created by Dr. Lena McCullough and Dr. Demian Dressler’s Dog Cancer Blog.

And Now, Three Pet Cancer Supplements Vets Recommend

“I don’t use a lot of supplements and single herbs in treating cancer,” writes Dr. McCullough in her blog post “Supplements and Single Herbs for Cancer in Cats and Dogs.” Too many supplements tend to get overwhelming for the pet parent, the Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner says. But there is one way to stay sane when trying out different pet cancer supplements: rotate them!

“In this way we are able to average out the effects so we get an overall benefit that was greater than if nothing was used,” explains Dr. Dressler in his blog post “What is the Best Supplement for Dog Cancer? “. . .use a couple of your big guns, for 2 weeks or so, and rotate to new ones.  You can keep the leftover pills for the next rotation!” he says.

Here are five supplements that our favorite vets unanimously agree can make a positive impact on pets with cancer.

Fish Oil

More of a food than a supplement, but still important to include, a high-quality fish oil for pets can help prevent cancer cachexia (weight loss). It may also reduce the side effects of radiation therapy and even “have a direct impact on cancer cells that diminish their ability to proliferate,” writes Dr. Nacy Kay in her blog post “Support for Cancer Patients Using Herbs and Supplements.”

Dr. Dressler recommends taking it one step further and rotating fish oil with krill oil every two weeks. In The Dog Cancer Survival Guide cautions that both oils may act as a blood thinner, so never administer these products ten days before or after any surgery.

Milk Thistle

If your pet is going through chemotherapy, milk thistle can be used to help the liver process and remove chemotherapy drug toxins from the body. It’s one of the more proven natural supplements that vets are comfortable recommending because Milk Thistle studies on human cancer patients have substantiated this claim, and it’s even been shown to enxhance the effect of chemotherapy drugs. Dr. McCullough also says it “can prevent oxidative damage to normal cells.” Keep in mind that milk thistle can be difficult for the body to absorb, which is why Dr. Dressler says he included it as part of his Apocaps dog cancer supplement.

Medicinal  Mushrooms

Another natural supplement that human cancer patients often use, medicinal mushrooms are “amazing in their abilities to help the body fight cancer and stimulate the immune system,” says Dr. McCullough. When used singularly or in combination, the four most powerful mushrooms (maitake, reishi, turkey tail or cordyceps) can:

• Strengthen and stimulate the immune system
• Protetct the kidney and liver during chemotherapy
• Give the body more energy to fight disease
• Help patients rebound from the effects of chemotherapy

Many cheap, Chinese imports have flooded the market in recent years. These products are made with dubious manufacturing processes and ingredients, so please only purchase them from reputable sources such as K9 Medicinals.

For More Reading

Before buying any new product it pays to talk with other pet parents who are going through the same experience. Hop on over to the Tripawds Eating Healthy Discussion forum and check out these previous Tripawds Nutrition Blog Posts for more information about pet cancer supplements vets recommend and so much more!

All Tripawds Nutrition Posts About Supplements
Support for Cancer Patients Using Herbs and Supplements
Supplements and single herbs for cancer in cats and dogs
What is the Best Supplement for Dog Cancer?