Sounds like you guys are feeding the BARF diet. I posted today under dog health. I have just lost my second seven year old Rottweiler to cancer. I am looking more and more at feeding the BARF diet and changing my vaccination plan. What do you think?

Missrock,

Unfortunately the cancer epidemic in our dogs has nothing to do with diet, unless by chance alone you obtain some food be it commercial dog food, or some raw ingredient contaminated with a known carcinogen (e.g .alflatoxin). Neither will a high carbohydrate diet, promote cancer, or a low carbohydrate diet prevent cancer in a pre-cancerous dog.

Per vaccinations if you have a cat then there is wide evidence of sarcomas caused by vaccinations. There is no evidence vaccinations in dogs contributes to the development of cancer. There are some dogs who never suffer any side effects from repeated vaccinations, and others that can develop severe life threatening side effects such as hemolytic anemia. Most Vets are now rotating to a once every 2-3 yr revaccination schedule.

The problem of cancer in our dogs stems primarly from genetics and irresponsible breeding. It's bad enough in some breeds as to even affect mixed offspring. Try going back to the breeder of your German Shepard and ask him/her if they plan to stop breeding the stock your dog came from to prevent passing on cancer oncogenes? It won't happen. Worse is the non-professional breeder, that wants to make a few hundred dollars off the puppies.

You start with a puppy that is genetically predisposed to cancer, and then add in environmental triggers. For example there was a casual relationship for lawn chemicals causing cancer suggested, although it remains unproven. However it's widely known the carbamyl compounds in the common flea powders are carcinogens. You'll never see a warning on those products. What might be the effects of Front Line in future years? What incentive does the manufacturer have to conduct such an epidemiology study on their product? Until the genetics question is addressed cancers will continue to increase in incidence in our pets.

My guys gobble down their Propet Large Puppy formula everyday, have high energy levels, no allergies or other metabolic problems. There are probably many other formulas on the market of similar high quality. But I do anticipate one or the other or possibly both will get cancer from the age of 8 yrs on. When they get older I will probably supplement their diets with fish oil where the Omega-3 fatty acids have weak anti-angiogensis properties. Whether this helps or not per prevention will remain unknown. Ultimately one is left with the possibility of cancer in our pets, and the forelorned hope that future treatments might be better.