Okay, this time we are going outside the box (one of my favorite areas!)  There is oodles of evidence linking depression and stress to human cancers. This is a mind-body connection that is backed up with real science, folks.  However, to my knowledge, this has not been looked at in dogs in any detail.

So, what is the evidence?  First, depression and chronic stress lowers survival time of cancer patients.  No stress or depression means longer lives, even with cancer. Next, stress and chronic depression release hormones and signals (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol) in the body that DIRECTLY STIMULATE cancer cells. Finally, these hormones suppress immune system cells that are supposed to be directly involved in cancer cell destruction (NK cells and cytotoxic T cells).

A dog’s body has the same hormones, and the same processes. As a matter of fact, dogs are becoming the preferred model for studying human cancers.  

Now, let’s apply the same logic to dogs.  A reaction could be, “what does my dog have to be stressed or depressed about?”  Another might be, “she/he doesn’t look stressed or depressed.  My canine companion is fine!”

Hmmmm.

What if, just what if, this was an area that could be focused on in attacking dog cancer? If we are interested in doing everything possible to fight tumors, why not? This could be one way to boost the immune response without the use of drugs or financial investment.

I’ll let you work on that one and we’ll check it out next time.

Best to all,

Dr Dressler

 

About the Author

Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM is known as the "dog cancer vet" and is author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Beyond Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation. Visit his blog and sign up free to get the latest information about canine cancer. Go to http://DogCancerBlog.com.

 

Dog Cancer