Dear Jake and Mom: We saw your post and couldn't help but jump in. I'm not a vet, but hopefully some of our info might help you out.

I know its so overwhelming to navigate all of this. We decided against chemo as well. I think I mentioned before Romeo is undergoing acupuncture and taking a mix of Chinese herbs. Our vet (who practices both Western and Eastern med) said he liked to see all his cancer patients on a daily NSAID (rimadyl, deramaxx, or metacam) (the metacam is pricey), 400 ius (international units) of omega 3 fatty acids, and 400 ius of vitamin e (he said the generic vit e did not seem to be as effective). Unfortunately, Romeo can't seem to tolerate NSAIDs--GI issues--we are trying the metacam as a last resort but it doesn't look good. He also takes Dasuquin (glucosamine)-two tabs a day. Romeo is about 90 lbs. 

I would get into detail about the herbs but I think they are mixed very specifically to each dog---also I think they have to be prescribed. They are grown in Canada.

Our vet had some concerns about atremisinin so we decided against it, but I know others on this site have used it.

I think Cemil is also doing holistic treatments. Also, if you search the site there's lots of info from Jerry's folks etc about supplements.

I really agonized about the chemo decision, but I am so glad we didn't do it for Romeo. And I can completely relate to the financial strain.

But I hope you won't feel bad about not doing chemo---there are a lot of very nasty side effects. Some dogs do ok, but some don't.

There are dogs like Jerry and Radar (still doing great one year post amputation) who do really well w/out chemo.

And Romeo is doing great! I think he was trying to audition for the Tripawd Olympics today!

Hope this helps. Pam will have great advice. Jake looks great! Take care, Eve and Romeo   

Supplements I have had Jack on

IP6 and Inositol Study

And this is part (ok, most) of an e-mail I got from a friend whose friend's dog had cancer….

One thing, stay away from Grain foods! Jaws did better when I started boiling meat and hamburger. I got protein based foods with no grains. They might be able to slowly switch to a food where corn, wheat or rice is more towards the bottom of the ingredients rather than in the top 5. Most vets will recommend "Taste of the Wild" and you can get that at most pet stores and it isnt too $$$.
 
I basically did alot of cancer research on the web. Jaws had lymphnoma. I found a vitamen supplement called K9 immunity to help him, but it got too pricey so I did something else. I got my own stuff after reading info. The dog will do good if they give him:
 
>Fish oil: 1000 mg per 20 lbs of dog
>Vitamin C (smash up 1 pill every meal)
>A tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily  (keep immune system good) and you can mix with cottage cheese (a tablespoon)
>Green tea capsule – open up a capsule and its like powder and you can mix in food (antioxidents) for every meal
>Sweet potatos cooked arent bad either if mixed with food.
>Yogurt (plain) —-a glob in the food—-helps every now and then to keep stomach digesting good
 
 
!!!!!One thing I want to make real clear. Alot of people suggested a dog with cancer go on a natural raw food diet. Well that isnt bad if your dog is used to it and ISNT on chemo, but chemo kills a dogs immune system. That's what is the worse thing about it, and if they eat raw eggs and meat, they dont have the bacterias or immunity to fight off the stuff in raw foods and they end up with infections and fevers. So if they want to give their dog better food, id cook it.
Also chemo will give the dog diaherria and sometimes constipate the dog. So having canned pumpkin and Immodium AD around the house isnt a bad option.
 
Also canned salmon and sardines in oil or water is real good for the dog. Tons of minerals.
 
I am goign to also recommend some of these I found online depending on the dogs symptoms. Also read under this, I added a recipe and a link that will help.
 
Optional Immune stimulants that may be beneficial:
Echinacea: This plant is an immune-system booster. You can find Echinacea in health food stores in several forms:  tablets, tinctures, capsules, and extracts of dried or fresh roots. American doctors aren’t familiar with Echinacea but in other countries there as been a lot of research done. Follow adult dosing directions. 
Astragalus: This comes from the root of the plant, Astragalus membranaceus. It has been used in China to fight respiratory infections including colds and flu. Studies in the West have confirmed its immune-boosting and antiviral properties. Follow adult dosing directions.

Other purported Anti-Cancer herbs:
 
Cat's Claw: Uncaria tomentosa, comes from Peruand was used to treat arthritis and cancer. Studies have confirmed that it has antioxidants and immune-enhancing properties. For small dogs, use ¼ the adult dosage and for medium dogs use ½.
Pau D'Arco: This herb is extracted from the bark of the Tahebuia genustree in South America. It contains lapachol and other phytochemicals which produce anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory results.  For small dogs, use ¼ the adult dosage and for medium dogs use ½. 
 
Other Dietary Supplements:
 
Milk Thistle: This helps prevent dog cancer liver damage. It can help treat hepatitisand prevent injury from other drugs. It can protect the liver from chemotherapy and anti-convulsants (phenobarbital). Suggested dosage is 250 mg for a dog under 25 lbs, and 500 mg for a dog over 25 lbs once daily. Milk thistle should be used in most cases of liver cancer, but always ask your veterinarian.
Shark Cartilage: This has anti-angiogenic properties which reduce blood vessels in tumors.  You can use 1000-2000 mg of shark cartilage if recommended by your vet or oncologist
 
Misc:
Essiac tea, Wheatgrass extract, Soybean Concentrate or Chlorella. These are sometimes used, but are not proven treatments.
Spirulina and chlorella provide protein, vitamins and minerals. Miraculous claims made for these products have not been substantiated.
Additional Treatments:
Acupuncture: Acupuncture can relieve pain and provide analgesia without the side effects of drugs. It can stabilize the function of the adrenal gland and increase endogenous corticosteroid secretion without the side effects of steroids. Electrical acupuncture can improve muscle strength and reflex activity. It can help relieve muscle spasms after operations. Acupuncture is usually a process of several treatments. If it doesn’t show results in 3-5 treatments then it probably won’t work. Your veterinarian could refer you to a veterinary acupuncturist.
Static Magnetic Therapy: Static Magnetic Therapy: North pole magnets create alkalinity by decreasing hydrogen ion concentration in tissue. They suppress cell mitosis, viral/bacterial growth, tumors and inflammation. Apply a north pole magnet over the tumor area for 15-20 minutes a day. Medical magnets should be 1000-3000 gauss.
Healing Touch: Healing touch: Some believe that "life force" and "energy" can be transferred to a patient through touch and this will cause healing benefits. No spiritual belief is necessary and there is no harm that can be done. Some studies have shown that touch can reduce stress and blood pressure of the patient. It is not easy to demonstrate the results of healing touch. Petting your sick dog is good therapy for both of you and certainly will not cause you any harm. He or She needs lot's of love and attention at this time, as do you.
If you want more information about these additional treatments please do a search on google.
 
DogCancer.net Diet
 
Here is a recipe:
The Canine Cancer Diet:
Most canine cancer patients will do best on a grain free commercial dog food supplemented with the addition of a partially cooked or raw food diet.  If you are concerned with how your dog will react with a raw diet, start off with rare cooked meat and slowly wean them to raw.
Due to the high acid in their stomach, dogs are not susceptible to the bacteria that humans are and a raw diet is a benefit to them. Their stomach acid also allows them to digest bone.

The raw food diet (or BARF diet – Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods) should consist of 75% meat and 25% fruit/veggies
BARF Diet Ingredients:
Bones – they MUST be raw – cooked/smoked bones are never safe as they will splinter
Meat – chunked or ground (beef, lamb, chicken, pork, etc)
Offal (liver, kidneys, heart, unbleached green tripe (which can be purchased in a can at your local gourmet pet food store))
Vegetables – (broccoli, spinach, celery, bok choy, carrot, capsicum)
Fruit – (whole apple, whole pear, whole grapefruit, whole orange)
Other Goodies – Whole egg, flax seed, garlic, kelp, alfalfa, kefir
Yogurt and cottage cheese are good to mix with the fruit/veggies to entice the dog to eat them

Recipe – 1 week of raw meat patties for a 50 pound active dog
4 lbs ground meats – beef and/or lamb and/or chicken and/or turkey
2 cups raw goat milk or 1 cup yogurt or cottage cheese
3 raw eggs
1 apple
1 glove garlic
2 carrots
1.5 pound mixed veggies (such as sweet potato, broccoli, zucchini, kale, spinach)
Mix in food processor and make into patties to freeze