Can You Prevent Your Dog From Getting Cancer?

It may not be possible to entirely protect your dog from cancer any more than it is possible to prevent cancer in humans

. However, there are some common sense things that you can do to keep your dog healthier. By following these recommendations throughout your dog's lifetime you may be able to limit his exposure to certain toxins which are suspected of causing cancer.

1. Water. Many holistic vets recommend that you do not give your dog tap water to drink because of some of the chemicals that may be in it. Instead, they recommend that you filter your water. Remember to change your dog's water frequently so that he has fresh, clean water at all times.

2. Limit vaccinations. There is a great debate today among dog lovers concerning whether or not dogs are being over-vaccinated. Do some research and educate yourself on this subject. For instance, many states require that dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies every three years but local veterinarians continue to tell clients that their pets need annual rabies shots. Many experts believe that over-vaccinating dogs stresses their immune system and may contribute to developing cancers.

3. Reduce toxins in your home. Cigarette smoke and other toxins in the home are not good for your dog. Keep secondhand smoke away from dogs. Install an indoor filter system to reduce pollution in your home. Be careful with cleaning products in your house. Many of them use chemicals which can be bad for your dog.

4. Don't overfeed your dog. Obesity can lead to cancer and other health problems. An estimated 40 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese.

5. Choose healthy foods for your dog. Whether you feed your dog kibble, canned, homemade or raw food, choose foods that contain high quality ingredients and antioxidants. Avoid foods with ethoxyquin and other artificial preservatives. Look for foods with more natural ingredients. They may cost more but you will probably make fewer trips to the vet for health problems.

6. Consider safe flea control. When choosing flea and tick control for your dog consider whether you are able to get by with natural solutions instead of the products with more chemicals. Topical flea and tick products do a great job but they contain some very strong chemicals. Less toxic methods may take longer to work but they have the advantage that they can be less harmful to your pet in the long run. Will natural methods such as herbal flea collars and using a flea comb work for you?

7. Be careful of yard chemicals. If you use pesticides and weed killers you may be putting your dog at risk. The National Cancer Institute reported that they found that dogs whose owners used certain weed-killing products had two times the rate of lymphoma as dogs whose owners did not use them. Remember that some kinds of mulch, such as cocoa mulch, can be dangerous to dogs. So can some flower bulbs.

If you're killing bugs and insects, be careful what you use. You don't want your dog to get into something poisonous.

8. Exercise regularly. Regular exercise with your pet is important for good health. It strengthens the immune system, stimulates the hearth and cardiovascular system, helps digestion and generally helps the whole body.

9. Limit stress. Some stress is good and healthy for us and for a dog. There is the natural stress that comes from being excited, from waiting for you to come home, from wanting dinner. But limit the things that really cause your dog undue stress, such as upheaval in the household, neglect, the absence of a loved one. Keep your dog reassured and keep the anxiety to a minimum. Remember that outlook and attitude play a large part in anyone's health. By keeping your dog happy and content you will be doing a lot to keep him in good health.

by: Tristan Andrews

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