Some new information for dogs at risk or afflicted with osteosarcoma is out that I would like to share.

Osteosarcoma occurs in both dogs and humans, but is much more common in dogs. It is the number one bone cancer in the canine.

A recent study found that eight widespread brands of dog food contained high levels of fluoride.

It was found that there was a link between fluoride in drinking water and bone cancer in boys. The areas with high fluoridation in the drinking water had higher levels of osteosarcoma. Here is the link.

In 2006, there was an interesting scandal surrounding the study involving suppression of this data and a dissenting researcher at Harvard.

Osteosarcoma does not have a single cause. There is no doubt there is a genetic basis due to the breed predilection (giant breeds), but genes are not the whole story.

This fluoride issue is discussed in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide in the osteosarcoma section on causes not addressed by conventional veterinary dogma.

The fluoride content found in these eight brands were found to be from 1.6 to 2.5 times higher, on a body weight basis, than the EPA’s legal maximum for fluoride intake in water for people.

There is a great article with some nice graphics to review by clicking here.

So what do we do with this information? Well, owners of dogs afflicted with osteosarcoma or at risk for it (large or giant breeds, especially neutered or spayed) may want to limit the fluoride intake of their canine friends.

It is suspected that the high fluoride content of the foods was found in the added bone meal. Take home message?

Check your dog food ingredients. Avoid bone meal in these dogs and consider unfluoridated water sources. Calcium carbonate is an alternate calcium source for home made diet recipes. Specific recipes are in The Dog Cancer Survial Guide.

About the Author

Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM is known as the "dog cancer vet" and is author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Beyond Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation. Visit his blog and sign up free to get the latest information about canine cancer. Go to http://DogCancerBlog.com.

http://www.dogcancerblog.com/osteosarcoma-and-dog-food-link/