Are we doing enough for our pets’ health and longevity, asks Rodney Habib, a voice for dogs around the world. After one of his dogs, Sammie, was diagnosed with cancer, Rodney went on a journey to discover why. What he learned along the way will leave you with an idea that may change the way you feed 9and exercise) your animals.
His popular website and blogs posts have allowed thousands of dog owners worldwide to join him in his search for answers and to share the discoveries he has made in natural dog care.
From Rodney’s blog:
Does the dog, man’s best friend, have the highest rate of cancer out of any other mammal on the planet? Are they the most affected by this terrible disease?
Today’s researchers believe so:
“Yes, rates of cancer in dogs are higher- spectacularly so.”
“I think dogs have much to tell us about this awful disease if we back away from addressing it as a breed problem resulting from genetic bad luck, and instead see it as evidence that there might be some unknown but fundamental process that is driving the risk of cancer in dogs. We just need to figure out what it is.” – Carol Beuchat, PhD, Scientific Director, Institute of Canine Biology.
Today, research points out that while 5% of all cancer cases are genetic, 95% are the results of lifestyle and environmental influences.
The next time someone tells you that pets and humans are living longer today, what they actually mean is they are living longer sicker, and that shouldn’t be the aim.
“Cancer is a leading cause of death globally: an estimated 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years if action is not taken.” – World Health Organization (WHO)
Habib has spent a good deal of time studying the cause of longevity in the dogs he investigated. What he discovered was that dogs who get significant exercise (not just a walk in the park or a run in the yard but several hours/miles of exercise as part of their daily routine) tend to not only live longer but healthier. He also discovered that dogs who were given green leafy vegetables and other unprocessed fresh foods (see his diagram below) as part of their daily diet also significantly improved their healthy longevity and decreased their likelihood of cancer.
Fridge Foods Good For Dogs
Habib backs up his discoveries with science and research. One of the institutions he cites is the Epigenix Foundation, the world’s leading foundation funding studies in the research between cancer, diet, lifestyle, and longevity.
He also cites the work being done at the Ketopet Sanctuary, a sanctuary located in Georgetown, Texas, located 27 miles north of downtown Austin. Their work focuses exclusively on dogs with cancer, where dogs get cutting-edge metabolic diets designed to slow or halt tumor growth, time in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, also shown to successfully reduce tumor size, and several other state-of-the-art technological and medical advances.
The conclusion? Dogs who get a substantial amount of exercise and a modified diet to include vegetables and other “human” nutrients can live significantly longer and healthier lives, and considerably reduce the likelihood of their developing cancer.
Rodney Habib is an award winning pet nutrition blogger, podcast/radio show host, magazine writer, and, most importantly, a pet parent and advocate.
