Keto Diet for Dogs with Cancer and Senior Dogs

🥩 Does Your Dog Have Cancer?

How to Start Your Senior Dog on a Ketogenic Diet to Help Fight Cancer and Help Them Live Longer

Simple Meal Prep and Upgrades for Energy, Longevity, and Health

If you’ve ever wondered how to actually do the ketogenic diet for your senior dog — how to measure, prep, and make it practical day to day — this is your complete guide.

The ketogenic diet can be life-changing for older dogs battling chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, seizures, or even cancer. By reducing carbs and shifting your dog’s metabolism toward fat for energy, you can lower inflammation, support mitochondrial health, and even slow disease progression. This diet is excellent for adult and senior dogs to help them live longer, and improve their health span.

This guide walks you through:

✅ How to meal prep a full week of keto meals
✅ What fats, proteins, and veggies to use
✅ The “super nutrition” upgrades that transform a good diet into a therapeutic one
✅ Tips to prevent dehydration and constipation
✅ Plus, answers to the most common questions about the canine ketogenic diet

🧠 5 Reasons Why Homemade Keto Dog Food Is So Powerful for Senior Dogs

Before we dive into the kitchen, it’s worth understanding why this diet works so well.

🩸 Ketosis reduces glucose and insulin spikes, helping stabilise your dog’s energy and reduce inflammation.

🧬 Ketones fuel the brain and mitochondria more cleanly than glucose, improving cognitive health in aging dogs.

💪 Studies in dogs and humans show ketogenic diets promote autophagy — the body’s natural “clean-up” process that removes damaged cells and may reduce tumour growth.

⚡ For cancer and seizure disorders, keto helps “starve” abnormal cells that depend on glucose for energy. Cancer cells often can’t metabolise ketones efficiently, giving healthy cells an advantage.

❤️ For autoimmune and metabolic issues, it can stabilise immune activity and reduce oxidative stress.

👉 Want to dig deeper? Check out Why Your Senior Dog Benefits From a Ketogenic Diet for the science behind these benefits.

Keto May Help Chemo (and other medical procedures) Work Better Against Your Dog's Cancer

This is from the KetoPet Sanctuary, an organisation dedicated to treating dog with cancer though a combination of the ketogenic diet and traditional therapies like chemo, oxygen, radiation, and more. They are describing how the keto diet can help starve cancer cells, and 'weaken' them, making them more susceptible to other cancer treatments:

This process of starvation, known as Ketosis (see sidebar) also makes cancer cells more susceptible to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and other treatments. In addition to acting as a fuel for the body, ketone bodies act as signaling molecules that down-regulate many cancer pathways, including mTOR, IGF-1 and inflammatory levels. Further, healthy cells are protected by ketone bodies when exposed to chemo-radiation.19 Ketones have been shown to reduce the effects of radiation on blood and bone marrow by as much as 50%. These studies became the foundation of the work done by the KetoPet Sanctuary, a 501c3 non-profit organization formed in 2014, and the first to systematically test the feasibility and applicability of using a KD adjunctive therapy in canines.

🍖 Step 1: Gather Your Keto Meal Prep Essentials

Meal prepping is the key to staying consistent. Here’s what you’ll need:

⚖️ A kitchen scale — accuracy matters, especially for smaller dogs.

🥣 Four or Seven containers or bowls — one for each day of the week, or one per two days

🍳 A protein source (beef or pork work best).

🥥 A fat source (built-in or added).

🥦 Low-carb vegetables — like spinach and pumpkin.

🌱 Chia seeds — for fiber and hydration support.

🐕 Example: For a 25kg, senior dog (like Ghangis, 14-year-old Doberman), one day’s food equals about 400g of fatty ground pork plus 100g of vegetables divided into two meals, plus her medications, turmeric paste, chia seeds, and lots of homemade bone broth. This is the simplified version. Her complete recipe is listed below.

🐶 Here she is, making quick work of her homemade food 🐶

You can meal prep for the week on Sunday:

1. Cook the meat in a slow cooker or crock pot (high for 4 hours), or on the stove in a large pot. This is the fastest method.

2. Divide the cooked meat by grams-per-meal, evenly into containers. For example, if your dog is eating 100g total per day, you can do individual containers, one per day, with 100g of meat. We prefer to put two days worth of meals into one container.

3. Add your pre-cooked veggies (pumpkin and spinach are perfect).

4. Mix in soaked chia seeds and supplements at feeding time.

5. Store two meals in the fridge and freeze the rest.

Freezing does not affect the taste — even picky seniors love it.

Note: If your pup needs to take any bad tasting medicine, either put it on top of the food, tucked into a ball of their meats, or feed it apart, by hand, inside a piece of food. One thing senior dogs EXCEL at is detecting the tiniest of changes in the flavour of their food. They have the taste buds of a puppy with the long years of experience of an old vet.

🥩 Step 2: Choose the Right Protein and Fat Ratios

The secret to a successful keto meal is balancing protein, fat, and vegetables — roughly:

• 🥩 70–75% fat

• 🍗 25 -30 % protein

• 🥦 Vegetables (not included in the totals)

Fatty ground beef or pork are the easiest base proteins because they already contain the fat you need — meaning you don’t have to add as much oil or butter later.

If you’re using leaner meats (like turkey, chicken, or fish):

• Add healthy fats such as grass-fed butter, ghee, extra virgin coconut oil, or extra virgin olive oil.

• Start small and adjust based on your dog’s stool consistency and energy.

💡 Tip: If your butcher can provide “fattier cuts,” explain it’s for a therapeutic ketogenic diet. Many will help create a custom grind.

Note: Traditional keto diets for seizures were as high as 95% fat. This may work better, but it is impractical. Around 70% fat seems to be the minimal effective dose. If you need to up the fat and lower the protein a bit, give it a shot. However, 70/30 should be fine for most dogs.

🥕 Step 3: Add Low-Carb Vegetables

Pumpkin and spinach are staples for a reason:

• 🎃 Pumpkin → High in fiber and beta-carotene; supports digestion and stool regularity.

• 🌿 Spinach → Rich in iron, magnesium, and antioxidants.

Other options include:

🥒 Zucchini
🥦 Broccoli (lightly cooked)
🥬 Green or Red Cabbage (raw or cooked. This is a huge hit with my dogs as a treat)

Avoid high-carb veggies like peas, carrots, corn, or sweet potatoes.

Cook the veggies lightly in bone broth or pork fat for extra flavour — even picky seniors will love them.

🌱 Step 4: Add Chia Seeds for Fibre and Hydration

Chia seeds are a secret weapon for senior dogs on keto.

• 1 tablespoon per 10kg (20ish lbs) of body weight

• Always pre-soak chia seeds before adding them — they become gel-like and easier to digest.

• Help regulate bowel movements

• Aid hydration (important since keto diets can be mildly dehydrating)

💧 Combine them with bone broth or plain water and let sit 15–20 minutes before mixing into their food.

💧 Step 5: Support Hydration and Electrolytes

Keto diets naturally promote water loss and electrolyte depletion, especially if your dog is also on medications or chemotherapy.

To prevent dehydration and muscle weakness:

• Add an electrolyte powder formulated for dogs (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) - VERY optional

• Best Option: Mix homemade bone broth into their meals. There is no better electrolyte drink than real bone broth, plus your dog will get usable collagen, MSM, glucosamine, and other vitamins and minerals

• Avoid human electrolyte drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Electrolytes are critical for heart, nerve, and muscle function — and help maintain energy levels in older dogs.

Dehydration is DEADLY for adult and senior dogs.

Side note: Bone broth is a HUGE part of the keto diet, and all of our healthy homemade dog food recipes. Broth not only hydrates, it also helps with collagen, joint health, and may help your pup's body produce new, strong STEM cells.

You can use beef bones, pork bones, chicken, turkey, wild game, and even fish bones to make broth:

💊 Step 6: Add the “Super Nutrition” Upgrades

Once you’ve mastered the basics, here’s how to supercharge your dog’s health.

🐟 1. Fish Oil (Omega-3s)

• Use a high-quality, human-grade cod liver or fish oil.

• Supports brain health, joint mobility, and anti-inflammatory response... may help with stem cell production and the creation of new, stronger mitochondria

• Add just before serving to avoid oxidation.

🥥 2. MCT Oil or Coconut Oil (Optional)

• Helps your dog enter ketosis faster and maintain steady energy.

• Especially helpful for dogs with cancer or neurological issues.

• 1 teaspoon per 5kg of body weight is a safe start.

🌾 3. Psyllium Husk Fiber (Optional)

• A lifesaver for dogs that get constipated or have sluggish digestion.

• Add 1 scoop (about 5g) twice daily for a large dog.

• Start small and increase slowly.

Psyllium helps regulate stool and feeds the good bacteria in your dog’s gut. Use these in cases of constipation, or if you don't want to use chia seeds.

🧂 4. Multivitamin + Mineral Powder

Look for a complete supplement from a BARF (Bones and Raw Food) line — they’re formulated to balance homemade diets.

Key minerals to include:

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Calcium

• Sodium

• Vitamin C

These ensure your senior dog stays balanced even on a carb-restricted diet.

If you are rotating vegetables, and feeding your dog good homemade bone broth, they probably won't need vitamin supplements daily. The exception is calcium. Egg shell calcium, or whichever supplement you prefer, is essential. Dogs need a tremendous amount of calcium, much more than humans.

🍽️ 5. Digestive Enzymes (Optional)

Senior dogs digest protein and fat less efficiently, especially if they’re on meds.

• Add a broad-spectrum enzyme blend to each meal.

• Supports gut comfort and helps them absorb more nutrients.

• You don't need anything fancy. A basic enzyme blend is fine for dogs.

🥛 6. Kefir (Fermented Milk Drink), Greek Yogurt, or Raw Goat's Milk

• Probiotic powerhouses. Kefir contains 25–50 billion CFU per serving vs. yogurt’s 1–2 million.

• Boosts gut health, immune function, and mood.

• Use unsweetened kefir (cow, goat, or sheep milk).

• 1–2 teaspoons per meal for small dogs, 1–2 tablespoons for large dogs of any of these probiotic foods.

This is especially effective for dogs recovering from illness, antibiotics, or chemo. There are a few carbs in these, but they are insignificant at these level, and the benefits far outweigh the few carbohydrates.

🧮 Step 7: Figure Out How Much Food to Feed Your Dog

Every dog’s needs differ. Use a canine keto calculator to determine exact portions based on:

• Weight

• Activity level

• Age

• Current health status

Start with 20g of PROTEIN/FAT foods per 1kg of bodyweight, then adjust up or down depending on your dog's activity level, current weight, etc.

Basically, a 20kg dog will get 400g of protein/fat food, for example, 400g of ground pork, per day.

Don't include vegetable weight in this calculation.

🔬 The Science: How Keto Helps the Aging Dog’s Body

Let’s break down what’s actually happening under the hood.

🧬 1. Ketones Feed Mitochondria

As dogs age, their mitochondria (the cell’s energy factories) become less efficient. Ketones provide a cleaner fuel source that generates less oxidative stress than glucose.

Frankly, mitochondrial health is rarely talked about with dogs.

We want our dogs to:

🐶 Live longer

🐕 Have fun, healthy, happy senior years

This is possible, and rather easy, if you can help your dog:

• Reduce chronic low-grade inflammation

• Optimize their GUT health

• Produce new, BETTER STEM cells

• Produce new BETTER mitochondria

This sounds a little sci-fi to some people, but this process is actually pretty easy when you know exactly what to do for your dog. Click here to learn the blueprint to help your dog live longer

🧠 2. Supports Brain Health

Senior dogs often experience “canine cognitive dysfunction,” a canine version of dementia. Research shows ketones can improve neuronal energy use and mental clarity.

⚔️ 3. Starves Cancer Cells

Tumours often thrive on glucose. By restricting carbs, the ketogenic diet limits this fuel source and may slow tumour growth — a concept known as the Warburg effect in cancer metabolism.

🩸 4. Reduces Inflammation and Seizures

Low-carb, high-fat diets reduce inflammatory cytokines and help regulate neurotransmitters. This is why keto is used in epileptic dogs and humans with seizure disorders.

While this article is mostly about helping dogs with cancer, I can tell you that a ketogenic diet can help dogs with seizures, too.

Carmela, and her three babies, Ciro, Francesca, and Lucia, all have a genetic issue with epilepsy. Carmela didn't show any problems until she was about 6, but her pups had issues much earlier.

The diet, plus magnesium therapy, have helped reduce the frequency of the seizures, and the severity. They combine supplements, keto diet, and intermittent fasting to keep the seizures at bay. And yes, they're all as crazy as they look!

🐾 Putting It All Together

Here’s a recap for a 25kg active senior with cancer:

Split into two meals (AM + PM), and store portions in the fridge or freezer. Click Here to read more about Turkey Tail Mushrooms for dogs with cancer

❓ FAQ: Ketogenic Diet for Dog with Cancer and Senior Dogs

1. Is the keto diet safe for all dogs?

Generally yes — We would NOT usually recommend keto for dogs with CKD or some liver issues.

In these cases we go low-carb, but with enough carbs to keep them out of ketosis. If you are unsure, check with your vet, or email us: [email protected]

2. How long before I see results?

Most pet parents notice improved energy, coat quality, and digestion within 2–4 weeks. For cancer or seizure support, full benefits may take several months. Remember, it takes dogs longer to reach ketosis than it does humans.

You can help speed up the process by walking your dog daily, especially before they eat for the first time. Intermittent fasting, where you have your dog eating in an 8-hour window (breakfast, dinner plus treats during the day, then no food, no treats, until the next morning's feeding time), can help.

3. Can I mix kibble and keto?

No, not with normal commercial dog food. Even a small amount of kibble can knock your dog out of ketosis. Transition fully to fresh, homemade dog food meals.

There is a keto food called Visionary Pet Foods. They are 100% keto. We do NOT earn any money from this product, but if you are looking for a non-homemade alternative, check it out.

4. What if my dog won’t eat fat?

Start slow — mix in small amounts of MCT or coconut oil and build tolerance gradually. If your dog shows an aversion to fats in general, take them to the vet to have their bloodwork tested. This could be a sign of issues with their pancreas.

Most dogs love fats, so if they are turning up their nose at olive or coconut oil, butter, or ghee... have their blood tested.

5. Do I need to test for ketosis?

Optional but helpful. You can use urine test strips or blood ketone meters to confirm your dog’s metabolic state, especially for cancer therapy support. Measuring by urine is not as accurate in dogs as it in humans. If you want to test, you're better off with the blood ketone meters.

6. Can I feed my dog fish on a keto diet?

Yes, absolutely.

When putting together your homemade keto dog food plan, you can use fish, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, etc.

You simply need to keep in mind that leaner protein sources will require more fats to be added in. This means if you're using tuna as the base of your pup's keto diet, then be sure to add in more extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, etc.

With something like chicken or turkey breast, add more healthy fats.

If it is turkey or chicken mince, then you may not need AS MUCH extra fats. Usually mince has the skin included, and isn't much leaner than pork or beef mince, but check the label to be sure.

When in doubt, consult the free guide or email us 🐶

🏁 Final Thoughts

The ketogenic diet isn’t just a “trend.” It’s a powerful, science-backed way to help your senior dog live longer, stronger, and happier — with better mobility, sharper cognition, and more stable energy.

By prepping ahead, choosing fatty cuts of meat, and adding key supplements like electrolytes, MCT oil, and kefir, you can make keto simple, affordable, and sustainable.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll see your senior regain that youthful spark.

🐾 Ready to take the next step?

Studies:

https://journals.lww.com/co-oncology/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2012&issue=01000&article=00012&type=abstract (CANCER BIOLOGY: Edited by Pierre Hainaut and Amelie Plymoth, The Warburg effect in 2012, Bayley, Jean-Pierrea; Devilee, Petera,b)

https://ivcjournal.com/ketopet-sanctuary-ketosis-cancer-canines-part-1/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26083629/ (The Ketogenic Diet Alters the Hypoxic Response and Affects Expression of Proteins Associated with Angiogenesis, Invasive Potential and Vascular Permeability in a Mouse Glioma Model)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30225789/ (Ketogenic Diets for Adult Neurological Disorders)

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155050 (Neurotherapeutics, Ketogenic Diets for Adult Neurological Disorders)