Cancer is a tough opponent no matter how you choose to fight it. And although nutrition alone probably can't cure cancer, it only makes sense that a dog being fed a high quality diet will have a stronger immune system, and will be better able to fight a good fight that one who is poorly nourished.
    I first became interested in nutritional therapies for cancer when Mike's dad chose that approach when he was diagnosed with an inoperable melanoma. Although he refused chemotherapy, and was not given much time to live, the disease went into remission for nearly five years. Although he eventually succumbed to the disease, he was given nearly five years of a nearly normal life, and he lived to see the birth of his first grandson.

Learning with JoJo.
When JoJo was diagnosed with meningioma, I decided to try to find out whether an equivalent approach was available for dogs. I don't think I did enough in time, but I like to believe we helped extend his life a bit. JoJo was given one to six months at the time of his first seizure.  He lived a total of seven months without surgery.
    In at least one place, I read that alternative approaches may not always greatly extend life, but that they often can improve the quality of the life remaining. Since JoJo stayed relatively mobile and had good days nearly right up to the end, I can only hope that the things we did helped at least a little.
    This page shares some of what I learned during JoJo's battle with meningioma. I am not a veterinarian or a nutritionist and I cannot claim to the effectiveness of any of the methods listed on the page. But I know that many people hope to support their dog's health through illness by whatever means they can. The sources on this page will give you some ideas to look into, ask about and possibly try.

JoJo's diet.
JoJo suffered from pancreatitis long before he ever developed a brain tumor. For years we fed him Hills Science Diet ID. We had to be very careful about changing his diet, for fear of triggering an attack of pancreatitis. He started to have heart problems about the same time as he developed cancer. For this reason, very carefully, we switched to Hills Science Diet HD, a diet for dogs with heart conditions.

In addition to this we supplemented as follows:

Baby food - We sometimes had trouble getting JoJo to eat, especially after seizures. Baby food was easy for him to eat, and he loved the taste.  This was a real treat for him.

Yogurt - We fed the plain, unflavored kind as an evening treat each night after his final dose of medications. We felt it helped coat his stomach so it wouldn't be so irritated. And we hoped it would help make our nights a little easier. From the way he gobbled it up, it's safe to say that yogurt time was his favorite time of the day.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E - Strengthens immune function and aids healing.

Vitamin B 100 - Supports the nervous system.

Green tea capsules - Has been shown to prevent and shrink tumors.

Ginger and turmeric - Common spice shelf spices that have anti-inflammatory properties. I sprinkled some on JoJo's food at each meal. I don't think the taste bothered him. He was so ravenous as a result of his medications, he probably would have eaten anything!

Essiac powder - A Native American cancer remedy. I only found out about this near the end of JoJo's struggle, I can't say whether it might have helped if we had tried it earlier. You can find this at most health food stores.

Prozyme - This product is an all natural concentration of digestive enzymes. They help a dog in poor heath get more from it's food. You can find it at most large pet supply stores.

Rescue Remedy  - This is a holistic remedy made of flower essences. With dog's it is used to help them relax and deal with stressful situations. We used it after seizures and when JoJo would become anxious. You can find this at most health food stores. Pet Supply stores also sell similar products under different brand names.

BarleyDog - This is a dehydrated version of barley grass. It provides minerals and antioxidants. It also helps the body detoxify.

Coenzyme Q10 - This supplement is often recommended for dogs (and humans) with heart problems. It evidently helps increase the amount of energy available at the cellular levels. It is also said to help improve the energy levels of animals who have cancer.

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