The science of fighting cancer with food.

Carbohydrates (which break down into glucose) aren’t a natural or necessary part of any dog’s diet. That’s why experts agree that carbohydrates shouldn’t exceed 20-25% of a dog’s diet. Still, most commercial dog food brands—including leading fresh brands—contain 30%-70% carbs. And they’re typically using higher-glycemic carb fillers like corn, wheat, rice and potatoes, which provide zero nutritional value, and spike blood sugar (particularly problematic for dogs with cancer).



At Leaps, we limit the amount of excess glucose available to cancer cells while providing enough energy for healthy cells to thrive. Our recipes are made with healthy, complex carbohydrates derived from whole foods like vegetables—which break down much slower than simple carbohydrates—and with a much higher percentage of high-quality protein and fat.

Experts agree that carbs should not exceed 20%-25% of a healthy dog's daily diet.

For dogs with cancer, carb intake should be even lower and simple carbs should be eliminated entirely.

Cancer struggles to use fat as an energy source (fat = good!). But not all fats are created equal. Omega 6 fatty acids support brain and bone health and regulate metabolism, but they also can increase inflammation, which can degrade the immune system and promote tumor development. Omega 3s reduce inflammation and have been shown to help prevent and slow cancer development.

Leaps delivers a balanced ratio of Omega 6:3 and includes a healthy dose of EPA and DHA, the two most efficient and essential Omega 3s due to their higher bioavailability.

A healthy Omega 6:3 ratio is under 5:1, and ideally closer to 1:1.

However, AAFCO standards allow an astronomically high ratio of up to 30:1, and most commercial diets don't disclose these numbers because they’re often 10:1 or higher — dangerously high ratios for dogs with cancer.

As carnivores, dogs naturally gravitate to protein-rich diets. Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair, and without it, dogs will suffer from muscle degradation, weight loss, weakened immune systems, poor gastrointestinal function, and slower wound healing.

Consuming enough protein can be difficult for dogs with cancer, however, as cancer consumes protein at the expense of healthy cells. On top of this, not all proteins are created equal (grain-fed beef provides fewer nutrients than grass-fed beef, for example) and unfortunately most other brands use the lower-quality options—even when they tout them as "human-grade."

At Leaps, we deliver not only a healthy quantity of protein, but also higher-quality protein—maximizing nutritional value and ease of absorption to help counteract the damaging effects of cancer.

Feed-grade protein is bad. But not all "human-grade" protein is created equal.

Fillers like corn, wheat, rice, and potatoes offer zero nutritional value for dogs, yet even the leading fresh dog food brands use them because they're cheap—allowing them to deliver enough calories without having to invest in more nutritious ingredients. These brands also rely on synthetic vitamin mixes to meet nutritional minimums—because they’re cheaper than delivering them through whole foods. But this is problematic for dogs with cancer because synthetic vitamins are harder to absorb than natural ones.

At Leaps, we build our recipes around whole ingredients and avoid using fillers or synthetics. When we add supplements, we only choose natural ones that deliver critical benefits for dogs living with cancer —like choline and seaweed calcium to support lipid metabolism, liver health, muscle control, cognitive function, and bone strength.

Whole food sources maximize nutritional value.

Kibble is ultra-processed which is bad for all dogs, but particularly bad for dogs with cancer. High-temperature cooking degrades nutritional value and denatures protein. It also can leave behind AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) and ALEs (Advanced Lipoxidation End Products)—both known carcinogens.

Raw food is unprocessed, but can be difficult for some dogs to digest and poses a higher risk of bacterial infection. This is especially dangerous for dogs with cancer, who tend to have compromised immune systems.

Leaps is gently cooked at lower heat for longer—delivering safe and easy-to–digest meals without compromising nutritional quality.

Cooking method can greatly impact the nutritional value and safety of dog food.