Hi again folks,
This posting is mostly going to be a vent. I’m stressed and annoyed and scared and frustrated and need to get some of it out.
When I first came across KetoPet Sanctuary’s website, and listened to some interviews on youtube, I was excited and relieved there was something I could do that might help Grace live longer. I read everything on the website then emailed them with some questions, and to access the macros and meal plans designed to give cancer a kick in the nuts (sorry guys), and joined their facebook support group.
13 days later I still haven’t heard anything back.
The so called facebook support group isn’t a support group, despite the website saying the longtimers and admin staff would help with any questions, concerns, need for encouragement etc. Apart from a couple of ppl saying they were really sorry about Grace’s diagnosis and an answer to a question about broccoli, the only other responses I have gotten are (1) Don’t feed the ketopet sanctuary meal plan, it isn’t balanced, instead go to this other facebook page and pay this dude a lot of money to custom design you a keto diet, and (2) Have you heard about kefir? I read something on the internet saying it’s good. (Kefir does not fit into the cancer diet protocols, in any way shape or form)
Every day 1 or 2 new members join with a heart breaking story about their dog being diagnosed with cancer, and like me they are getting no helpful information regarding the ketogenic diet for cancer.
So, thankfully knowing about keto, macros etc, and having found the url to the option 2 diet calculator (the cancer diet one) after reading screeds of old postings on their facebook support group, I have easily worked out how many grams of protein and fat they recommend per day, and how many grams of broccoli or red cabbage or green beans. Then I researched all essential micronutrients and what very friendly keto foods are rich in them. Then I went shopping.
I just finished making up 10 days of food, took me hoursssssssssssssss looking up nutrition analysis info on the net, calculating how much of each meat and offal I bought I’d add to the mix, exactly how much coconut oil and ghee I needed to add, once I’d worked out exactly how much fat each item of meat and offal had, then chopping and measuring and bagging it all up. I steamed 10 days worth of different veg, after working out exactly how many grams of each type I needed, and bagged them all up too. So, she’s set for 10 days and my brain and body is exhausted lol.
I found another youtube video, this time from some conference, where one of the canine oncologists hired by KetoPet Sanctuary, and the dude that put in the 6 million dollars funding, were giving presentations. I finished watching it so damn angry. The oncologist talked in great depth about how much constant tweaking they needed to do to the diet, and how the tweaking differed a lot dog to dog. The dogs had blood tests at least once a week, checking every possible thing diet affects, which informed the tweaking. Plus weight and energy level and general behaviour was constantly monitored, which also informed the tweaking.
Yet the website gives a 3 ingredient diet (3 the protein sources to choose from, 3 fat sources to choose from, and 3 dif veg to choose from - with the amount of fat varying depending on whether you choose 80/20 ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey).
Umm? What if Grace’s diet needs tweaking? And if it does, how am I meant to know what to add (supplements) and increase and or decrease?
Supplements for dogs aren’t a thing in New Zealand, which is adding to my stress. I’m trying to cover as many bases as I can via diet but we all know going keto messes with our electrolytes etc. I’m salting her food but she probably needs more help than just salt can provide. I’m looking at human supplements but I have no clue if they are safe to give to dogs, and how bioavailable they are to dogs. Yup, floundering out here all on my damn own. I’m making her bone broth and am hoping it ticks some essential boxes.
The dude who put the 6 million in didn’t do it because he wanted to help dogs. His interest is in how a ketogenic diet can help humans with various diseases. The dogs, as loved and amazingly well looked after as they were by all the staff there, were just “test subjects” to this dude. Each dog cost about $100,000 to put thru the program. I’m wondering if, despite info to the contrary on their website about how they’re here to help Jo and Josephine public put their dogs on “medical keto” for their cancer or epilepsy etc, the reason I haven’t heard anything back from them is KetoPet Sanctuary no longer exists as an active endevour, b/c the dude and all the medical folks have gotten the info they were seeking and have moved on to focusing on humans.
I still think their ketogenic cancer diet has the potential to help her, there’s no denying the results they got were really really good for quite a lot of the dogs. She may still die soon, but I want to do what I can to give her as much time as the cancer will allow. She’s such an amazing dog, and has always been soooo healthy. Maybe she will be one of the dogs who can fight this if given the right nutrition and if put on this strict keto protocol for 4 months, then moved to a higher protein but still ketogenic protocol.
Thanks for listening. I feel better having written that all out.
