Osteosarcoma and Dog Food Link
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: October 10th, 2018
Some new information for dogs at risk or afflicted with osteosarcoma is out that I would like to share.
Osteosarcoma occurs in both dogs and humans, but is much more common in dogs. It is the number one bone cancer in the canine.
A recent study found that eight widespread brands of dog food contained high levels of fluoride.
It was found that there was a link between fluoride in drinking water and bone cancer in boys. The areas with high fluoridation in the drinking water had higher levels of osteosarcoma. Here is the link.
In 2006, there was an interesting scandal surrounding the study involving suppression of this data and a dissenting researcher at Harvard.
Osteosarcoma does not have a single cause. There is no doubt there is a genetic basis due to the breed predilection (giant breeds), but genes are not the whole story.
This fluoride issue is discussed in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide in the osteosarcoma section on causes not addressed by conventional veterinary dogma.
The fluoride content found in these eight brands were found to be from 1.6 to 2.5 times higher, on a body weight basis, than the EPA’s legal maximum for fluoride intake in water for people.
There is a great article with some nice graphics to review by clicking here.
So what do we do with this information? Well, owners of dogs afflicted with osteosarcoma or at risk for it (large or giant breeds, especially neutered or spayed) may want to limit the fluoride intake of their canine friends.
It is suspected that the high fluoride content of the foods was found in the added bone meal. Take home message?
Check your dog food ingredients. Avoid bone meal in these dogs and consider unfluoridated water sources. Calcium carbonate is an alternate calcium source for home made diet recipes. Specific recipes are in The Dog Cancer Survial Guide.
All my best,
Dr. D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
[…] Once ingested, fluoride tends to accumulate in the dog’s bones where it stimulates cell division and the quick proliferation of osteoblasts, the cells that are responsible for forming new bone, explains veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds. This can be a risk factor for dog osteosarcoma. If your dog has cancer, it is therefore important to avoid to use fluoride- free bottled water and dog food containing bone meal which has a high content of fluoride, suggests veterinarian Dr. Damian Dressler. […]
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Is there a link between osteosarcoma, fluoride, and neutering? If a dog is neutered don’t they go through a longer growth period? Would going through a longer growth period and drinking/eating fluorinated water/food account for the higher incidences of osteosarcoma in neutered dogs? I am not neutering my PWD (until 1 yo) and, although I have cited my reasons, my vet office continues to call to try to get me to schedule the surgery. In some ways it makes feel guilty that I am not doing so. I have been told my sweet, loving, mild mannered pup will become aggressive if I do not neuter by 6 months of age. If fluoride is the culprit then I can neuter safely and make sure my PWD has limited amounts of fluoride? Very frustrated as to what to do. Seems many studies contradict one another or lack proper controls and depth.
Nice share. Still looking best dog food for my dogs…
i would like to know how you feel about Taste of the Wild dog food,they state they are grain free and healthy for dogs with cancer