TOXINS CAN OVERWHELM YOUR PETS

A reader had just lost her dog to cancer and asks Doug Knueven, DVM, who writes a magazine column, Why are we are seeing so much cancer in dogs and cats.

In his reply he says, “Veterinary oncologists in the USA estimate that almost 50 percent of aged cats will die of cancer. Cancer occurs when a mutation of the DNA happens during normal cellular reproduction. The body has billions of cells continuously reproducing cancer cells every day. A healthy immune system destroys the deranged cells before they can cause harm.

The most important thing we can do to prevent cancer in our pets is to limit their exposure to toxins. An individual can handle a certain level of chemicals in their system, but at some point the threshold is reached, past which the body is adversely affected. The fewer our pets have to deal with, the better.

A study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found high levels of industrial toxins in the systems of pets. Blood and urine samples from dogs were contaminated with 35 chemicals, and 11 of them were carcinogens. Cats were polluted with 46 chemicals, including 9 carcinogens. Some toxins were five times higher in pets than in humans. ‘Stain resistant’ treatments for furniture and carpets were one source of contamination. Find green alternatives to household cleaning supplies. www.ewg.org/reports/pets.

Do your pets a favour and use organic yard-care products. Flea and tick sprays, collars, shampoos and topical medications can all add to our pets’ toxic burdens. Vaccines can reduce infectious diseases but stress the immune system. A recent study showed that adding some shredded vegetables to a dog’s diet three times a week could reduce the risk of cancer by 70-90 percent. Diet is important. More at www.BeaverAnimalClinic.com