When we love dogs, it’s heartbreaking to have them develop cancer. Among the dog breeds that we love deeply and have a high rate of cancer are the Golden Retrievers.
Goldens are ideal companions because of their temperament, intelligence, and beauty. They are great with kids and make good therapy and assistance dogs for the handicapped.
With such a remarkable breed, it’s devastating to see about 50% develop cancer. Knowing the rate is so high, I encourage families with Goldens to start early in the pet’s life to support a healthy immune system.
The white blood cells of the immune system are naturally equipped to sense and eliminate cancer cells. Among the steps we can take to support a healthy immune system are feeding well, using herbs, and providing herbal support when cancer develops.
Feeding to prevent cancer
The single most important thing we can do to support the immune system and help prevent cancer is to feed Goldens correctly. This does not mean kibble. Dogs cannot be healthy eating only packaged food. For suggestions on what and how to feed, check previous Caring for Pets blog entries because they’re full of tips on using deeply pigmented fruits & vegetables, Omega 3 Fatty acids from fish and flax to provide optimum nutrition.
Using herbs to prevent cancer
After feeding correctly to support health, we can use herbs to keep Goldens healthy. The herbal formulas that have been perfected for thousands of years—not just 10 or 20 years like many herbal formulations, but literally hundreds of hundreds of years, are the Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas. These formulas are ideal to help Goldens, and to help Goldens immune systems so cancer doesn’t develop.
What is cancer from a TCM point of view
If we look at cancer from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view, cancer occurs when material collects as sludge in the body. This sludge or “phlegm” starts out as a rather ephemeral substance and thickens over time. Without a change in lifestyle & diet, a physically visible mass will become evident. The mass can be small and multiple like multicentric lymphoma or it can be a large and singular like hemangiosarcoma.
Best herbal formula for each pet
To help prevent Golden Retrievers from developing large or small masses, I recommend using herbs that nourish blood & keep liver & spleen healthy. Because each Golden is different, an in-depth consultation is necessary so that we can choose the best formula for the individual dog.
Gui Pi Tang
For example, we might use Gui Pi Tang to nourish blood and “tonify” the body. Gui Pi Tang in a Golden that is anxious or obsessive. The Golden that benefits from Gui Pi Tang may have frequent dreams and be tired during the day because it doesn’t get restful sleep. The blood may be anaemic with a low hematocrit. The blood may lack clotting factors (thrombocytopenia) so that they bruise easily. The stools may be soft and their appetites lackluster. Using Gui Pi Tang helps restore harmony to the body and will help bring about changes that keep immune system flourishing and able to do its job.
One of the companies that makes Gui Pi Tang in Canada is Natural Path. Natural Path has given this TCM formula an easier name, Restore the Spleen.
Bu Gan Tang
For a Golden with different predisposing problems, for example, a Golden that is noise sensitive and timid, has fear aggression or thunder phobia, and tight muscles or muscle spasms, Bu Gan Tang is a good formula. This TCM formula also helps nourish itchy or greasy skin, supports the liver and lowers elevated blood enzymes, such as ALP and ALT. Bu Gan Tang (called Nourish the Liver Decoction by Natural Path) is especially helpful for Goldens that have seizures.
Correct herbal formula brings balance
By choosing the correct herbal formula to help each dog come into balance and have optimum health, we support the dog’s immune system. When each pet has the formula that addresses its health challenges, the pet is less likely to become one of those developing cancer.
Herbs to treat cancer
What do we do if cancer has already developed? The two formulas discussed here can be used before cancer occurs, but for some pets it will also be the formula best for them after cancer is diagnosed. In addition, there are several formulas that are more specific for cancer and I’ll discuss them in an upcoming Caring for Pets blog.
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