Halo Officially Recommended for Dogs with Cancer
I think pet lovers know that I have spent a crazy amount of time for more than a decade, studying and following information and news about pet nutrition. I feel pretty confident that I have an unbiased, objective, thoughtful perspective on the various arguments and debates about pet food, which can inspire controversy and heated debates. I can appreciate many different points of view on various aspects of how and what we feed our dogs and cats.
One line of thought that I cannot tolerate is the solemn declaration that “commercial pet food causes cancer.”
There is not a shred of evidence to back up such a sweeping statement, and it makes no logical sense, yet the idea of this blame has caught on as with some pet lovers. Once proclaimed, other people perceive the “pet food causes cancer” statement as “a fact.” When they pass this declaration along to other pet owners, the alarmist claim that “pet food causes cancer” becomes a twisted scary story that can create fear and confusion. The sad fact is that the virtual epidemic of cancer in our pets has made people frightened their dog will get the disease — and has left them emotionally and financially devastated when their dog does succumb to it (as almost half the dogs in America will). That paranoia and sadness must make them feel compelled to point the finger somewhere — anywhere. It is human nature to try to find an answer to something inexplicable, to look for something to blame for the terrible losses we are all suffering from cancer of many different kinds that claim the lives of our dogs.
I can assure you with confidence that packaged pet food is not the culprit.
I have the privilege of sharing the microphone on my Radio Pet Lady Network radio show THE PET CANCER VET with my wonderful co-host Dr. Sue Ettinger, a veterinary oncologist who is a rising star in the world of diagnosing and treating cancer in dogs and cats. She has spear-headed a national campaign for VCA Hospitals called “See Something, Do Something” about early cancer detection — a topic we are going to feature in a short film starring Dr. Sue that I am producing for VCA Hospitals to be shown as a PSA at the Dog Film Festival.
On our radio show and in many venues where she speaks and is interviewed, Dr. Sue has answered the question about a possible link between commercial pet food and cancer by saying unequivocally that it does not cause cancer, which is a multifaceted disease with multiple contributing factors. It was validating for me that Dr. Sue’s professional opinion confirmed my own evaluation of information available on the topic. There is no benefit to repeating a knee-jerk declaration that pet food causes cancer because that false information can do harm: it can make a dog owner fearful, confused, and/or guilty, depending on whether their dog is fighting cancer, or they dread it might happen to him.
Recently I learned something new and wonderful about Halo when we were recording an episode of THE PET CANCER VET. Our caller, whose dog was in chemotherapy, was asking Dr. Sue what supplements he could give her dog that might improve the outcome.
“I know you recommend Halo for cancer patients,” our caller said.
–Tracie Hotchner
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photo credit: 0528081559a via photopin (license)
Halo is a sponsor on Radio Pet Lady Network, by our invitation.