Assessment of commercial diets and recipes for home-prepared diets recommended for dogs with cancer

Abstract

Vet Med Today: Timely Topics in Nutrition 1453 C is becoming increasingly common in both human and veterinary medicine. In the United States, it has been reported that cancer accounts for approximately 1 in 4 human deaths. One in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer during their lifetime. Similarly, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs > 2 years old, and in some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, the rate of death attributable to cancer is > 50%. Diet can alter cancer risk in humans and laboratory animals, and many investigators are exploring nutritional strategies to prevent cancer as well as aid in the treatment of cancer. A pet owner will often pursue dietary strategies that are believed to have the potential to benefit a pet with cancer. Anecdotally, dietary strategies often proposed for pets with cancer include low-carbohydrate diets, grain-free diets, raw-food diets, dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, and forgoing commercial pet foods in favor of preparing food at home for a pet. Clients who opt to prepare food for their dogs with cancer do so for various reasons. Some pet owners believe that a commercial diet contributed to the development of the cancer, despite a general lack of evidence to support this belief. Others believe that avoiding preservatives and ingredients perceived to be undesirable (eg, grains) will improve their pet’s prognosis. Still others want a way to be a direct part of their pet’s treatment or are concerned because their pet’s appetite is decreased and a home-prepared diet is perceived by the owner to be more palatable. Regardless of the reason for the decision to prepare their pet’s food at home, once this decision is made, many pet owners seek advice on the preparation of meals from veterinarians, websites, books, newsgroups, and other sources. Most commercial over-the-counter diets are complete and balanced (ie, they meet the minimum amounts established by the AAFCO for all nutrients for the appropriate life stage). Manufacturers must verify that Assessment of commercial diets and recipes for home-prepared diets recommended for dogs with cancer