title: Owners' attitudes and practices regarding nutrition of dogs diagnosed with cancer presenting at a referral oncology service in Ontario, Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate owner attitudes and dietary practices following cancer diagnosis in a dog.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional survey of 75 dog owners presenting with their dogs to a tertiary referral oncology service through a demographic questionnaire and in-person or telephone interviews regarding the dog's nutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conventional diets (71%) were most commonly fed as a single diet to canine cancer patients followed by homemade cooked (7%) and homemade raw (4%). Several owners (18%) provided combinations of these diets. Owners reported some distrust towards conventional diets (51%). Appetite loss occurred in 35% of dogs and diet changes reported for 25% of dogs in the study involved exclusion of a conventional (63%) and/or inclusion of a homemade (54%) component. 90% of owners noted the diet change was associated with the cancer diagnosis. Supplements were given by 39% of owners. 85% of owners highly valued veterinary nutritional advice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following a cancer diagnosis, dog owners appear to change their approach to managing their dog's nutrition. Given the value owners place on veterinary nutritional advice, veterinarians have a key role in guiding nutritional management of the canine cancer patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.|Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer, Ontario Veterinary College, Health Sciences Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajagopaul
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.|Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer, Ontario Veterinary College, Health Sciences Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G4V2, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verbrugghe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D009864:Ontario; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult