Dog owners face many difficult choices when given a diagnosis of canine cancer. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are all very hard on the dog and evidence of long–term survival is limited. As a result many dog owners are looking to holistic cancer treatment options.
Centuries of Traditional Chinese medical knowledge can be utilized in enhancing palliative care or supportive management during radiation or chemotherapy. In some cases, Chinese herbs, diet and acupuncture may actually reduce tumors.
Chinese Dietary Cancer Treatment Options
Some foods, long recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their health value, are now being recognized as having anti-cancer properties. Mushrooms, particularly reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and miatake (Grifola frondosa), have been shown to have immune-enhancing properties, which may help fight canine cancer.
Many other foods may be added to a dog’s diet to enhance anti-tumor activity and immune response, but to get the most value from using Traditional Chinese Medicine’s food therapy aspects, it is important to work with a TCM practitioner. In Chinese medicine, there are both benefits and negative effects from each type of food. And these effects change from dog to dog, depending on their individual TCM assessment.
Chinese Herbal Formulas Provide Supportive Care During Chemotherapy and Radiation
In studies on human cancer patients, Chinese herbal formulae have been shown to have positive effects on immune response. Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal treatments may also reduce the side effects of chemo therapy and radiation. Human patients receiving cisplatin or methotrexate-vincristine chemotherapy were given a TCM formula.
These patients showed less liver toxicity and fewer ECG abnormalities than the control patients, in addition to experiencing less vomiting and nausea during treatment. The group treated with the Traditional Chinese herbal formula was also less likely to develop skin rashes and oral ulcers.
Similar studies on dogs have not been published to date, but the anecdotal evidence is growing, showing similar results for Chinese herbal formulas used while canine cancer patients undergo chemotherapy.
The Role of Acupuncture and Acupressure in Holistic Cancer Treatment
Acupuncture is gaining acceptance in dog health care as a source of pain relief. But beyond this basic function, acupuncture and acupressure can be utilized in similar ways to Chinese herbal formulas and diet in ameliorating the effects of chemotherapy, enhancing the dog’s natural immune response.
Canine cancer patients can be treated with acupuncture prior to surgery to reduce pain and enhance healing. Owners can be taught how to massage acupuncture points such as those for nausea or immune response, providing additional acupressure therapy at home.
If an animal is not a good candidate for surgery or an owner elects not to have surgery, chemo treatments or radiation they can still make their pet more comfortable with the aid of these traditional Chinese therapies. Under the guidance of a TCM practitioner, tumor reduction and overall improvement in general well–being is possible in many cases.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
Join the Conversation