Dichloroacetic acid, DCA, is an acid that has been studied as a potential cancer treatment by using the salts and esters of the compound. Cancer cells use oxygen in a different way than normal cells to preserve their survival and not die (apoptosis). In laboratory tests it has been shown that DCA makes cancer cells revert back to the original way of using oxygen, leading to their destruction. Dichloroacetic acid can be purchased for use and it has been studied in the treatment of dog cancer but it is not advisable at this time for your dog.

Despite the studies that have had favorable results with certain types of cancer, there are side effects that need to be taken into account:

1. Some tests have shown that DCA actually increases the growth of colorectal tumors in mice. Using it could actually cause more harm than good.

2. At high doses, DCA can cause neuropathy (damage to nerves in the extremities that make people feel like their hands and feet are tingly or “numb”), neurotoxicity (changes in the way the nervous system functions), and an abnormal gait pattern (walking). This does not bode well for people who want to try giving DCA to the dog themselves without any supervision.

3. Presently, long term use of high doses DCA is showing the potential of causing liver cancer in humans, which means it may be a carcinogenic. However, many chemotherapies that are used today are carcinogens that can possibly cause secondary cancers like leukemia, sarcomas, TCC of the bladder, etc. Localized radiation is also a carcinogenic. However, these treatments have been used for years despite that and DCA may be determined to be an effective treatment of certain cancers in the future.

We all want a cure to be found for cancer and many desperate people and dog parents are willing to try any “new” thing that they have heard about. But it is not recommended that you just try anything to help your dog. Consult your vet and talk about these studies and different treatments to see if they might be a fit in your own dog’s unique case.

The formal name for this type of cancer is Transitional Cell Carcinoma, also known as TCC. It’s a cancer of the dog’s urinary tract and can present as tumors in the bladder, urethra, ureters, and prostate gland. Unfortunately, this cancer spreads fast and moves on through the urinary tract and then lymph nodes, lung, liver, and bone.

This cancer is called transitional cell carcinoma because the cells that line the urinary tract are referred to as “transitional epithelial cells.” This means that the cells change shape to account for the fluctuations in the amount of urine that is present at any given time. Just like other cells in the body, transitional cells can start to multiply out of control and become cancerous.

When a dog has bladder cancer, it is rarely curable due to the fact that the tumors in the tract are rarely able to be removed entirely. Chemotherapy is almost always recommended as the next stage of treatment in order to try and wipe out the remaining cancer cells. Dogs with TCC that only have surgery can be expected to live for 3-4 months. If chemotherapy and the other recommended drugs are added to the mix, the median survival time can be as great as one year.

Which Dogs are at Risk for Transitional Cell Carcinoma?

Certain breeds are at a higher risk of developing TCC, including Beagles, Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Scottish Terriers; the last two in this list are at the highest risk. Female dogs are more likely to develop this type of bladder cancer due to the fact that they urinate less frequently than males (due to marking their territory). This is an important difference because it is believed that one of the environmental factors that cause TCC is exposure to insecticides and pesticides. Male dogs urinate more and don’t let these chemicals sit in the bladder as long as say, a female. Obese dogs are also at a higher risk because these chemical causing toxins remained stored in the fat cells.

What are the Symptoms of TCC?

The symptoms of Transitional Cell Carcinoma are similar to that of a bladder infection and may be misdiagnosed as such. Blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and an increased frequency in urination are all signs of both a UTI and potentially TCC. To make matters even more confusing, sometimes dogs with TCC also have a secondary bladder infection. We all know that a UTI can be painful on its own but tumors in the bladder can also cause a lot of pain and can block the flow of urine. This causes the urine to “back up” into the kidneys and can cause kidney failure; this is a very life threatening situation.

How is it Diagnosed?

There is a test call the Veterinary Bladder Tumor Antigen (VBTA) test that can be done at your vet’s office. If the test is negative, it’s very unlikely that the dog has TCC. If it is positive, however, more tests will need to be ordered. There can be situations where a false-positive occurs if there is blood and/or protein in the urine, which can also happen from at regular UTI. If TCC is suspected, the vet may attempt to get a sterile sample of urine directly from the bladder by inserting a needle into the abdomen. A biopsy/surgery may also need to be performed, as well as imaging tests to determine if there has been any metastasis (spread).

TCC has a high rate or spread and it is not likely to be cured. It can be, however, a treatable cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, and other drug protocols to extend the dog’s life and make them more comfortable.

When you have a dog with cancer, sometimes you get to the point where you are no longer focused on treating your dog. Rather, you want to do everything possible to make him comfortable during his last days. Known as palliative care, what you are trying to do is give your dog a better quality of life during the time he has left with you.

Here is a list of things that you can do to reduce any pain your dog may be experiencing and focus more on comfort.

Managing Pain

Work with your vet to come up with a strategy to control any pain that your dog may be experiencing. The vet may prescribe morphine pills or fentanyl patches for relief. Be sure to monitor how your dog reacts to the drugs; some dogs may not be tolerant of them.

Eating

Oftentimes when dogs are sick, they don’t feel like eating. Still, they may be willing to eat something that they usually are not allowed to eat. There still might be some things that are tempting. Go ahead and try; don’t worry about what you’re not “supposed” to give them (except raisins, chocolate, onions, and grapes which are poisonous to them). Meat, cake, ice cream…whatever interests them that they will eat.

Drinking

When the desire to eat disappears, the desire to drink water usually goes with it. Dehydration is dangerous so it’s important to make sure your dog is getting fluids. If water doesn’t work, you can also try using soup or chicken or beef broth. If that still doesn’t work, you can try squirting liquids into the back of the mouth with a turkey baster.

Grooming

Obviously this isn’t a time for professional grooming per se, but it’s good to make sure that your dog is clean and dry. This may require gentle sponge baths a few times a day, especially if your dog is in a position where he can’t make it outside to go to the bathroom anymore.

Move Your Dog

Your dog may no longer be able to move easily so it’s your job to make sure you gently move him every 4-6 hours to prevent him from developing bedsores. Moving him from one side to the other will do, if he’s been in the same position. He should also be laying on a bed or padded surface.

Love, Love, and More Love

Pet your dog. Massage him. Bring him outside in the sun if he’s up for it. Take him for a car ride if he wants to go. Let him know how much you love him.

It’s shocking when your vet tells you that your dog has cancer. For more people, it comes right out of left field and their first question is usually “How did this happen?!?”

Unfortunately, there are no clear cut answers. There are many things that may cause dog cancer, one of them being exposure to carcinogens. Carcinogens aren’t the only cause of cancer but they are proven to cause cells to divide uncontrollably. Here are some common carcinogens when it comes to canine cancer:

Nitrates, Nitrites, and Ethoxyquin:

Nitrates and nitrates are preservatives that are found in meats like bacon and sausage; they are also found in various brands of dog food. When these things are digested they combine with nitrogen-containing substances in the stomach and form N-nitroso comppouds. N-nitroso compounds are carcinogens.
Many dog foods contain fish meal. Fish meal commonly contains ethoxyquin, which is another carcinogen that has shown to affect the kidneys.

Heterocytic Amines:

This is what you get when commercial dog food is cooked. All the ingredients are cooked at a really high temperature and the byproduct of that are the heterocutic amines, which are known carcinogens. If you’re wondering whether or not this ingredient is “listed” on the bags it’s not. It wasn’t there until after the food was mixed so it’s not required to be put on the label. More natural food is always best for your dog.

Asbestos:

I’m sure we’ve all heard of this one and immediately think of old insulation; we know that is causes cancer. All building materials are now required to be made without asbestos. Unfortunately, there can be asbestos in our drinking water. This isn’t to alarm you but it has been found. Exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma, a cancer in the skull. Dogs can get it, too. Have your tap water checked.

Prescription Drugs:

Another potential danger in our drinking water is prescription drugs. Studies show that small amounts of pharmaceuticals are present in our drinking water. Active agents in birth control pills, chemo, antidepressants, etc are in our water. Ingesting all these different kinds of drugs over time is not good for us, or our dogs. Use purified water whenever possible.

In the Air:

Secondhand smoke, fumes from kerosene and coal heaters, chemical solvents and paints, the hydrocarbons that are released when vehicles use gasoline, pesticides and herbicides, etc. are just a few things in the air that are carcinogens. Dogs are just as easily exposed to all of this stuff as we are. Whenever possible, try to limit their exposure (and yours!).

These are just a few agents that are known carcinogens. Again, carcinogens are just things that cause cells to divide abnormally. Exposure to these things does not necessarily guarantee that your dog will get cancer. Cancer is often caused by a “perfect storm” of many different factors which make it hard to pinpoint just one specific cause.

I know that dog parents often blame themselves when their dog gets cancer. I advise you to acknowledge that feeling and then move on. It’s not your fault. Focus your energy on doing everything you can to help your dog get well.

What is Curcumin?

If you’re a fan of curry, or an avid cook, you are familiar with turmeric: it’s the substance that makes curry yellow. It’s considered a spice but it’s also a bioflavonoid which just means that it’s naturally occurring in food and can offer some protection against cancer. The real cancer fighter is the curcumin that’s found in turmeric. There are currently a lot of trials on the benefits of curcumin and what it can do to cancer.

How Does Curcumin Work Against Cancer?

Tumeric can help fight dog cancer

So far, we know a few things from the studies being conducted about this spice:

• It Causes Apoptosis: There’s that word again. Curcumin causes cells to undergo their normal death pattern (cancer cells do not die, they just continue to replicate themselves).
• It Starves Cancer: Like luteolin, curcumin inhibits the growth of new blood vessels on tumors (which is how the cancer feeds itself).
• It Slows Cell Division: This pretty much says it all. It slows the bad cancer cells from dividing and making more of themselves.
• It Oxidates: In a normal meal, curcumin provides antioxidants that stop cell damage (this is a good thing, especially for women who are always trying to look younger). However, to fight cancer, taking turmeric in a higher dose causes oxidation. The oxidation produces free radicals that can kill off the cancer cells but keep healthy cells intact.
• It Stops Cancer Spread: The worst thing to hear when a person or a pet is diagnosed with cancer is that it has spread. Cancer spread is called metastasis and it is much more difficult to fight once it has spread to the organs or other body parts. There are molecules on cancer cells that help it to spread. Curcumin can stop these “spread molecules” from being produced.

All this positive cancer-fighting stuff sounds awesome but the jury is still out as to whether or not it can do all of these things if you eat it or take it as a supplement. On its own, it does have anti-inflammatory properties so if you or your dog is sore, turmeric provides some pain relief. It can also help with nausea.

<h2>Giving Curcumin to Your Dog</h2>
Before you decide to give turmeric/curcumin to your dog, talk to your vet. The best way to buy it right now is in powder form. Make sure that it is 95% curcumin. Give it to your dog an hour before or after food. It’s best on an empty stomach but it your dog is poo-pooing it, it can be given with a little bit of food.

Toy/mini breeds: 50 mg three times per day
Dogs up to 35 pounds: 100 mg three times per day
36-60 pounds: 200 mg three times per day
60+ pounds: 250 mg three times per day

Again, it is so important to talk to your vet before you start administering curcumin. Diabetic dogs and dogs with gall bladder or liver problems may have issues. Dogs already on medications should also be carefully supervised by your vet.

What is Luteolin?

This weird-sounding substance actually occurs naturally in chrysanthemums, artichokes, and peanuts. The scientific classification is “bioflavonoid” which is just a fancy term for something that gives plants their coloring. But luteolin is more than a box of crayons. It has medicinal uses like protecting blood vessels and stimulating an anti-inflammatory response. In lab testing, luteolin kills cancer cells but it hasn’t been tested thoroughly in actual bodies with cancer.

Luteolin for Dog Cancer

How Does Luteolin Kill Cancer Cells?

This bioflavonoid has shown to take a multi-pronged approach to getting rid of cancer cells, including:

Starvation: It doesn’t let cancer cells break down sugar, which it needs to survive.

Cuts off energy: There is an enzyme in the body called Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) which cancer cells get their energy from to stay alive. Luteolin turns off this enzyme.

Straight Up Kills Them: Luteolin can directly murder cancer cells by making them murder themselves by making them go through apoptosis. Remember, cancer cells are just normal cells that went “rogue” and stopped following the programmed life and death cycle (which is called apoptosis).

Interference: Cancer cells continue to grow, divide, and never die because of faulty DNA. Each cancer cell carries this faulty DNA and passes it on to the new cancer cells. Luteolin interferes with the cell division so that the faulty DNA cannot give birth to new cancer cells.

Blocks the blood supply: There is another fancy-sounding process called angiogenesis. This just means that tumors grow blood vessels to keep themselves alive. Luteolin can block angiogenesis which in turn blocks the tumors from getting energy via the blood stream.

Giving Luteolin to Your Dog

First, please consult with your veterinarian and only administer this substance under his or her supervision. Luckily, since this Cancer Killer is found in nature, there aren’t a whole lot of harmful side effects.

The most widely used luteolin supplement is called Lutimax. General administration instructions are to give this to your dog on an empty stomach. If your dog doesn’t take it, you can try it in a very small amount of food. The amount of luteolin you give your dog is based on weight:

• Toy/miniatures: 100 mg, once per day
• Up to 25 pounds: 100 mg twice per day
• 25-45 pounds: 200 mg twice per day
• 40-60 pounds: 300 mg twice per day
• Over 60 pounds: 600 mg twice per day

When you are discussing using luteolin or Lutimax with your vet, be aware that if your dog is diabetic, the supplement can lower a dog’s blood sugar. Luteolin is not to be given to puppies, pregnant, or breeding dogs.

Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing just by looking at or feeling a dog lump if it is cancerous or not. You should become acutely aware of your dog’s body so that you are able to notice changes when and if they occur. A good rule of thumb is that if the lump or bump is still there after 3-5 days, get your dog to the vet to be evaluated.

However, don’t be too quick to panic that the worst is inevitable just yet. There are plenty of other benign (non cancerous) lumps and bumps out there. Some of these include:

Fatty Lumps: The technical term for these is “lipomas.” The majority of these are scene in more obese dogs and may need to be removed as they could grow over time; but they will not spread to other parts of the body the way that cancer does.

Sebaceous Cysts: Yep, these are kind of like zits that human get (poor Fido isn’t immune). These do tend to happen more often in older dogs. The cysts contain a puss-like substance that has the consistency of toothpaste. They can become swollen and red looking but will not cause harm to your dog.

Histiocytoma: These are currently seen in younger dogs, appear fast, and go away just as quickly. They resemble buttons and may be very red and they are about 1 cm in diameter. These rarely need any type of treatment.

Warts: Nope, dogs are not immune to these ugly skin tags. Treatment is not usually required unless they become irritated and bleed. A dog may develop many of them.

A Couple Signs That Might Indicate Dog Cancer

1. If the lump is not easily moved around, it could be malignant as cancer often grows into the tissue around it, making the tumor nearly immoveable.

2. If your dog has a lump or bump as well as unexplained weight loss, decrease in appetite and energy, or diarrhea and vomiting this could signal something serious.

3. If the lump or bump or the area around it bleeds, has discharge, is extremely irritated and is painful, it may be malignant.

The above are not hard and fast rules to determine whether or not a lump is malignant or benign. Even your vet can’t know exactly what it is just by looking at it. If the lump is suspicious, your vet will need to take a small piece of it and send it off to examine the cells (this is called a biopsy).

I found a really informative 5-minute video on this exact topic if you want to check it out below. And as always, don’t risk your dog’s health. Get to your vet whenever something out of the ordinary occurs!

In short, no. Dog cancer is not contagious to humans.

HOWEVER, there is a very rare form of dog cancer that is contagious between dogs. This sounds really weird, since there is no known human cancer that is contagious to other humans. But for our canine friends, it’s a different story.

Don't worry, dog cancer cannot be passed to humans.

It’s called Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor, or CTVT for short. It’s been around for over 10,000 years. Even though it’s a cancer, it acts more like a human venereal disease, like herpes. CTVT is passed from one dog to another during mating or when a dog comes into contact with an affected dog through licking, biting, or sniffing the tumor area.

Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor disease cannot be passed from dog to human. The only other animal species that has shown to contract CVTV from dogs is the fox.

Before you get too worried that your dog might have this kind of cancer, it is much more common in feral or wild dogs. Buster, your bulldog who lounges around the house all day snoring, is not likely to become afflicted anytime soon.

You know your dog better than anyone, so you know if he or she seems to be acting out of the ordinary. When it comes to cancer, this is one topic that all dog parents fear and hope that they never have to hear that their beloved dog has cancer.

But first, let’s clarify “pain.” We obviously don’t want our dogs to be hurting in any way. There are other things, however, that make for a poor quality of life besides just a constant ache or pain. These include weight loss, loss of appetite, decreased energy, the inability to control bodily functions, and fatigue among others. Some of these issue can be a symptom of different kinds of cancer, so it is important to see your vet right away if your dog is experiencing any of these things.

Actual pain is hard to evaluate. There are a few signs, though, that can be indicative that your dog is in pain:

1. Touching or putting slight pressure on a body part causes your dog to reflexively pull away.

2. Touching or putting slight pressure on a body part makes your dog turn to look at you and may seem to be angry.

3. Shifting their body quickly when in certain positions because the previous position is painful.

4. Limping

5. Panting – dogs often pant when they are in pain.

What makes pain detection difficult is that there can always be another reason that a dog reacts in certain ways, not just pain. They may be panting because their hot. They may withdraw a paw or limb because they are scared. So just because your dog may be displaying some of these behaviors doesn’t necessarily mean he is in pain or that he has cancer.

Common dog cancers that cause dog pain include:

• Osteosarcomas
• Hermangiosarcomas that are on the verge of rupturing
• Mast Cell tumors
• Bladder tumors (transitional cell carcinomas)

This is in no way a comprehensive list and there is unfortunately no surefire way to know that your dog is in pain from cancer. The best thing to do, as always, is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so he or she can better determine is 1) your dog is definitely in pain, and 2) the underlying cause of the pain.

Your best friend has cancer. The day you heard those words was probably one of the worst days of your life and you probably still can’t believe that it’s true.

I know that’s how I felt when my dog was dying of cancer.

I didn’t know how to cope with it. Every time I looked at my dog, I would just melt into tears. I hugged her and cried all over her. I am sure that she thought I was a complete crazy lady but at the same time, she didn’t care about that. Her little chin just rested on my shoulder and her little tail wagged just like it did every day.

I hated that this was happening to my little girl.

How to cope when your dog has cancer

I wished I’d had some better tools to cope with the fact that my dog had cancer. And now that I know some, I want to share them with you.

1. Get Out Your Anger

I kept all of my anger inside. I obviously didn’t want my dog to see me angry or upset because I know that they can sense emotions. But my anger plagued me and it crowded my mind and it wasn’t healthy for me or my family.

The best thing to do is get your anger out in a healthy way. Have lunch with your best friend and vent. Get to the gym and take it out on the treadmill or punching bag. Write it down. Heck, write a mean and nasty letter to cancer. Obviously, don’t take it out on anybody but if you get it all out, you have the opportunity to be come calm and centered and present. Then you can be there for your dog and make better decisions.

2. Massage Your Dog

Yes, that might sound stupid. However, you pet your dog all of the time (or at least you should) so what’s the difference? Massaging your dog helps you tell them that you love them. Dogs massage with their tongues; they lick each other when they’re in packs and they lick you. It’s their way of saying “I love you.”

Now, I’m not going to tell you to lick your dog if you thought that’s where this was going. But using repetitive, circular motions with your fingertips will do wonders for your dog. Just light pressure is needed and you can focus on all of the dogs muscles. You know your dog best, so stay in tune with him – he’ll show you what he likes and doesn’t like.

3. Thank Your Dog

This may sound silly, but show gratitude to your dog. Sit down with your dog and tell her why she is so wonderful. Thank her for being your best friend, your loyal companion, the protector of your house. She’s the one who has greeted you each and every day with unwavering love. Now it’s your turn to do the same.

Get past the silliness of it and just let it flow. Shower her with gratitude. You’ll both feel so good after.

4. Stimulate Your Dog

Vary the routine up a bit. Take a different walking route. Try a different treat or a new reward for a dog well done. Show them a new trick to try and work for. Go to a new dog park or hiking trail. Obviously, you’re going to base these things on how well your dog is but the point is to create some new experiences for your dog. He’s still got life left in him, why not try to keep celebrating life? Praise him for doing so well.

5. Spoil Your Dog Day

Once a week, spoil your dog. Treats for no reason. Extra love and hugs. Let her up on the couch or the bed if they usually aren’t allowed there. These things will make your dog so happy and it will be huge step in coping with all of the feelings you’re having. Why not spoil your dog? He definitely deserves it.

I hope these five tips can help you, at least in a small way, work through your dog’s cancer diagnosis.