The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (54 page)

The same advice applies to dogs on corticosteroids, such as prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, Vetalog, budesonide, and dexamethasone, for the same reasons.

Because NSAIDs may also have a mild “blood-thinning”effect, Apocaps may, too (I have never seen this, but, theoretically, it’s possible). To be safe, if your dog has blood-clotting problems, make sure your vet or oncologist knows this, so she can advise you about how to proceed with your dog.

If your dog has liver or kidney problems, you already know that NSAIDs should be avoided. Because Apocaps share some similarity with NSAIDs, I recommend avoiding Apocaps in these cases, as a precaution. To be clear, I did not see Apocaps affect liver or kidney markers in the pilot trial, and I have never heard of this problem from guardians or other vets. However, because the components in Apocaps share some similarities to NSAIDs, I am cautious. Your own veterinarian or oncologist may or may not share my concern, and can help advise you on the specifics of your dog’s care.

Safety has not been evaluated in dogs who are pregnant, nursing, breeding, diabetic or less than six months old, so I do not recommend using Apocaps in these cases.

Apocaps has a pro-oxidant effect, so, theoretically, antioxidants (or compounds with an antioxidant effect) can interfere with Apocaps, if they are given at the same time.

Give these supplements separately, ideally 4-6 hours apart from administration of Apocaps. Most of these supplements are best given with meals, so this is rarely (if ever) a problem for guardians. Here is a list of common supplements with antioxidant effects (some of these aren’t recommended for dogs with cancer, but I include them because they are so common):

• Multivitamin supplements (see
  page 186
  )
  
• High potency antioxidant supplements (Max GL and Poly MVA for example)
  
• Supplements with the phrase “anti-oxidant” on the label
  
• K-9 Immunity (see
  page 182
  )
  
• Fatty acid supplements (including fish and krill oils,
  page 202
  )
  
• Oral algae supplements (see
  page 417
  )
  
• Most herbal supplements
  
• Most immune-boosting supplements
  
• Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10, see
  page 149
  )
  
• IP-3 and IP-6 (see
  page 421
  )
  
• Cordyceps (see
  page 148
  )
  

An ideal schedule would look like this:

1. Give supplements other than Apocaps with morning and evening meals.
   
2. Give Apocaps with a small snack in late morning (11am) and at night (11pm). Some dogs may require an additional mid-day dose, which can be given in the late afternoon with a small snack.
   

If this is not possible, here is an alternative schedule:

1. Early morning snack with Apocaps
   
2. Wait one hour, then feed meal with other supplements
   
3. If your dog requires a mid-day dose, give it in the late afternoon, with a small snack.
   
4. Evening meal with other supplements
   
5. Late night snack with Apocaps dose.
   

Very few dogs get stomach upset when they take Apocaps with a small amount of food; if your dog does, you can give Apocaps with a full meal. The bioavailability will go down, but it’s better to give some Apocaps than none. If forced to make this choice, I recommend eliminating the use of other the supplements in favor of the use of Apocaps.

NOTE:
This advice and schedule also applies if you choose to use the apoptogen artemisinin.

Anti-inflammatory medications, like NSAIDs, may have mild “blood thinning” effects and, because Apocaps has NSAID-like effects, I exercise caution around surgeries. I have not seen Apocaps actually affect blood-clotting, but there is theoretical evidence that this could be a possibility. To be completely safe, I recommend stopping Apocaps use at least three days before surgery. You can start giving Apocaps again after healing is complete (usually ten to fourteen days after surgery).

The apoptogens in Apocaps have been shown to make some cancer cells more responsive to chemotherapy and radiation treatments in
in vitro
studies, which may make these treatments more effective. Using Apocaps as an adjunct nutraceutical for these treatments is being researched, and as of this writing, I do not have hard data to share with you about Apocaps specifically. For this reason, I recommend following your vet or oncologist’s advice about using Apocaps at the same time as conventional treatments; your vet or oncologist can also call Functional Nutriments for the latest advice.

Note that rutin, which is included in Apocaps, is an extract of grapefruit, but does
not
contain the other grapefruit compounds known to alter the way the body metabolizes chemotherapy drugs.

Using potent wormwood preparations such as artemisinin, Artemix or artemether (see below) at the same time as you use Apocaps, has not been evaluated for safety, so it is not recommended. If you choose to use wormwood preparations, use them in alternation with Apocaps, on a rotating schedule of five days on Apocaps (and stop artemisinin), five days on artemisinin (and stop Apocaps), five days on Apocaps (and stop artemisinin), and so on.

“I used Apocaps and found them to be very helpful in helping Hydro gain his energy and not be so lethargic, he’s willing to take walks and it’s not such a struggle. He’s not having difficulty walking anymore. He’s doing great.”

– Maria J. Neal, Aurora, Colorado

“Since Dr. Dressler’s Apocaps became available [in March of 2010] I have been using them for Lucy. It is two years now since she was diagnosed and treated for the Mast Cell, with a mitotic index of 4. I truly feel that the Apocaps have been helping her and I will continue using them.”

– Shirley, Salem, Oregon

“I use Apocaps on my dog. I do see an improvement in how she recovers from exercise, being a Tripawd. I have tested this a few times, by running out of Apocaps.”

– Tracy Snow-Cormier, Portage, Maine

“I used the Apocaps and Artemisinin with Apollo. I do believe they helped. I only wish they had come out and been available when Apollo was first diagnosed.”

– Sandy Miller, Palo, Iowa

The use of oral Neoplasene (see
page 176
) with Apocaps has not been evaluated for safety, and is not recommended. If your veterinarian has prescribed the topical form of Neoplasene, for use on the skin, you may use Apocaps under veterinary or oncologist supervision.

Some vets and oncologist choose to use a combination of these apoptogens, in these cases, follow their advice.

Readers of the first edition of this book will remember that I once recommended the apoptogens EGCG in addition to luteolin, curcumin and apigenin. Since that edition was published, I have developed Apocaps and have more experience with all of these apoptogens. I no longer recommend EGCG unequivocally (see
page 419
). I still recommend artemisinin, however, and I also recommend topical Neoplasene (in select cases).