The Truth about Pet Cancer – a Review

According to The Truth About Pet Cancer, a seven-part docu-series, 1 in 1.65 dogs will get cancer and 1 in 3 cats—a startling statistic and the rate is rising. This seemed too high to me, so I googled it and WebMD, in a 2012 article stated that half of all dogs that live past the age of ten will get cancer. This statistic certainly fits my experience with my last few dogs.

From April 4 to 10^th, The Truth about Pet Cancer aired as a seven part series. Now it is only available either by purchasing the series or by watching the first few episodes and trailers on You tube.

Ty Bollinger is on a mission to help educate pet parents about how we are causing our pets to develop  cancer—unknowingly. I will admit that I learned a lot from his series and from other books about dogs and cancer that I have reviewed on Canine Cancer Concerns.

I was a little skeptical about this series, but the use of over thirty experts, many of them veterinarians—including the popular Dr. Karen Becker, whose email newsletters and videos are highly regarded, makes the Truth about Pet Cancer a top-notch, must-see series.

The Truth About Pet Cancer concurred with much of the information that I have read but it also had some new information that I had not heard, such as music tones to calm an anxious dog and how to supplement a high quality kibble diet to make it much healthier for your dog.

Although some of the information is technical, it is presented in an easy to follow manner with many interviews.  However, I do recommend that you research any alternative methods and to talk to your veterinarian.

I rate this series a 5 out of 5. My review is my own opinion and I am not affiliated with any program promoting this series in any way.

A summary of the series is below:

This summary is based on my notes of the series and you may need to either watch the videos or research additional information. I have made several comments for additional research in brackets.

Episode 1: Understanding Pet Cancer & the Current “Medical Toolkit”

• Only 5 – 10% of cancers are genetically determined— environmental factors contribute substantially to most cancers.
• Veterinarians could be liable if they are not practicing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to treat cancer.
• Most cancers are linked to malfunctioning of the mitochondria, which provide the energy cells run on.
• Dog food companies help support training for seeing-eye dogs, veterinary schools, and many other programs. So many people use products without questioning if it is a good product.
• Iatrogenic diseases (caused by medicines or treatments) are the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

Episode 2: The Pet Food Industry, Healthy Diets, Ketosis & Nutrigenomics

• Ingredient names may be changed to make them sound more palatable (i.e. hydrolyzed poultry = feathers).
• Pet food can include food that is not safe for humans. Animals used for pet food can be 4D (downed, dead, decaying or diseased) before they are processed.
• Some preservatives can cause cancer and there are loopholes that manufacturers may use to avoid regulations requiring their listing on the label.
• Nutrigenomics is how nutrition can affect the expression of a gene. Many of our pets eat corn and beet in their foods, which are not foods that they would normally seek out in nature to eat.
• Ketogenic diet, which is a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb diet is much more healthy for our pets than the high carb, high protein diets that we feed them. A low carb diet also helps starve cancer cells since they thrive on glucose.
• Glyphosate, a common herbicide used on many grains, can end up in our foods and can contribute to breast cancer.
• Kibble is made of 50% carbohydrates. Grain-free does not mean low carbs. To make kibble they heat the food to very high temperatures creating Advanced Glycation End Products (AGES), which are linked to causing diseases.

Episode 3: Pet Vaccines—“Do’s & Don’ts”

• Vaccines, especially the rabies vaccine, can cause illness in some pets. Rabies vaccinations are required by law. [Rabies is 100% fatal and one study showed that vaccinated dogs have a significantly lower mortality rate].
  • According to the video, the manufacturers guarantee the vaccine for 5 years, so why do many vets still give annual vaccinations? Many vets now use a 3-year vaccine.
• Many vaccines are not adjusted for the weight of the dog, so a 10-pound dog gets the same dose as one that is 120 pounds.
• All vaccine labels state that they should only be given to healthy animals. Sick dogs can be legally exempted on a case-by-case basis.
• Titers should be done before vaccinating our pets.
• Vaccines are often made up to 10X their potency to increase their shelf life.
• Effects that are more adverse tend to occur with combined vaccines and small dogs.
• Vaccinations do not necessarily equate to immunity.
• The video recommended to give only rabies, distemper and parvo vaccines, not any of the others for Lepto, Lyme or flu shots. But often day care, groomers, and boarding facilities require these extra vaccines.

Episode 4: Pet Cancer Causes, Silent Killers & Recurrent Epigenetic Triggers

• Many of our common household products can cause toxicity in our pets since they are closer to the ground, walk around barefoot, and are in our homes all the time. Some of these include air fresheners, detergents, flame-retardants, and household cleaners.
• Glyphosate is a class 2 carcinogen and may be linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dogs should be fed a non-GMO diet to limit their exposure to glyphosate.
• Spaying and neutering should be performed when the pets are physically mature to reduce cancer risk. Breast cancer risk may go up slightly, but all other cancers decrease.
• Heartworm pills can have side effects and the video recommends using diatomaceous earth. [I live in an area where heartworm is very common. Here is a very good article from PetMD about why heartworm preventatives should be used and why other methods are not effective. Many issues with heartworm preventatives are due to overdoses.]
• Cedar oil is recommended as a natural alternative for flea and tick preventatives. [Many holistic articles recommend cedar oil, however, this PetMD article states that cedar oil can be very irritating to a dog’s skin. It is also not good for them to ingest it from licking their fur.]

Episode 5: Cancer Roots and Remedies, Hidden Hazards, Healing Tones & Detox

• Cats should not eat dry kibble since they are inefficient at drinking water. [I have never owned a cat, so I was surprised to hear this, but others also state this.]
• Dogs can tolerate a lot more fruits and vegetables. Recommended foods include raw kale, arugula, broccoli, blue berries, raspberries, and brussel sprouts. Veggies should be raw or lightly cooked. [Several articles support feeding dogs more fruit and vegetables such as this one by Dogs Naturally Magazine.]
• Adding 20% fresh food including the foods above or with a raw egg and meat will substantially improve a high quality kibble diet. Too much protein and not enough veggies will cause obesity and possibly cancer. [Raw eggs can potentially be contaminated with Salmonella and frequent feeding of raw eggs can lead to a biotin deficiency according to the AKC feeding guidelines.
• Pets can suffer from stress and some remedies include the use of essential oils and music harmonies (Whole Tones). [Classical music has been shown to decrease stress, but some variety is needed as shown in this BBC article.] Electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi and smart meters can cause stress. [Dogs Naturally article states that more research is needed about EMF, but there may be a link to cancer.]
• Pet food should include organic non-GMO, but not people food. Drinking water should be distilled or purified and filtered. Do not use fluorinated water. {There is the potential that fluoride is linked to osteosarcoma in dogs.]
• Toys should be organic.
• Do not expose our pets to yard chemicals [Pet MD agrees with this.] and chemical shampoos [Dogs Naturally Magazine says to watch out for certain chemicals in shampoos.].
• Several supplements that can de-toxify the liver include milk thistle [Dogs Naturally] and thymus extract [limited information was available for dogs].
• Try to do three things that are natural for our pets and stop doing three things that we shouldn’t be doing.

Episode 6: Treatments & Preventions: Part 1—Healing Herbs, Homeopathy & Other Protocols

• Cannabis has many benefits for pets, but since it is not FDA approved for pets, veterinarians can lose their license if they prescribe it. Cannabis can help with appetite, supports the gastrointestinal system, and reduces pain. The opposition to using it is mostly political, not scientific.
• Essential oils are an essential part of holistic programs. D-Limonene, which comes from lemon and orange peels, was recommended, along with frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, turmeric, lavender, and others. However, they need to be applied properly (often diluted to 2%) and some are not good to use with cats.
• Many pets have iodine deficiency and a few drops of iodine added to our dog’s food will help with many health issues. [Global Healing Center recommends having your vet test your dog to see if he is iodine deficient. Overdosing can be toxic.]
• Aphanizomenon flos-aquae—a blue-green algae is high in omega 3 fatty acids. Other herbs discussed included Arnica Montana and Thuja. [Blue-green algae, especially in lakes can contain toxins and can potentially be fatal by dogs when ingested – care should be taken when using blue-green algae as a supplement.]

Episode 7: Treatments & Preventions: Part 2—Eastern Medicine, Supplementation, Surviving & Thriving

• Many natural methods for treating illness were briefly discussed in this episode. These included acupuncture, Chinese herbs, vitamin C, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, as well as the benefits of turmeric. Combination supplements were preferred. [Your veterinarian should be informed and consulted when supplements or alternative treatments are used.
• Cryosurgery is freezing the tumor, which is less invasive and reduces bleeding.
• Other natural remedies included Hoxsey formula and boneset, thymus and glandular extracts, and licorice and Echinacea.

I recommend watching the first video in this series on You Tube and if you like what you hear, purchase either the electronic or DVD version of the series. I also recommend that you do your homework by researching before using your dog as an experiment, and above all—talk to your vet.