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Papaya leaf extract for cancer?

Species: Dog
Breed: GSD
Age: 8-11 years
Hi,
Jacob is 8 he just had his spleen removed due to a tumor about a week ago. Turns out it is cancer and my vet said he has about two months. Since chemo doesn't really cure it or put it in remission I don't want to put him though that.. She put him on piroxicam that might slow the cancer growth. I've heard about papaya leaf extract helping with cancer and would like to try it for him but could he take that while on the piroxicam? And can dogs have papaya? I don't want to make him worse.
Thank you.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Oh, I am sorry to hear about Jacob and his spleen. Some spleen tumors can be benign but when we see one that is cancerous then even with chemo dogs don't tend to live very long.

Piroxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug. We do know that it has some sort of effect against some types of tumors such as the bladder tumor called transitional cell carcinoma. While Piroxicam is not a chemotherapy, it does help somewhat to help slow down the progression of some cancers.

I spent a fair amount of time researching papaya leaf extract for you. I have to tell you that it is not something that I have heard of being used in veterinary medicine. There is almost nothing in the veterinary references that I go to about using papaya leaf extract for cancer. I did a thorough search on Veterinary Information Network (VIN) to see if any of the herbal/homeopathic vets were talking about it and none were. Usually if there is a supplement that is going to be helpful then these vets will be using it.

I did also, however, do some research in some human medical journals and found this article that showed that papaya leaf extract *may* have some anti-cancer effect. I wouldn't expect it to be a miracle cure, however.

It is very unlikely that the papaya leaf extract will cause any problems for Jacob. It won't interfere with the Piroxicam. I would go ahead and give it a try.

I hope Jacob feels ok for as long as posisble.

Dr. Marie.


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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

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Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.