You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Cancer is very common in veterinary patients and maintaining energy and essential nutrient intake is an important objective throughout treatment 

Cancers produce complex changes in the  metabolism of affected patients, including the creation of a catabolic state, so it is important to maintain energy and essential nutrient intake throughout any course of treatment. Unfortunately, whilst chemotherapy is a very effective method of treatment for certain cancers the cytotoxic drugs in common use are not selective in their action on growing and dividing cells and they can cause side-effects that have a negative influence on the nutritional status of the animal including the following :

• Anorexia - inappetance may necessitate assisted feeding to maintain food intake:
  • Hand feeding
  • Forced feeding
  • Tube feeding - nasogastric, PEG tubes
• Reduced sense of smell and taste - results in a reduced appetite
• Inflammation of the mucosal surfaces of the mouth - mouth, tongue, throat - makes prehension, chewing and swallowing difficult and painful
• Diarrhoea - leads to loss of fluids, nutrients and electrolytes
• Vomiting - loss of fluids, nutrients and electrolytes
• Nephrotoxicity (eg such as caused by cisplatin) may lead to renal failure and secondary effects on nutritional status due to disturbances in protein, mineral and electrolyte excretion.

These side effects are predictable so owners should be warned about the need to provide adequate nutritional support, and if necessary tubes for feeding should be placed prior to treatment being started. Older patients should be screened for pre-existing liver function and renal function before treatment with drugs that may be toxic.

In many cases a special diet may also be indicated to ensure adequate nutritional intake...and the choice of food may vary depending upon the type and location of the cancer. For example, Hills n/d is the food of choice for dogs with lymphoma.

Updated January 2016