Once you have processed the shock of your dog’s cancer diagnosis, you must figure out what diet will support her body through this illness. Feeding a fresh, whole-food diet has many benefits for your ailing dog. However, you may have to process your dog’s diet differently, as feeding raw meat may not settle well with a dog undergoing cancer treatment.

Potential Issues with a Raw Diet for Dogs with Cancer

Generally, a raw diet is recommended to maximize the nutritional benefit of whole, fresh foods. 

Bacterial contamination is one of the biggest concerns among veterinarians who are against raw feeding. Although studies have shown minimal chance of bacterial cross-contamination from raw feeding your dog, the concern with dogs suffering from cancer is that they can be immunocompromised from the illness and the treatments. 

There is the potential for all meat to contain pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella. According to the CDC, annually, there are approximately 1.35 million illnesses and 420 deaths caused by Salmonella in the United States.

Healthy dogs have several defense mechanisms to maintain good bacteria while eliminating the bad. The dog’s saliva contains lysozyme, which helps destroy bacteria in the food. The dog's intestinal tract is relatively short, with a highly acidic environment, especially in raw-fed dogs where the acid pH is 1-2. The low pH level of the raw-fed dog prevents Salmonella's passage or growth.

Dogs with cancer have compromised immune systems, making it more difficult to fight off microbes. Slightly cooking your dog’s muscle meat and organs can prevent your dog from exerting effort fighting off any potential bacteria.  However, you must be aware of the possible carcinogenic effects that overcooking your dog’s food can have.

Gently cooked meals are often recommended over raw diets for dogs with cancer because cancer affects the immune system. Dogs with cancer often have weakened immune systems due to the disease or its treatments. Cooking the food can help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination that could seriously threaten dogs with compromised immune function.

Cancer and its treatments can affect your dog's digestive system, making it more sensitive. Cooked foods may be easier for your dog to digest than raw foods, reducing the potential for gastrointestinal upset. 

Loss of appetite is commonly experienced in dogs with cancer. Gently cooking your dog’s food can enhance the flavor and smell of the food, which will entice your dog to eat. Most dogs battling cancer need increased caloric intake to help combat the disease, so anything that encourages your dog to eat is recommended.

Minimizing Carcinogens with Proper Cooking

Cooking foods at high temperatures has been shown to induce the formation of free radicals and the release of carcinogenic compounds, in addition to lowering the nutritional value of the food. Dangerous by-products of high-heat cooking include:

Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs): HCAs form when amino acids and creatine (naturally present in meat) react at high temperatures. They are known to be mutagenic (causing mutations in DNA) and are associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer, mainly when meats are cooked at high temperatures.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): PAHs form when fat and juices from meat drip onto hot surfaces and produce smoke. They are found in the charred areas of grilled or smoked meat. PAHs are considered potential carcinogens and are associated with increased cancer risk.

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): AGEs form when proteins and sugars react during high-heat cooking. While they are naturally present in the body and some foods, excessive consumption of AGEs from highly processed or high-heat-cooked foods has been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases

Although it is impossible to eliminate all of the carcinogens surrounding your dog daily, you can ensure that you are not adding to the burden by improperly preparing his meals. When food is cooked at low heat, the production of carcinogens is minimized. It has been indicated that almost no carcinogens are produced when food is boiled (at 212 ℉). 

Since microbes are rarely found inside red meat, you just need to sear the outer edges of the meat, leaving the interior raw, to maintain the benefits of raw feeding while ensuring our dog is protected from pathogens. 

Although bacterial contamination is a very low risk for healthy dogs, those with cancer can be immunocompromised and become ill from raw food pathogens. 

Low-heat, gentle cooking will provide your dog with enticing food that does not contain dangerous by-products from high-heat cooking.

Fresh, whole-food diets are the best option for providing a nutritionally balanced diet for your dog as he battles cancer.

Analysis of acrylamide, a carcinogen formed in heated foodstuffs 

DNA adducts of heterocyclic amine food mutagens: implications for mutagenesis and carcinogenesis 

Heterocyclic amines: Mutagens/carcinogens produced during cooking of meat and fish 

A new approach to risk estimation of food-borne carcinogens--heterocyclic amines--based on molecular information 

Mutagenic activity and heterocyclic amine carcinogens in commercial pet foods 

Biomonitoring the Cooked Meat Carcinogen 2-Amino-1-methy-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in Canine Fur - PMC 

Can Dogs With Cancer Eat Red Meat?

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