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Canine cancer is a tough subject, even though it seems like we are seeing trends in healthier living for both humans and pets, cancer is still an epidemic in both worlds. Nearly half of all dogs reaching 10 years in age will lose their life to cancer, additionally, 1 in 4 dogs will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. You might have seen that my dog Izzy was recently diagnosed with skin cancer, cutaneous melanoma. Statistically speaking living with five dogs, I knew in the back of my mind that this was something bound to happen, unfortunately. I just didn’t think it would be Izzy to be honest.

I’ve done a lot of research on this subject as of late because of Izzy and the most frustrating thing about cancer in dogs is that we still just don’t have a lot of information. There is tons of research that needs to be done in order for us to have the answers as to why this is an epidemic.

In all my research, what I have noticed is that the environment plays a massive role in cancer. I’m not referring to your home environment in this instance (though that does matter). I mean what is outside, the air we breathe and grass we walk on daily. Healthy dogs, cats, and humans are being diagnosed with cancer and scientists and researchers can’t find out why. The main commonality that scientists and doctors note is that the environment likely plays a role, we just don’t 110% know how.

The thing is that like the rise of this cancer epidemic, the environment is also in a crisis mode and experiencing its own epidemic. My thoughts are that these two are definitely related. So while in these next few posts I want to give you tangible things to help with canine cancer like diet and herbs, I also want you to keep this intro in mind about the environment.

While tackling environmental issues as they relate to cancer specifically can seem like climbing mount everest, there are things we can do. These three things can make a huge difference. We just need to talk about them and be proactive. While there are many more obvious ones like recycle (we should all do that), these three I feel are so important from a toxicity standpoint.

1. Stop spraying lawns!! Stop spraying plants, gardens, flowers, grass with pesticides, herbicides, roundup, etc. These chemicals are known to cause lymphoma and other cancers. The chemicals leach into the soil, poison groundwater, and make their way into the soil, bugs, and grass that chickens, cows, and other animals will consume - then our pets and we eat the animals that have literally eaten those cancer causing pesticides. I am asking my neighborhood to stop spraying! It truly makes a huge difference if even one person stops using these harmful products. Talk about it with neighbors, they should be concerned for their own health or their kids and pets as well.  
2. This is why supporting local farmers is so important. This is tough for people in urban areas but more and more farmers are putting their items online for sale. If you can’t afford those prices as it gets expensive, choose organic, pasture raised or grass fed at the grocery store. 
3. Don’t let your dog around tons of cars day in and day out - the exhaust is on their level and they inhale that straight away.