Nutrition Resources for Dogs With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

How to Evaluate Nutrition Information Online

Information about diet and nutrition is widely available online, but not all sources are equally reliable. When reviewing nutrition information, it can be helpful to consider who is providing the information, what evidence supports it, and whether that evidence is relevant to the claims being made.^WSAVA

Learning how to evaluate the information you encounter can help you identify useful questions and topics to discuss with your veterinary team.

When evaluating nutrition information, consider questions such as:

• Who is providing the information, and what supports their credibility? Look for relevant qualifications and expertise, but don't rely on credentials alone. Does the source provide evidence for its claims? Does it acknowledge when evidence is limited or uncertain? Does it distinguish established information from opinions, interpretations, or personal experience?
• What evidence is provided to support the recommendation? Does the source link to or identify the research or veterinary guidance behind its claims? Or does it rely mainly on testimonials, personal experiences, or statements without supporting evidence?
• Are personal experiences being presented as observations or as proof of cause and effect? Personal experiences can provide useful context and raise questions worth exploring. But does the source assume that because an improvement or decline happened after a change in diet or supplement, that change must have caused the outcome?
• Does the evidence actually support the claim being made? If a study is cited, what did it actually investigate and conclude? Was the study large enough and designed appropriately to support the claim? Are important limitations acknowledged, or is the research being used to make a broader or more certain claim than the study supports?
• Does the evidence apply to dogs with HCC? Was the research conducted in dogs? Did it involve HCC, or was it studying a different cancer or liver condition? Research involving people, laboratory animals, other cancers, or other liver conditions may provide useful scientific context, but its findings may not apply directly to dogs with HCC.
• Is there a commercial interest behind the recommendation? Does the person or organization providing the information also sell or promote the food, supplement, diet, service, or other product being recommended? Are sponsorships, affiliate relationships, or other financial interests clearly disclosed? A commercial relationship does not necessarily make information unreliable, but it is important context when evaluating a recommendation.
• Does the level of certainty match the evidence? Does the source acknowledge when evidence is preliminary, limited, or inconclusive? Be especially cautious when a food, supplement, or dietary approach is claimed to prevent, treat, or cure cancer without evidence strong enough to support that conclusion.
• Does the source rely on distrust of veterinary medicine to make its case? Is the recommendation promoted by suggesting that veterinarians don't know about a supposed solution, aren't taught about it, or cannot be trusted to provide appropriate nutrition guidance? Strong evidence should be able to support a recommendation without relying on dismissal of veterinary expertise.

Nutrition information found online can provide useful questions and topics to explore with your veterinary team. Before making changes to your dog's diet or adding supplements, be sure to discuss the information, research, product, or proposed change with your veterinarian so it can be evaluated in the context of your dog's health, liver function, medications, treatment, and overall nutritional needs.