Beyond Chemo: What We Can Do to Address Pet Cancer

Cancer is complicated. Cancer is common. Cancer requires furthering our education.

Cancer requires infographics.

November is pet cancer awareness month, so we did some research on what cancer is and some methods of treating it.

Neoplasia is the formation or presence of abnormal tissue growth. A tumor. Cancer is uncontrolled neoplasia that travels to and invades other parts of the body. Malignant tumor(s).

Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while there is less information about the rate of cancer in cats it appears that the rate of cancer is lower. However, some cancers, such as lymphoma, are more common in cats than in dogs.

Approximately 1 in 4 dogs will, at some stage in their life, develop neoplasia and almost half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. Woof!

Some known causes of cancer in pets may include:

• Genetics
• Environmental exposure to known carcinogens (cancer causing agents)
• Second-hand smoke
• Obesity

Avoiding pesticides outdoors and wiping your dog’s feet after a walk, choosing not to smoke around your pet, and feeding a diet high in antioxidants are all great ways to try limit exposure to carcinogens. But what if your pet companion already has cancer?

Just like with humans, each type of neoplasia requires individual care. Treatment may include one or a combination of therapies such as:

And then there’s the burgeoning holistic approach.

There is mounting evidence that many mushrooms including shiitake, maitake and reishi are high in alpha and beta glucans, which help modulate the immune system, and many mushrooms have been found to slow the growth of and even kill cancer cells. 

Mushrooms have an innate resistance to pathogens and have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, and were used even earlier by the ancient Egyptians. Laboratory studies are looking optimistic, but more research is needed in living people and animals to confirm that mushrooms taken orally really kill cancer cells. 

Mushrooms are known to complement chemotherapy and radiation therapy by countering the side-effects of cancer, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, and lowered resistance. Reishi and maitake mushrooms in particular have been studied for their ability to protect the body from chemotherapy side effects.

In 2023 Cordyceps entered the mainstream in the video game adaption “The Last of Us” as a parasitic, zombiefying fungus that brought about the end of days. But the reality is that Cordyceps has long been prized for its numerous benefits in humans, and is lately finding its way into pet supplements.

Cordyceps was traditionally given to promote strength and stamina, is known as a kidney and adrenal tonic for healthy kidneys and liver function, and is still used throughout the world to promote healthy oxygenation and natural energy levels.

Mushrooms naturally grow on trees and the Pacific Northwest is a mushroom haven. Mushrooms are bio-accumulators, meaning the air, earth and water all impart important characteristics which are absorbed. That’s why mushrooms should be organic, and mushroom extracts ideally should be hot water extracted from the fruiting body for optimal performance.

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Full spectrum hemp products are similarly encouraging with regard to alleviating chemo symptoms like nausea and vomiting, and even thwarting full blown cancer.

Full-spectrum means that none of the cannabinoids were purposefully removed. There is much more to the marijuana plant than THC and CBD, all of which is beneficial in one way or another.

Exploration of cannabis for animals and pets whose medical problems were not easily solved by veterinary medicine began in 1990s-2000s, and the first cannabis tinctures were made for horses.

Use of cannabis as a substitute or allow for lower / safer dosages of pharmaceuticals is one of the huge benefits as the benefit of cannabis for osteoarthritis pain, seizure, cancer, immune modulation has been objectively demonstrated.

In the early 1990s it was discovered that every mammal has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is a complex cell-signaling system. Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis that interact with receptors in our ECS. Endocannabinoids bind to them in order to signal that the ECS needs to take action.

The ECS is involved in a host of homeostatic and physiologic functions, including modulation of pain and inflammation. So it stands to reason that full spectrum CBD is an effective way to fight cancer and help improve quality of life with anti-nausea, pain managing and immunomodulatory effects.

In 2020 the first canine-specific CBD and cancer study was published and it was found that CBD can trigger apoptosis (natural cell death) and autophagy (clearing out of damaged cell parts), meaning full spectrum hemp will: Inhibit tumor growth, trigger death of cancer cells, inhibit the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors (angiogenesis), and discourage the spread of cancer from one body part to another (metastasis).

Cannabinoids and terpenes all work together to enhance each other, so full spectrum is the way to go. It’s referred to as the Entourage Effect, but I like to think of it as Teamwork Makes The Dream Work.

The apothecary at The Big Bad Woof offers a variety of CBD products and mushrooms, and our knowledgeable staff are on-hand to guide you on your wellness journey.

The content of this post is meant to share some holistic medicine, however, it is not meant to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian about any changes you want to make to your pet’s treatment as they are the experts.