Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi- Our vet suggested a Science Diet "Anti-Cancer" canned food called n/d Canine. We slowly introduced to her by mixing it with her regular dry food. She would eat it at first but now she picks around it. I've been reading a lot about going on a grain free
diet for dogs with cancer. There seem to be a lot of brands. Has anyone tried one they particularly like? I did discuss with my vet and they suggested I call the University of Minnesota Vet oncology. They wouldn't help me unless I made an appointment 
Anyway- if anyone has suggestions I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Shelly and Mabey
We LOVE Evo! We started after Cody was diagnosed. We also supplement with Raw goats milk by Answers and also with natures variety raw chicken medallions. But the Evo is the dry kibble that we give them. It's a little more pricey but I think worth it. If you have a specialty pet store they will help you through all the brands. Also dogfoodadvisor.com is a good place to just do general research.
Good luck!
Cody and Fam
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
Science Diet makes an "anti-cancer" formula??? Hmmmmm...I'm not a big fan of Science Diet, they seem to have their hands in too many vet's $$ pockets. We fed my Jake Acana or Origins when he was going through chemo and we give Tanner Merrick (he gets indigestion with some foods, but Merrick he seems to be ok with). I think all of the grain-free high quality foods are going to be pricey but I agree with Angela, its definitely worth it.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
I'm with Elizabeth on the Science Diet.
I gave Shelby Blue Mountain grain free w/chicken and rice during her battle. And I cooked for her too.
I am still trying to figure out the best for Jasper (she's not ill but has allergies). We just switched off chicken and rice (Blue Mountain) to duck and potato to see if it helps the itchies.
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
It's very overwhelming to choose which food is best, even when you're not dealing with cancer. When you are, it becomes almost terrifying. Since most vets don't have formal nutrition training, they tend to fall back on things like Hill's and other conventional foods so when you're looking for something more, you can feel like you're out on your own. The good news is that many members here have wrestled with this question and here are some Eating Healthy forum posts about which dog foods members have found that work well for their dogs. Our Nutrition Blog also has lots of posts about diet and food.
Try not to get too overwhelmed or make too many changes all at once. Take things slowly and know that whatever small changes you make can be very helpful. The book, Dog Cancer Survival Guide, has excellent nutrition insight for pets fighting cancer, I highly recommend it.
Oh wanted to ask, how is her appetite otherwise? Is she eating everything but the dog food? If so that's definitely a sign there is something in it that she finds distasteful. I always feel like if I don't like a food then nobody should force me to eat it, so why should it be any different for our pets. There's so many out there to choose from, why not find out what she does like?
Oh here is one other resource you might find helpful:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I've never been a fan of Science Diet as the ingredients tend to be corn and grain heavy. I'm not familiar with the anti-cancer formula.
For dry food, we chose lower carb, grain free options. Our favorites were Core Wellness and Orijin. We did a lot of research both on the tripawd site and on dogfoodadvisor.com.
Lily the Great Dane (she was actually a lot more than just "Great") joined our family as an ornery puppy on December 20, 2005 and changed our lives forever. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in early May of 2014 and her right rear leg was amputated on May 8, 2014. She sailed through 5 rounds of Carboplatin and 15 weeks of Pallladia. She hopped on 3 legs like she was born to it and continued to fight cancer with grace, valor and an abundant sense of humor...and always a *giant* smile on her face. Lily had two small nodules on her lungs but was brought short by a brain tumor in late December, 2014. Lily earned her wings on December 28, 2014 and we miss her terribly every day. http://lilyt.tripawds.com
Our Leland wasn't dealing with cancer but he had chronic diarrhea since he was a pup. We kept taking him to the vet with stool samples trying to figure out why he constantly had diarrhea. The vets couldn't provide any insight but the receptionist had mentioned that perhaps he was dealing with a food intolerance. So I had to research food intolerances and grain free foods. I finally settled on feeding him Blue Buffalo Sensitive formula (turkey and potato) which seemed to really help. He still had bouts of diarrhea but nothing like it was. We had to cut out grains completely even in his treats.
I currently have our new pup Lucian on Blue Buffalo Freedom formula (grain and gluten free) and his stools have been good and solid.
Good luck with your research...it can be mind boggling trying to determine what's best...
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Shelly,
The food question is huge to me. I consulted Dog food advisor. When Maggie was alive she had irritable bowel so I put her on Taste of the Wild and also home cooked veggies and home grown pork. My 2 dogs now get 4Health, it's grain free and my pups are not as gassy as when they were on Diamond chicken. Good luck, there are a million choices.
Penny and her Gang
Food choices I think are overwhelming since there's so much out there on the market. We used Origen dry four fish for Snoop,all grain free and home cooked organic meats and Veggies and fruit. I think you just try your best after what you believe are important for your dog and what they will find fflavorable. Read the ingredients on the back what starts on the list is what's the highest content.
Good luck.
Esther and my Angel Snoop
elizabeth said
Science Diet makes an "anti-cancer" formula??? Hmmmmm...I'm not a big fan of Science Diet, they seem to have their hands in ftoo many vet's $$ pockets.
I couldn't agree more. It is distressing to me how little most vets know about nutrition. I had a horrible Science Diet experience when we were fighting Trouble's allergies. It really aggravated them in the worst way. I swore off it forever. Don't care what the formula is for, I don't want it. Food is a hard subject. I, too, use Dog Food Advisor when I want to research a different food.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hmmm . . . my post just disappeared . . . gone to look for it!
Oh well, I couldn't find it so I'll just try to remember what I said.
-----------------------
Everything previously posted here is right on the nose.
I love our vet, but when we first brought Harmony home he prescribed Pro Plan One Salmon for sensitive dogs. She did okay to start, but we noticed as time went by that she started having tummy problems that worsened. She also starting licking like she was itching. We would take her back to the vet to try and get to the bottom of it, but never caught a break. Then she started to get real sick which scared us. Fortunately, something was going on with the international cost of salmon. We couldn't find her food in the store, so we had to switch. Before the switch, I researched. That's when I found out about how some kibble premiere brands can have bad runs that sometimes kill. I was appalled!
I finally chose to go with Petsmart's Simply Nourish, Lamb & Oatmeal. OMG . . . the difference in Harmony was like night and day! I had no idea that we had been "poisoning" her this entire time! I was furious!
Then the day came when Harmony got her diagnosis of MCT. After many hours of Googling, one of the things I learned was that MCT is kinda like an allergic cancer, for a lack of a better definition. AND one of the things that causes systemic allergies is processed fish in dog food.
WHAT???!! Are you kidding me?? So, not only were we making our sweet Harmony itchy and sick, but we directly fed MCT. At least that was my take away. So many of the dots now connected and made sense and I was mad, really mad.
Bottom line; we now take ownership and manage our fur-babies health and nutrition. We still take suggestions from our vet, but we treat them as suggestions and not gospel truth.
Okay, off my soap-box now . . . . (breathing) . . .
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Michelle posted this on Facebook earlier and I am close to having a coronary!!! Shelby was on Blue Buffalo in the end of her life because it was grain-free and highly marketed and I've had Jasper on this since I got her. She itches like crazy but I thought it was the environment and her surroundings ... not her food since everyone (at Petco and our vet) said this was FINE for her.
GRRRRR!!!!! So mad. So I am switching her food today. Sadly I tossed the original bag so I can't return the food ... I don't get why this is so hard to buy a decent food for our pets. It's almost as hard as making decisions about the treatment for those that are fighting cancer ... being a pet mom is so hard!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Alison what did Michelle post?
It's so hard to say to anyone that there is one best food. Here we've seen dogs who ate the most top-shelf food there is, and they still came down with cancer. And we've seen others who ate Costco Kirkland food and beat cancer! Go figure.
I think what a lot of it comes down to is that we as pet parents tend to stick with the same food for our dogs because we want to play it safe, but too much of anything can be detrimental. My personal feeling is that by switching things up and rotating at least a few times a year, your dog's body won't get used to a certain ingredient and then become allergic to it. Here's some Tripawds Nutrition Blog posts that mention rotation and why it's something we should be doing regularly.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You know, I never thought of it that way, but that's an excellent point.
Me thinks I feels a new plan coming into tha noggin' . . . . OWWWEE IT HURTS!
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Oops! Forgot to post the link!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
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