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.

One of the major announcements in the veterinary world over the past few years has been confirmation that certain forms of cancer will respond to dietary manipulation.

Pioneering work conducted at the Colorado State University Veterinary School confirmed that feeding a specially formulated ration to dogs with a common form of cancer (lymphoblastic lymphoma) increased survival time, extended the disease-free period and enhanced the quality of life for the affected dogs.

The diet contains controlled concentrations of some essential fatty acids (polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids) and the essential amino acid (arginine). These omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) have both been shown to have anti-cancer effects and inhibit tumour growth. Conversely, other essential n-6 fatty acids (including linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids (evening primrose oil)) have been shown to increase the metastatic spread of cancer.

The formula for the ration was patented and is now available to veterinarians as Hill's Prescription Diet n/d. This development offers real hope that the manipulation of other nutrients might help us in the management of other cancers in the future.

Updated October 2013