Neoplasene as a Dog Cancer Treatment
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: May 24th, 2020
I received a question recently asking if I had heard of Neoplasene, so I thought I should post about it.
Neoplasene is derived from bloodroot, an old herb used by native Americans. The stuff works but can be a bit much for an average dog lover to deal with. Read on.
It is delivered to the dog cancer patient in a salve that is rubbed on the tumor, or pills, or can be injected in the vein or around the tumor.
It is different from so-called “black salve”, as Neoplasene is a specific extract of bloodroot, not the whole herb. Only certain components of the plant are used.
There are a variety of successes documented, especially with tumors of the skin like fiborsarcomas, mast cell tumors, mammary tumors, and others.
Neoplasene is for use under veterinary supervision only. This is a good call by the makers of the product (Buck Mountain Botanicals). The reason for this is, when the ointment is applied to the tumor on the skin, the tumor cells start to die.
When the tumor cells die, the tissue tends to slough off. A hole is left which needs medical attention. This hole can be pretty big, especially if the tumor was on the larger side. Sometimes the defect produced after large sloughs can go down to the bone. Kind of heavy-duty for some dog lovers.
For more helpful tools and information, get a copy of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide
Other factors need to be considered before using Neoplasene. One is that your dog must not lick the ointment. An Elizabethan collar may be needed, sometimes for a long time. Another issue is the wound may need twice daily care. Finally, there can be pain or discomfort after application or use of Neoplasene, which may require the use of prescription strength pain control medication, in some cases.
Like many tools in medicine, we need to consider all the pros and cons of this treatment. For some dogs with cancer and those who love them, it may be a great match, but not necessarily for all.
I hope this information is helpful. For more outside the box ways to deal with canine cancer, check out the dog cancer e-book, The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, Beyond Chemotherapy, Radiation, and Surgery.
Best to all,
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.
Hello Dr. Dressler.
I have a 7 year old golden retriever that was dianosed with fibrosing
steatitus myositis inside of his abdomen area. The tumor has pockets
of cancer inside, and the tumor itself is very firm and good sized.
I was told by a doctor that the tumor very well may effect my dogs
uninary track area soon as it continues to grow, and he said that
the tumor will start to protude and press hard against his belly skin
area. Surgery would be radical because of the size of the tumor and
It’s location. It would call for lazering out the tumor and also
some good tissue, leaving a big cavity inside of my dogs abdomen.
I was told by the doctor that the cancer was a low grade cancer.
A screen would need to be implanted to keep my dogs insides from
falling out. I was told that their was a chance of life threatning
infection after the surgery, and a chance that the removal could
still cause problems with his uninary areas. The recovery would
be very painful, lenghthy, and if not careful, the screen could
come loose causing futher problems. I’m torn on what to do. I want
to save his life, but the surgery may kill him. I’ve been trying
proteolytic enzymes now for about a month to try to kill the
cancer cells. I’m just not sure if I’m giving him the right dose,
or if this will really help. I keep putting off the surgery. I even
read about neoplasene, and other natural things. I also pray quite
often. I know that you would need to see my dog to get a good idea
of the size, location, and feel of thet tumor, but from your past
experience, what would you suggest as far as the surgery option, as
a posed to the neoplasene or other remedy to fight the cancer. Time
is not on my side, and I do not want to lose my friend. Thank you.
Phillip
Dear Phillip,
the diagnosis tells me that the tumor cells were not submitted with the specimen to the path lab since they did not give you a cancer diagnosis. Fibrosing steatitis myositis means scar tissue around inflamed fat and muscle. You need re-biopsy. Once the kind of cancer is established, things may clarify a little bit.
Whatever you do, make sure that you are dealing with a board certified surgeon for this. Remember also that 7 is about 3-6 years less than average life expectancy for a Golden.
D
how do we get information for breed and weight on how to administer etc. for neoplasene
is this treatment of Neoplasene a good treatment for nasal carcinoma?
Hi Denice,
I’m also using the oral neo for my 10 1/2 y/o girl diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma. She had surgery in June to remove the mass but the biopsy was pretty bad. Started her on .3 cc’s on July 2 – she’s up .5 cc’s as recommended by my Vet in Pa. Can you tell me how much your dog weighs and how much you gave her throughout the course of treatment. Also, has your Vet given you any idea how long the therapy will continue? Mine said if it works the neo will probably be continued for the rest of her life. I hope your girl is still doing well – your post put a smile on my face and boosted my hopes. Thank you so much!
Rxgirl,
How is your dog doing? Our Cairn was just diagnosed with lymphoma also and we are researching neoplasene and hope to start him on it soon. I am looking for others who have had success with this treatment for lymphoma. These are difficult days but we feel so fortunate to have had Parker for 9 years already and had his unconditional love. Lynne
I spent days tracking down a Vet in Houston that would administer the Neoplasene treatment. I finally got the name of a Dr. Stiles @ Tanglewilde Clinic that has used it. She uses both traditional & alternative treatments in her practice. I am waiting to hear back from her … hopefully, today … to see how we can incorporate it into my Little One’s battle.
Hi, rxgirl! If you are working with a Vet that is open to using Neoplasene, ask them to contact Dr. Fox and he will work with them to use the correct protocol. He suggested I print off the Clinical Studies and take it to my Vet. With it being lymphoma, it will probably be the oral doses. Check the Clinical Studies to see if there any other Vets have used in that manner. The other things you are using are pretty much inline with the other added treatments I’ve heard of to help slow the cancer growth. Good luck! I hope you find a way to keep your Doggie with you are a good while longer. Also >>> do read the blog that Denice (the first post here) has on her dog’s success with Neoplasene.
my 7 year old large breed mix was diagnosed last month with lymphoma and I am told he is stage IV because of all lymph node and spleen involvement. it is also possible he may have involvement in his lungs or some other unrelated lung thing going on because spots were seen on his lungs in the x-rays they did. my question is this: how can Neoplasene help him? I cant rub it on his spleen! (joke) how does it work when given orally? does it have a better success rate than the chinese medicine approach? I have him on omega 3 fish oils, l-glutamine, mushrooms, digestive enzymes, probiotics, garlic and homecooked food. How is the Neoplasene any better?
thank you for your time
Sandra … I also live in Houston and have been searching for a Vet that is familiar with Neoplasene. Could you please post that Vet’s name here so I can contact them.
I spoke with Dr. Fox this morning @ Buck Mountain Botanicals, the supplier of Neoplasene and he felt the injectable neoplasene in saline would work for my dog that has urethral cancer. My Vet is unfamiliar with this treatment so I’m looking for one here in Houston that is so I can discuss it with them.
The different posts I’ve read of dogs using the Neosplasene seems to be with good results. Hope yours continues to be healthy.
Thanks!
My dog had two tumors removed (one from his leg and one from his neck) that were diagnosed as hemangiopericytomas. I was advised that we did not have clean margins on either tumor removal and to expect that the tumors will be back within three to nine months unless we opt for radiation treatments. I found a vet in Houston that was familiar with Neoplasene and he receives oral doses twice per day without any side effects. It has now been 14 months and still no sign of the cancer and he is more active than ever.
Our dog was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma in July, 2008. She was given 8-10 week life expectancy. We did a lot of research and decide to use the neoplasene. For our dog, the cancer is in the blood, not external as you mention above. We give her oral dosage 2 times per day. It has been almost 9 months and she is still doing well. We could not find too much research on neoplasene with hemangiosarcoma, so we started a blog site on her progress: http://addieandhemangiosarcoma.blogspot.com/.
Thanks for the website, it has been very helpful.
Denice