For over 10 years now I have been using holistic veterinary medicine including acupuncture, herbals, Food Therapy, Aromatherapy, Reiki, and flower essences to treat cancer in dogs and cats. Most of my patients have an allopathic veterinarian they are concurrently working with for diagnostics and pharmaceuticals as needed. Some pet parents have chosen not to pursue any allopathic treatments, such as chemotherapy and/or radiation, and elected to use more “natural” modalities that aim to strengthen the immune system so the body can heal itself. Others have elected to use holistic treatments as a complementary approach and have found an overall better response to the treatments, reduced side effects, and an improved quality of life. I have outlined below a very general guide to holistic treatment for most types of cancers in dogs and cats.
1. Find a local holistic veterinarian for guidance.
This is extremely important to make sure you are giving appropriate therapy for your pet’s specific type of cancer. It is almost impossible to weed through the plethora of recommendations provided by a Google search. Remember, you can do harm with supplements. Just because they are natural, does not mean they are safe. Find a veterinarian who has experience using supplements and alternative therapies to treat cancer. There are some really great herbs that can actually augment chemotherapy but some that can interact, so please use caution in starting supplements without direct veterinary guidance from a veterinarian who is comfortable or specializes in this practice. Most general practitioners and even oncology specialists do not have the experience necessary to do this safely and competently, and they will readily admit to this.
2. Be aware that holistic treatments are individualized and treat the entire body, not just the presenting complaints.
Not all pets have the same recommendations for diet, supplements, and acupuncture. The reason I have success in treating cancer using holistic therapies, is that they are tailored to the individual instead of using a generalized protocol for type of cancer. For example, I may have 3 patients with mast cell tumors that have 3 completely different therapeutic plans. I take into account the pet’s personality, environment, medical history, toxin exposure, diet, etc. to come up with a very specific plan for that pet.
3. How acupuncture, herbals, food therapy and essential oils can help.
Acupuncture treats cancer by stimulating the immune system to function optimally to rid the body of abnormally growing cells. It can also significantly decrease pain and inflammation by removing blockages of energy in the body. Many healing endorphins are released during a treatment causing a cascade of positive events within.
Herbal therapies can work powerfully to stimulate the immune system. Some formulas can specifically target and kill cancer cells, without compromising the rest of the body with harmful toxins.
4. Food therapy is a key player in cancer treatment.
Essential oils (Aromatherapy) can be used for immune system support, pain management, emotional well-being (important for the patient and care-taker), and some can even be used to shrink tumors. I choose oils based on what an individual needs at that time. This can change daily or remain static for months.
Reiki or other types of healing energy medicine can promote healing, decrease pain, and provide emotional support for the entire family, especially during times of stress (physically and emotionally).
Flower Essences are a wonderfully gentle way to support emotional well-being. This is often overlooked by allopathic veterinarians but is one of the most important methods to promote self-healing.
5. Feed a high-quality, whole food diet. the #1 rule is to avoid processed foods!
Diet is arguably one of the most vital components of holistic therapy. I have never been able to successfully treat a pet if they are fed a kibble based diet or are eating processed treats (rawhides, milkbones, etc). All kibble diets – no matter how high-quality or expensive – are heavily processed. See this video that shows how basic dog food kibble is made: https://youtu.be/cqp4Rm1LuBo
Now some brands are “higher quality” and add things like pasture raised meats and organic veggies, but there is no denying that ALL of them are heavily processed using this basic manufacturing method.
Processed foods are harmful since they promote inflammation in the body. Chronic and uncontrolled inflammation (that is usually within the body where you cannot directly observe its effects) can damage cellular DNA leading to the development of cancer. Please see this article by The National Cancer Institute for more specific information:
Most kibbles require synthetic vitamins and minerals after processing to meet minimum nutritional requirements, thereby adding to the toxic burden in the body. In addition, artificial taste enhancers are often added for pallability. Also, preservatives are included for longer shelf-life. More information if you are interested: https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/the-history-of-commercial-pet-food-a-great-american-marketing-story/
Raw diet are often recommended since they are minimally processed and easily digested. They also contain vital enzymes, amino acids, and probiotics due to minimal processing required. There is a very common misconception by most veterinarians that feeding pets a raw food diet poses high contamination risks (Salmonella, E.coli, etc.). The fact is that most recalls for these contaminants occur with kibble based diets rather than commercially prepared raw diets. Companies that prepare food meant to be fed raw take extreme precautions to avoid contamination including the slaughtering and handling of raw meats.
Though I believe raw feeding is a fantastic option for many, it is not the best for all patients with cancer. After a thorough exam and history review, I then decide which diet is best for my patient as an individual. This is based on their energy level, type of cancer, age, and temperature preferences among many other factors.
6. Offer only filtered/purified water – to eliminate toxin exposure.
7. Consider supplementation with the following when not able to include as a whole food in the diet:
Antioxidants, vitamins, probiotics, +/- digestive enzymes, specific Chinese herbal formulas, omega-3 fatty acids, mushrooms, other immune system modulators specifically needed by the individual.
8. Avoid immunizations, flea/tick preventatives, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc. as much as possible.
Giving vaccines to a pet with cancer is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Vaccines are meant to challenge the immune system. A pet with cancer has a deficiency in their immune system and the last thing it needs is to be challenged. Vaccines also contain a large amount of toxins in the form of heavy metals and other ingredients to potentiate their effects.
Flea and tick preventatives must be used sparingly or not at all. More toxins for the body to deal with!
Antibiotics or other medications may be indicated for short-term use but also should be used with caution as they as well can contribute to the toxic burden.
9. Provide exercise and fresh air daily! This is extremely important for immune system modulation.
I often “prescribe” daily exercise as part of the holistic regimen. Exercise gently as the pet can tolerate and enjoy. It will help move the blood in the body which circulates the white blood cells of the immune system to decrease pain and better find those abnormally growing cancer cells.
Sunlight and fresh air can provide and emotional boost to jump start the immune system. This is true for pet and parent!
I realize this guide is not too specific in exactly how to treat a pet with cancer, but my hope is you understand the components that make holistic treatment successful. The focus is really on promoting a high quality of life for as long as possible. We can acknowledge the cancer is there but hopefully we can make it quiescent with these gentle modalites.
