The immune system deteriorates over time, and as it deteriorates, it doesn’t necessarily catch everything it should. This is why cancer rates go up as we age. And because our cats and dogs are receiving better medical care than they once did, they are able to live longer and reach an age where cancer becomes more common.

In an effort to keep our pets happy and healthy for their lifetime, the best course of action is to maintain a high-quality diet; try to avoid processed food. Offer filtered/purified water – to eliminate toxin exposure. Exercise gently as your pet can tolerate and enjoy. Exercise helps move the blood in the body which circulates the white blood cells of the immune system to decrease pain and better find those abnormally growing cancer cells.

Find a veterinarian who has experience using supplements and alternative therapies to treat cancer. Supplementation can actually become a vital part of cancer treatment, not only to treat the cancer, but to protect and strengthen the immune system. That said, supplements aimed at immunity support combined with supplements specifically for cancer care are the preferred way to go. These can be used alone or combined with conventional, allopathic attempts to treat cancer like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

For example, medicinal mushrooms like maitake, reishi, and shiitake (proven cancer fighters) are ingredients in immuno-modulators like Primalix Immune®  Herbal Extract Functional Food Drops TM , which works to balance both cat and dog immune systems. In fact, Japan has officially recognized medicinal mushrooms as a proven and essential part of successful cancer treatment, and many studies have been conducted to demonstrate their efficacy.

Other herbal components like dandelion root stimulate appetite and act to boost the absorption of nutrients. While herbal supplementation is a big part of immuno-modulation, it is also a vital element when dealing with cancer patients who often experience lack of appetite and weight loss.

**Supplementation should always be discussed with your holistic veterinarian and should be part of a healthy lifestyle that includes high quality food, exercise, and lots of human affection.