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Featuring Demian Dressler, DVM and Sue Ettinger, DVM, Dip. ACVIM (Oncology), authors of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

Can I give supplements with Chemotherapy?

Updated: December 12th, 2018

In the world of dog cancer, we find ourselves in a war where we can be under-gunned.

I must confess that when I look at this statement, I find myself wondering whether it is healthy. To think about dealing with malignancies as a war?  Perhaps this analogy is too violent, too antagonistic, too contrary.

The facts as they stand are that in spite of surgery, chemo and radiation, this disease can kill.  And when something kills, this sure seems like a survival-stakes deal.

So the question comes up often, “Can I use this or that supplement with chemo in my dog?”

When we are mixing and matching therapies (supplements along with chemo and other treatments), we often have little to lose and a lot to gain.

I have found there is so much fear abounding about lessening the effects of chemotherapy by using certain supplements.  Yet, does the chemo insure a survival? No, chemo does not insure survival, with a few rare exceptions.

Instead we are just going for palliation, defined as a decrease in the signs and symptoms of a disease.

A remission is a sort of high level palliation.

The odd thing is that I find this fear in myself as well, and am learning that perhaps it is not wise.  I have seen some real benefits from the supplements written about in these posts and in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.

No, I am not claiming these are the cures of cancer.  But objective tumor shrinkage in some cases, extended life spans beyond what you would expect, and improved life quality.  Good stuff.

There is some evidence that certain compounds that have antioxidant potential interfere with chemotherapy, and there is some evidence to the contrary.  The fact is that the jury is still out, and there are no generalizations that can be made because the data is sparse.

If you have a dog with a long median life expectancy (the cancer is very slow, or can be cured with surgery), you can afford to not mix and match. Get the chemo or radiation treatments done, wait 2-3 weeks, then get on the supplement program. This is because it is still wise to be prudent and err on the side of caution…

When you have the luxury of time on your side. And only then!

If you have been told that your loved dog, your best friend or family member, has months to live, I say it’s time to come out with guns blazing.

Worried about less chemo efficacy?  But a licensed medical professional (and yes, I am aware I am in this group) has told you in spite of doxorubicin, peroxicam, mitoxantrone, prednsolone, vinblastine or whatever, your dog has months to live…

what does your dog have to lose?

We must all recall that medicine, in spite of current dogma (bad pun), truly is still an art.  There is more to it than formulas and algorithms. Dogs are not decision trees.

Yes,  many flavonoids  (EGCG, luteolin, curcumin) have some anti inflammatory effects like piroxicam.  Maybe we should avoid overlapping side effects from piroxicam plus EGCG to protect the kidneys, liver, and lining of the stomach and intestine?

If I have a dog with a raging bleeding transitional cell carcinoma killing someone’s best friend, you can bet I would suggest both EGCG right along with piroxicam, both at full strength dose. After consideration, it is worth the risk.

As long as we are think about what we are doing, and consider the risks from a overarching viewpoint, in some cases it should be no holds barred.

This is the art of medicine.

As long as we do not harm in the big picture, why not give our dogs every chance they can get?

Best to all,

D

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  1. Alina on September 17, 2010 at 7:55 am

    Wow. This post was written for my dog. I got your book immediately after my almost 11 year old pup was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma, blocking her urethra. No signs of metastasis and after less than a week of piroxicam they were able to remove her catheter and she can urinate on her own. She had her first chemotherapy session with mitoxantrone yesterday. I want to do everything I can for her in terms of supplements and diet but your precautions have made me concerned to do so while shes on piroxicam. I don’t want to take her off of it either since it worked enough that she is no longer blocked. She also has perianal fistulas which have been kept under control with cyclosporin so that rules her out of a lot of supplements too since its an autoimmune disease.
    My oncologist kind of brushed off the idea of changing her diet and adding supplements so I really don’t know who to ask. I want to do everything I can for her. What are the “safest” supplements that I can add to her regimen?

    Thanks for writing such a great book.

    Alina

    • DemianDressler on September 29, 2010 at 9:00 pm

      Dear Alina,
      If this were my patient I would consider half dose Apocaps, of course under veterinary supervision. I would also add misoprostol to in case there is any digestive upset if I were managing a dog like this. But please make sure you have an integrative oncologist or (second choice) integrative vet involved.
      Best,
      Dr D

  2. Charles Easterday on February 11, 2010 at 5:33 am

    I want to use indole-3-carbinol, but the dosage in the book was not consistent. There was an earlier question, which I am copying:

    i really getting a lot out of your book.
    in reading about indole 3-carbinol.. in one place you say 15-25 mg/ 10 lbs.. then later you repeat this dosage, but then “for example” a 50 lb dog would get 750-1250 mg daily.
    help? is it 75 or 750?

    I have a 80 pound dog, so 25 mg per 10 lbs would be 200 mg, which one pill is 200 mg. Is one pill a day what she should be geting. Your example, my dog would need 2,000 mg or 10 pills. I started today and gave her one pill. Please let me know.

    • Dr. Dressler on February 15, 2010 at 8:30 pm

      Dear Charles,
      Thank you very much for raising this important point.
      The answer is that the dose (extrapolated from humans) is correct but the example is incorrect.
      Thus the calculation is 200 mg.
      As always, have your vet involved with your dog’s treatments.
      I will be sure to rectify this in the hard copy second edition of the e-book.
      Thanks again!
      Dr D

  3. christy on February 4, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    Hello Dr. D,
    My 7 yof Schnauzer/mix Kadee-did just finished her 25 wk chemo protocol for Lymphoma. She went into remission after her first dose. Yesterday was her last treatment. I was wondering if there are any supplements that could help ward off this horrible cancer. I have read about it & realize that in some animals it does come back. I just pray that it doesn’t come back in Kadee! She did GREAT with Chemo-never had the 1st side effect. I do have pet insurance & I encourage anyone that doesn’t have it to get it! http://www.petinsurance.com I am just wanting to do what is best for her right after these treatments to help her health!!!! Thank you so much for your time!
    God Bless,
    Christy Parton

    • Dr. Dressler on February 7, 2010 at 8:42 pm

      Dear Christy.
      dog cancer supplementation is a huge area. I applaud your efforts to do everything you can to be your dog’s number one health advocate! I spent years assessing the various supplements out there in a critical analysis, looking for efficacy in real life bodies (not just test tubes or petri dishes), bioavailability (getting the substance to the cancer cells in sufficient quanities to do something), and oral activity (you want something that works when taken by mouth, not by an injection since this is not an option for most).
      The top choices are luteolin, artemisinin, curcumin, EGCG, and Neoplasene. I have blogged on these in this blog (search for each + dog cancer blog) and also provide a comprehensive plan with dosages, side effects and so on in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide. Don’t forget about diet, life quality enrichment, adequate darkness in sleep, social and other stress reduction, and so on too.
      Best of luck
      Dr D

  4. Mark on January 31, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    Dr. D,

    Thank you very much for the information.

    Best Regards,
    Mark

  5. Mark on January 30, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Hi Dr. Dressler,
    I have a 12 yr old Blue Tick Coonhound “Bleu” that has been diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma (Bladder). He is otherwise very healthy and playful, and this is the first health issue in his 12 yrs.

    We started him on Chemotherapy “Mitoxantrone” combined with Deramaxx. I also started him on K9 Immunity and Transfer Factor, and also wanted to start him on Omega 3,6,9 Fish Oil. Do you see any issues with giving him the Omega supplement along with the Chemo. Will it have any adverse reactions, or negative benefits?

    Also, if you know of any other supplements, or treatments for this type of cancer, please let me know.

    Thanks so much for the service you provide.
    Have a great day!
    ~Mark

    • Dr. Dressler on January 31, 2010 at 9:31 am

      Dear Mark,
      this is a tough cancer, as they tend to be fairly resistant to chemotherapy, and I think the interference issue here is not a big one due to that (in my opinion):

      “Mitoxantrone, carboplatin, and doxorubicin seem to be effective drugs. When added to piroxicam, you probably gain time measured in months, but it’s very difficult to be precise, perhaps 3-6. I’d start with two cycles of one drug and re-assess….

      Bob Rosenthal, DVM, PhD
      DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology)
      DACVR (Radiation Oncology)”

      I would consider perhaps some of the big guns in the e-book (artemisinin, luteolin, and EGCG to start with). I wrote on all of these on this blog and you can search using the google toolbar and “dog cancer blog”. For example, “artemisinin dog cancer blog”. I would also have you check into oral and injectable neoplasene with your vet (also in the blog) for after the chemo.
      The fish oil, although nice, would not be the very first thing I would use, but can be added as an addition to all of the above.
      Diet, life quality enhancement, self esteem building, increasing social outlets are all part of a full spectrum plan.
      Best,
      Dr D

  6. Lisa on November 5, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    I have an 11 year old Austrailian Shepherd/Cattle Dog mix. 3 weeks ago we found a very large mediastinal mass that seems to be on his thymic gland. The doctor thinks it could be Lymphoma. Surgery is not an option as it seems to have possibly attached itself to the heart or lungs (it is very large). My husband and I do not want to do chemotherapy as he hates to go to the vet and has Inflammatory Bowel Disease which flares up everytime he goes there. He would be absolutely miserable. We have him on Prednisone right now, but I was wondering if any of your non tradional methods are good for this situation or do they only work in conjunction with chemotherapy? If so, what do you recommend?

  7. laura on August 9, 2009 at 10:41 am

    i really getting a lot out of your book.
    in reading about indole 3-carbinol.. in one place you say 15-25 mg/ 10 lbs.. then later you repeat this dosage, but then “for example” a 50 lb dog would get 750-1250 mg daily.
    help? is it 75 or 750?

  8. Mandy Cole on August 9, 2009 at 5:16 am

    We just recently started our 14 yr old walker hound on Palladia. I went to a traditional vet and a Chinese Traditional Vet, so we are using supplements in conjunction with prednisone and palladia mix. Her Grade III tumor was removed in March then reappeared last month, along with a couple of other spots. She is on tumeric, reservatory, medicinal mushrooms, multivitamin, chia, omega 3’s, probiotics, spirulina, milk thistle, plus pepcid ac, benadryl and sucralfate. Its a lot. We did change her diet as well and went with the raw food, but then I read conflicting things on it so went back to the high protein, EVO. Her stomach wasn’t taking the mix up of foods very well. I am anxious to see if Palladia has any effect, I don’t like the side effects of Prednisone in high quantity, so I am glad its only every other day in a small dose. I know she’s an old girl and not much we can do, I just want her to be as comfortable as possible, thus far though with the stomach upsets and a general lack of her usual energy all this “help” seems to be making things worse 🙁

  9. nancy hawthorne on August 3, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Dr. Dressler,

    Is your book available in stores?

    When my 8 year old schnauzer had a CBC prior to dental, I learned that his WBC was 34,000. It was rechecked two weeks later and still very high.

    I have been told that he has T-cell cancer or leukemia in peripheral blood and lymph nodes. I was told that he should undergo a 9 week injectable chemo and if not responsive then oral chemo.

    He has no symptons – great appetite, plays with my other two dogs.
    Should I consider homeopathy or ES Clear or begin chemo?

    Thank you very much for your time and thoughts.
    Nancy

    • Dr. Dressler on August 5, 2009 at 2:30 pm

      Nancy,
      the Guide is available online for immediate download. A hard copy can be purchased with the e-book at http://www.dogcancersurvival.com.
      This is a complete reference for you.
      You need to be aware of all the steps you should take, including diet, supplements, apoptogens, as well as things like chemotherapy.
      When one receives a cancer diagnosis, information gathering is a critical first step.
      You should clarify if your dog has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or not. CLL is very slow to progress. If not, you should realize you are beginning a war with a formidable foe.
      Best
      D

  10. Pat L on June 22, 2009 at 5:55 am

    Our dog has mast cell cancer (Type 3) with two surgeries. The mast cell is around her face (both sides and under her chin). In the second surgery, they were unable to remove all of the smaller tumors. We opted to try Neoplasene because we were told there was a chance of a longer life expectancy (and less discomfort) than with conventional chemo. Because the cancer started to grow again, we injected the Neoplasene as directed and took the dog home. Neoplasene works with swelling (and apparently the histamine cancer reaction) and we were told no antiinflammatories should be used. We applied Neoplasene salve at home but later found out we had done it incorrectly (not thick enough) so we didn’t get the desired results (a wound where the dead tumor cells could slough off) while the tumors were small. Our doctor was unfamiliar with this treatment and was getting conflicting answers from the doctor who provided the protocol, and we believe too much time elapsed before we decided we had to re-inject and reapply the salve again. The second time, we had some drainage of dead cancer tissue as it was supposed to do but unfortunately the tumor seems to have hardened so the sloughing is not working. The good news is that the tumor doesn’t seem to be growing anymore but is swelling more and more, causing her to have some trouble breathing. We gave her Benadryl which seemed to make her more comfortable; but, because the Neoplasene works with the histamines and swelling, the sloughing off of the tissues pretty well stopped and we had to stop that. The Neoplasene is also causing stomach discomfort and she is starting to refuse to eat so we need another option. It has been about five months since we started the treatment.

    Our doctor feels we should give her a high dosage of Prednisone to get the swelling down and then put her back on the Prednisone oral. We tried Prednisone originally without much success but are getting to the point we don’t have many options.

    There is a treatment out there that is being tested for cancer (both in humans and animals) called Artemisinin. They have been getting some pretty good results. It works with free radicals within the system. It is apparently currently considered a microbial supplement because it does not have FDA approval but there are several clinical trials in both humans and animals currently ongoing with very promising results on cancer cells.

    We would like to use this supplement as well as whatever our vet recommends. How does Prednisone work? I know it is an anti-inflammatory steroid but would it suppress free radicals so that the Artemisinin couldn’t do its job or would the free radicals released by Artemisinin cause the Prednisone not to work?

    We also have a Kangen water system for alkaline water. We haven’t used it while she was on Neoplasene because you are not supposed to add antioxidants during the treatment, which the water system does.

    Do you have an opinion on the use of Alkaline water along with the treatment of cancer? Would it cause problems with the Prednisone or the Artemisinin (because of the need for free radicals)?

    You can see we have a lot of questions and very few answers, but we want to do what’s right for our dog and at least keep her comfortable, if not find a remission.

    Any advice you could give us would be wonderful. Thank you.

    • Dr. Dressler on June 28, 2009 at 8:56 am

      Good question. I will address this at this week’s webinar:
      http://dogcancervet.com
      Thank you very much!
      D

      • Dr. Dressler on June 28, 2009 at 9:16 am

        FYI the webinar is recorded so you can listen later if you can’t make the exact time,
        D

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