Learning your beloved pet has cancer is scary without a doubt. And it is during uncertain times that we, the NHV family, are here to help you on how to deal and cope during these difficult times. That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide on what to do when your pet has cancer.

We find that creating lists on what to do helps to keep things organized and in focus. This gives you a starting point for supporting your furkiddo through their diagnosis and the steps ahead.

Step 1: Do Not Panic

You are not alone. We know it is hard to see good options when all you can think about is the big “C” word and how it can affect the life of your beloved fur baby (and yours). But nowadays with advances in technology and vet care, remission is possible for many forms of cancer. Even when the prognosis does not look great, there are always ways that you can improve their quality of life and give the comfort your pet deserves.

Step 2: Talk To Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian is going to be one of your best allies to answer your questions and give you information on what type of cancer your pet has, and treatment options.

We know it is scary to watch your pet go through many exams and tests, but they are crucial to reach a proper diagnosis and determine the right course of treatment. Knowing the type of cancer and how far advanced it is, gives clarity to you and to the vet team on how to proceed with the treatment, giving the best care possible to your beloved furbaby.

Step 3: Knowledge Is Power

The more you know about your pet’s condition, the more you will be able to help them go through this. Do your own research about the type of cancer and look for several options of treatment. Make a list of all your options and see which ones feel right to you. There is no right or wrong and options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, naturopathy.

We recommend full doses of love daily, increase the dose as much as you want, whenever you feel necessary.

Gather an understanding of the situation and ask yourself: What are the implications of such type of cancer? What you can do to help your pet’s immune system to deal with it? What is the best way to treat your pet? Can you follow a more natural path during the treatment? How can you improve their quality of life and comfort? These are all important questions that you need to answer with the help of your research and vet team in order to provide what your pet needs.

Step 4: Exercise

Exercise and diet play an important role in the life of a pet that is fighting cancer. Studies show that active pets are healthier and have stronger immune systems, compared to sedentary (and possibly overweight) pets. That means that regular exercise will benefit your pet and help his immune system. Just pay attention to how much exercise your pet can handle. We know that compromised pets will only handle short walks around the block, while pets that are not suffering so much from cancer symptoms can run and play more. Moderate exercise is healthy and can help your furkiddo stay active for longer.

Step 5: Diet

Diet is important throughout their entire lives, and it is well known that a healthy diet can prolong life. When our babies are sick, diet is even more important since their system is weaker than normal.

Recent research shows that pets with cancer can benefit from a diet high in proteins and fat, and low in carbohydrates. Just like a healthy body, cancer gets the energy it needs out of sugar, which comes from carbohydrates. When you decrease the carbohydrates in their food and increase in good protein and healthy fats (oils), you take away the source of energy that cancer uses. That does not mean you can just switch your pet’s food to remove all the carbohydrates and give only protein and oil, though. More than never, your pets need a balanced diet that is appropriate for their condition.

For the right diet for your pet’s specific needs, we do recommend checking with a veterinarian that knows about pet nutrition and can formulate a special and individualized diet. My colleague here at NHV, Dr. Amanda, creates personalized nutrition plans that can help your pet get the nutrients they need during this difficult time.

Step 6: Love

It all comes to this, the love you feel for your pet, the love you give to them in the hardest moment. The love that will let you decide how to treat them and for how long. We recommend full doses of love daily, increase the dose as much as you want, whenever you feel necessary. This is the moment when they need you the most, and when you need them the most.

Step 7: Count On NHV Pet Experts. Always.

We are here to help you. In the good times, in the bad times, anytime. We count on a family that had studied our herbs and products and loves animals all the way. We have veterinarians, vet techs, pet nutritionists, and experts that will do their best to help you with any questions that you have.

Our veterinary staff can help you understand your options, provide holistic advice, and give you more in-depth support with an online veterinary consultation. If you have smaller questions or would like face-to-face advice on a supplement regimen, we offer free 15-minute video chats with our pet expert team.

Finding out your pet has cancer is one of the scariest moments, but it is not always is a death sentence. We always can make our babies feel better and more comfortable when they need it.

Supplements To Help Your Pet Fight Cancer

We have herbal supplements that may help your pet fight cancer and to alleviate symptoms that come with it.

ES Clear contains herbs used in supporting and fighting cancer. The herbs in this blend may help reduce tumor growth, help detoxify vital organs, and contains blood purifying properties. ES Clear also helps support the immune system and improve quality of life, vitality, and energy levels. ES Clear contains herbs that promote healthy digestion and aid with appetite.

Milk Thistle supports detoxification of the liver and kidneys by removing toxins that can build up in a pet’s system when undergoing chemotherapy. Milk Thistle can help improve liver and kidney function and support regeneration of the liver. It also has antioxidant properties which may be beneficial as anticancer support.

Turmeric is considered a superfood and modern pharmacological studies have revealed that curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, may protect normal cells from chemotherapy-induced damages. These studies suggest that turmeric has chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, ototoxicity, and genotoxicity.

Always remember to stay positive, if you are stressed your pet will pick up on that. We are always here to help and guide you whenever you need us. Reach out to our team of pet experts now by clicking the button below.