Sadly, Prana recently passed away after a courageous battle with pneumonia. She will be missed dearly. Her Mom wrote this great post for us, before Prana went to the Bridge. We publish this story in tribute to this amazing girl. May her spirit fly free.

Here is Prana’s inspawrational tale . . .

If you’re wondering what the secret is to ensuring a long healthy life for your dog, Yvonne Gonski has two words: “raw foods.” And although many of you Tripawds are battling cancer and might be avoiding raw foods right now, we thought your pawrents still might find these general concepts about home made dog diets to be useful.

“I have been raising German Shepherd dogs for the past 28 years. My journey of learning to provide my dogs with alternate methods of care began 15 years ago, following the passing of my three male German Shepherds.Although two of them died from age related conditions, I started to question the commercially prepared food I was giving them and the conventional vaccines and medications they received over the years.

One of the books that got me started was The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat, by Juliette de Bairacli Levy A strong advocate of a raw foods diet and the use of herbs to treat most canine diseases, she bred Afghan Hounds for over fifty years.

Her lines are virtually disease free and many of her dogs typically lived into their twenties. Her book has become my bible for feeding and treating my dogs with herbs when they are ill.

What Does Prana and Vahana’s Raw Diet Look Like?

Following her guidelines and recommendations, I feed my dogs raw meat, using:

• leg of lamb
• turkey
• lean beef, including calves liver

For the morning meals I use a combination of:

• rolled organic oats
• rye and barley flakes
• some cooked brown rice or bulgur wheat
• ground nuts and/or seeds (flax, sunflower)
• grape nuts cereal
• small amount of grated white cheese with a tablespoon of flax seed oil

On two nights per week, my dogs get a rest from meat and get a semi-vegetarian meal including:

• tuna fish
• wild salmon with brown rice
• organic sweet potato or beans, which I break up in a food processor.

One day a week, they get a complete fast with only water or honey mixed in water.

Fasting is extremely important as it gives the body a rest and allows it to remove toxins that accumulate over time. On their fasting day they receive antiseptic herbs, which help to remove toxins from the body.

My Shepherds have done extremely well on this diet. My older bitch, Prana is 14 years old, going on fifteen. Vahana, her sibling, is going on seven. With all of the physical problems and illnesses Prana has encountered over the years, I attribute the raw foods diet to her longevity.

Raw Diet and Natural Healing Mentors

I have encountered many teachers along this journey, two of which I will always be indebted. I learned of Marina Zacharias through an ad she once placed in “The German Shepherd Review,” published by The German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Marina has a web site www.naturalrearing.com where she sells supplements, homeopathic remedies, glandular products and the herbal line developed by Juliet Levy who I mentioned above. Marina is very knowledgeable in most canine disorders and is always available to help her clients through difficult times. She once helped me with one of my dogs who was gravely ill when no other vet could.

Marina is the one who referred me to Dr. Marty Goldstein when my Shepherd, Prana, was a year old and was exhibiting signs of some serious hormonal disorders. Some readers of this site may already be familiar with Dr. Marty Goldstein, who has a practice, Smith Ridge Veterinary Center in South Salem, New York. “Dr. Marty,” as he is known to his clientele, is God’s gift to the veterinary profession. He had the courage and the audacity to practice “outside the box.”

When I first brought Prana up to see him in August of 1995, he told me the most poignant thing I have ever heard from any clinician, human or veterinary. He said “look, I can’t heal her, only she knows how to heal herself. I can give her supplements to stabilize the organ systems in her body, but only she knows how to heal herself.”

It took a while for this to sink in, but with all the literature he provided and many discussions over the years, Dr. Marty has taught me all I know about veterinary medicine. He taught me to look at disease in a different way. He placed Prana on a program of various supplements, glandulars, homeopathic remedies and one day, after seven years, she suddenly changed. She gained weight, all of her coat grew back, her appetite improved.

Prana was born with defective adrenal glands, has hypothyroidism, developed Pannus at age 8, which is an autoimmune disease of the eyes, a genetic “Shepherd thing,” pancreatic insufficiency, another “Shepherd thing” and for the past two years is battling degenerative spinal myelopathy, the canine equivalent to multiple sclerosis. She is still on Dr. Marty’s program and despite all of her medical challenges, continues to take life, one day at a time.

Over her entire life, Prana has become a master healer. Dr. Marty was right; it took seven years, but eventually the intelligence in Prana’s body shed the toxins, diseased tissue and was able to heal many of her disorders. There are some she is still working on, but I always tell her “just do the best you can.”

To gain a full appreciation of Dr. Marty’s work, especially with cancer, you must read his book The Nature of Animal Healing. I had the privilege of learning of the book’s contents first hand during our visits to him over the years. To truly appreciate the miracle of healing especially in animals, Dr. Marty’s work stands alone.”

Our deepest condolences go out to Yvonne and Vahana. Thank you for being an inspawration to us all, may our dogs live long happy healthy lives just like Prana did.

Join the forum discussion on this topic.

Please note: this information is just based on my own experience, and is not meant to replace advice given to you by your vet or other canine health professional. To read about what other pawrents are feeding their tripawds, please visit our “Eating Healthy” Forums.

Before I got sick, I used to eat a half “BARF” diet (Bones and Raw Foods), and half premium Innova EVO kibble* diet. I  was lean and healthy, and my system was used to good food already. That’s because when I was about four years old, my Mom found out what’s really in commercial dog food. After that, she never fed conventional dog food to me again – that stuff’s bad.

When we learned I had cancer, we wanted to make sure my diet was as healthy as possible. To point us in the right direction, my Mom did more BARF research and attended a BARF class. She also got a great book called Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats that helped her find the right combination of a human grade, meat and veggie diet for dogs with cancer.She and Dad decided to focus on a few select type of foods and supplements, which we describe below. There are many other choices out there, please do your research and learn what’s best for your dog’s unique health picture.

After I got sick, I still ate a half-BARF, half kibble diet, but some BARFers don’t advise giving dogs kibble and BARF foods simultaneously, because they say kibble slows down digestion of raw meats. My Mom tried to give me a 100 percent BARF diet for a while, but found that I was getting too skinny.

She started feeding me small amounts of Innova EVO kibble* with supplements mixed in. As an entree, I got various types of raw meat. I never had a problem with digestion, and once I started eating this way, I maintained a perfect weight of 75 pounds.

Please keep in mind that we are not experts, and your dog’s own nutritional needs may be different. We recommend  talking to a holistic nutritional expert and/or learn all you can about BARF before attempting a diet change for your Tripawd. *Also, since the time of this writing, Evo kibble, made by Natura, has been sold to Proctor and Gamble, and we can no longer feel 100 pawcent confident in this grain-free kibble.

My Dog Cancer Diet

My daily regimen changed over the two years I fought cancer, just like the cancer within me evolved. In my case, the osteosarcoma progressed exactly as textbooks describe it. My diet changed at three distinct times while I fought this disease.

Diet Phase 1: November 2006 to March 2008

After Amputation

I was still happy and spunky after amputation, and had a hearty appetite, but I was slightly slower due to the challenges of one missing front leg. I did not have IV chemotherapy. My pawrents believe that my amazingly good health and longevity was due to my healthy diet, before and after my diagnosis.

My routine was always eating one meal a day, so we kept it that way after I was diagnosed. This is the feeding method that worked for me at this time:

Rise & Shine:

Supplements:

• 1 Fish Oil Pill

• 1 Glucosamine pill

Evening Supper

“Meat Nights”:

• 1 Cup cottage cheese, OR a few Tbsp. plain yogurt

• One raw “above ground” veggie: like leaves of a dark leavy green (kale, chard, collards, or spinach), chopped fine, OR shredded zucchini or broccoli

• One raw “below ground” veggie, like some shredded carrots

• Fresh parsley and garlic

• 1.5 cups Innova Evo Kibble

• 1/4 Can Innova Evo

• Some pieces of raw, meaty chicken, beef or turkey, with bones

“Fish Nights”:

• Chunks of cooked fish, like salmon or mackerel

• 1 Cup cottage cheese, OR a few Tbsp. plain yogurt

• One raw “above ground” veggie: like leaves of a dark leavy green (kale, chard, collards, or spinach), chopped fine, OR shredded zucchini or broccoli

• One raw “below ground” veggie, like some shredded carrots

• Fresh parsley and/or garlic

• 1.5 cups Innova Evo Kibble

Nightly Supplements:

• 1 Tbsp. Flax Seed Oil*

• 1 Tbsp. Kelp Powder*

• 1 Tbsp. Alfalfa Powder

• 1 Vitamin C pill*

• 3/4 Tsp. Synflex Glucosamine Supplement for Pets
  

Nightly Medication:

• Metacam (on food, as needed for pain)

Diet Phase 2: March 2008 to September 2008

Metronomic Therapy Cancer Diet for Lung Mets

In March, 2008, sixteen months after I was diagnosed, my pawrents learned I had lung mets.

Soon it became clear that the lung tumors were affecting my stamina, and I went on the Metronomic Protocol. About the only side effect I had from this type of chemotherapy was that I could no longer stomach fish more than once a week. I also ate less dairy products.

Because I was much slower, managing my weight became very important. My food proportions decreased, but I still had a good appetite.

We fought the tumors more aggressively, through the Metronomic Protocol, additional diet supplements and K9 Immunity and K9 Transfer Factor, which I was lucky enough to be in a clinical trial for.

Here’s what my diet looked like …

Rise & Shine:

Morning Supplements:

• 3 Salmon Oil pills
• 1 Glucosamine pill
• K9 Transfer Factor with peanut butter and a healthy treat

Morning Medication:

• Cytoxan chemotherapy pill, every other day, (by mouth)

Evening Supper:

“Meat Nights”:

• 1 Cup cottage cheese, OR a few Tbsp. plain yogurt
• One raw “above ground” veggie: like leaves of a dark leavy green (kale, chard, collards, or spinach), chopped fine, OR shredded zucchini or broccoli
• One raw “below ground” veggie, like some shredded carrots
• Fresh parsley and garlic
• 1.5 cups Innova Evo Kibble
• 1/4 Can Innova Evo

• Some pieces of raw, meaty chicken, beef or turkey, with bones. I had fish about once a week.

Nightly Medication:

• Metacam (on food)
• Doxycycline (half hour before dinner)

Nightly Supplements:

• 1 Tbsp. Flax Seed Oil*
• 1 Tbsp. Powdered Kelp*
• 1 Tbsp. Alfalfa Powder
• 1 Tsp. Super Greens Supplement
• 1 Vitamin C pill*
• K9 Immunity
• 3/4 Tsp. Synflex Glucosamine Supplement for Pets

Diet Phase 3: September 2008 to October 2008

When I Stopped my Metronomic Therapy

At 22 months past my diagnosis, I showed signs of slowing down, had increased coughing and my appetite decreased too. In September, an x-ray of my lungs confirmed what we already suspected: the lung mets had grown exponentially. My lungs were irritated from coughing, which also contributed to my lack of appetite. What was most important at that point, was for me to start eating again. On the recommendation of Dr. Mullins, Mom and Dad discontinued the Metronomic Therapy, since the Cytoxan was no longer keeping the tumors from growing. Also, as a way to get my appetite back, my pawrents cut out most of my supplements, including the K9 Immunity. I was also given various medications to help me feel better. People here also gave great new diet tips. At this point in dealing with a dog’s bone cancer, some people might choose a different approach, like fighting it even more aggressively. But my pawrents and I decided that at this point, it was all about my quality of life and enjoying my food again, instead of continuing to desperately trying to beat the cancer. It wasn’t always easy to get me to eat, and we had a lot of challenges together at this time. Some days, like this one, were better than others. Here’s what I my diet looked like: Rise and Shine Morning Supplements:

• 3/4 Tsp. Synflex Glucosamine Supplement for Pets (it’s beef flavored, so I didn’t mind)

Morning Medication:

• Baytril Antibiotic (only for 14 days…my lungs had become irritated from the coughing, and the doctor thought I could have an underlying infection from it)
• Prednisone corticosteroids, 20 mg. (my pawrents didn’t want to put me on this, as they are aware of the dangers of corticosteroids, but the good doctor suggested that a very low dosage would help alleviate lung irritation, and keep my coughing under control. She was right).
• Carafate & Pepcid AC (for 7 and 14 days, to help any irritation my stomach might be experiencing from the switchover from Metacam to Prednisone. Risks in immediately switching from an NSAID to a Steroid can include gastric irritation and stomach ulcers, and the Pepcid AC can help alleviate any early symptoms).
• Tramadol, 100 mg. (to help calm me down from the increased panting I was experiencing).
• Robitussin DM (sugar free, to help control my coughing)

Lunch:

• Treats, like freeze dried liver
• Robitussin DF
• Tramadol as needed

Evening Supper:

• MEAT: Some pieces of raw, meaty chicken, beef or turkey, with bones (at this point, my stomach couldn’t handle fish any more)
• 1/4 Can moist, stinky food, like venison, elk, or even cat food!
• 1.5 cups Innova Evo Kibble

Nightly Medication:

• 3/4 Tsp. Synflex Glucosamine Supplement for Pets

Bedtime: Nightly Medication:

• Prednisone
• Pepcid AC
• Tramadol
• Robitussin DF

This was my routine until October 3, 2008, when my spirit was set free. We hope you find this information helpful.

Important Notes about My Canine Cancer Dog Diet

• Feeding a high quality, no-grain / low-carb food like Natura’s Innova Evo line is good for cancer patients.
• Kelp, alfalfa and green foods in general are great for dogs with compromised immune systems. Kelp has many essential minerals, and binds with toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their absorption in the body.
• Fish oils have Omega3 fatty acids, which can help with arthritis, make me more flexible, and keep my cardiovascular system in top shape.
• Vitamin C should not be fed at the same time as fish oil. Give separately (i.e.; morning and evening)
• Organic Cold Pressed Flax Seed Oil is best.
• If your dog has arthritis like Jerry, they may find yummy relief with Zuke’s Power Bones. Zuke’s makes a treat with glucosamine and chondroitin, and they also contribute to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund.

Save on Supplements – Shop Online:

• See our Syn-Flex glucosamine supplement for dogs product review.
• Kalyx.com: Herbs and All Natural Supplements
• Click to save on quality herbs, vitamins, and natural beauty products from Botanic Choice!
• Shop at MotherNature.com for thousands of all-natural Health & Wellness products.

Further Reading: Canine Cancer Diet Health

• Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats
• Earl Mindell’s Nutrition & Health for Dogs: Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy with Natural Preventative Care and Remedies
• Dr. Jane’s Natural Care for a Healthier, Happier Dog
• The Ultimate Diet : Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats