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Hey, Reader!

It's been four weeks since Wally lost his front left leg to osteosarcoma. Four weeks of learning to trust a dog who clearly didn't get the memo that this was supposed to slow him down.

Here's where we are: his appetite never wavered (not even for a day), the incision healed beautifully, and his fur is already growing back over the scar. I think it may be fully grown back by the end of the year.

The ultrasound showed no visible metastases in his abdomen. I'm cautiously optimistic, and I'll take it.

And because I can't just sit still, I did what I always do. I went back to the books.

What I've been learning

I brought Wally's case to my instructor at THP School, where I'm training as a raw dog food nutrition consultant including therapeutic meals this year, and her answers changed how I'm thinking about his food. A few things surprised me.

There are no solid studies on diet and osteosarcoma in dogs. Everything we have comes from what we know about these tumors and from human research. That was humbling to hear, and honestly a little freeing.

Strict keto isn't the magic fix I assumed it might be for all types of cancer. Osteosarcomas don't just run on sugar, they also use fat and certain amino acids for fuel. But skipping carb sources like grains and starchy plant matter like sweet potatoes and bananas may still help in a quieter way, by keeping insulin and growth-factor signals low.

The veggie portion matters because it's packing in antioxidants. Berries beat mango. Broccoli beats lettuce and cucumber, which turn out to be mostly water and fiber, so I'm reworking my plant matter mix for Wally.

Supplements need a second look when meds are involved. One of the joint supplements I was using contains willow bark, which acts a lot like aspirin. Combined with the anti-inflammatory Wally is still tapering off, that's a risk I hadn't fully considered, which is why it's on pause for now.

And a few quieter adjustments: more omega-3s, a closer look at vitamin E, a structured vitamin D protocol, and obviously a smaller portion overall, since a tripod does best staying lean.

Full circle, eight years later

Here's the part that gave me goosebumps. Back in 2018, when Missy's cancer came back, I was pureeing broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and shiitake mushrooms for her in my food processor. I was also going back and forth on brown rice, until her holistic vet Dr. Loops talked me out of it because of the starch.

Eight years and closer to one therapeutic nutrition certification later, my instructors are recommending almost the same direction for Wally: skip the starchy stuff, add broccoli, and look into medicinal mushrooms. (That last one is next on my research list, and I'll share what I find besides the shiitake mushrooms.)

If you're walking this road with your own dog, Missy's story might be a good place to start.

More from Missy's journey:

• ​The cancer supplements her holistic vet suggested​
• ​My no-bake treat recipe for dogs with cancer​

I'll share the full picture, including what's actually in Wally's bowl now, in an upcoming post about his diagnosis and amputation. It's been a lot to put into words, but I think it's time.

Your turn

Have you fed a dog through cancer? I'd genuinely love to hear what helped, what didn't, and what you wish someone had told you sooner. Just hit reply. I read every one.

Happy raw feeding,
Barbara

This is my personal experience, not veterinary advice. Please work with your vet and a qualified nutrition consultant before changing your dog's diet or adding supplements.

My raw feeding recommendations:

• Choose between 13 different raw dog food blends from Raw Paws Pet Food here. Use K9Savings for 15% off!
• Raw Feeding Miami has an amazing raw dog food ingredient selection. Use this link for 10% OFF your first RFM purchase.
• ​Try this trial box from Darwin’s for 75% less (up to $100) - you’ll get to test it without wasting money. Fun fact: I started my raw feeding journey with raw dog food from Darwin's!
• ​My favorite resources for a healthy dog lifestyle - everything from freezers to knives, food storage containers, cutting boards, supplements, meat grinders as well as dog training tools and travel gadgets.
• Use my free raw dog food calculator to figure out how much of what your pup(py) needs to eat.
• Double check your meat's fat content with my free muscle meat fat calculator.

Got Questions, Comments, Or Ideas for Future Topics?

Feel free to email me anytime at barbara@k9sovercoffee.com.

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