Shawn Buckley

I’m one of those dog moms who obsessively reads labels and won’t feed my dogs anything with byproducts or fillers. So I was looking forward to learning more about what’s best for my dogs’ health.

This book starts with an interesting look at the history of dog food companies and the types of food sold. As dogs moved from outside into our homes, from pets to family members, the dog food industry grew and, of course, became a big money-making business. The authors compare the industry to the negative aspects of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma, hence the title “Big Kibble.”

Then we’re given information on how dog food is currently made, as far as most mainstream brands are concerned. It’s disconcerting to know what’s allowed in their “food,” and how much of a dog’s health problems can be traced to diet, but this information is not new. Also, the authors lump all dog food into this Big Kibble category, except, of course, their own and a few other nameless human-grade brands.

The content is repetitive, with the same information included in multiple sections.

The content also tends to feel self-serving, too much like an infomercial. The authors own a human-grade dog food company, which they mention quite frequently throughout. Their food is extremely expensive, making it impractical for most dog owners.

They discuss homemade food as an option, which is great, and they include a few recipes at the end of the book. The problem here is that they don’t give readers a clue as to the amount per serving. This is vital information. Recipes are useless if you have no idea how much to give your dog. When I went on their website to use the “Feeding Calculator” they talked about, I found that I have to provide my email address so they can send me the information. This, to me, feels like a bait and trap. There are sites that provide free weight feeding charts without snagging your email address, and this information absolutely should’ve been included in the book.

Despite my grumbling, there’s some good information for people unfamiliar with the perils of certain dog food, and the history of dogs as pets with the coinciding emergence of dog food companies is interesting.

*I received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley.*… (más)

From stupidly added plastics (your grandma's Melamine plates) to fillers causing kidney disease to an additive that causes heart failure to known allergens (serious mold) the conglomerates that make big money off of you and me are not helping your pets. This book lays it all out for pet parents to feel sick about.
Think it's only the cheap brands?
No.
Think it doesn't include canned food?
No.
Think about all the discarded parts of animals that get stewed and ground up for the pet food. Then think about the incredibly vile smell it creates. Stick your nose in the bag and you get only what it smells like after they add flavor enhancers.
We all need to understand that this is big business and some of those businesses are only concerned with their own bottom line. And there is no government agency to protect the consumer or its pet parent.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you.
One reference is https://www.poisonedpets.com/… (más)

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Do you, like many pet owners, feed your dog commercially-made dog food? [Did you know that technically it isn’t “dog food,” it’s “dog feed” because it’s made with the same ingredients as livestock feed and oversight . . . such as it is . . . of the pet food industry comes from the Association of American Feed Control Officials?]

And did you know that [much to the surprise of pet owners], “Made in America” does not necessarily mean that all of the ingredients in kibble come from America . . . with the AAFCO being complicit in this “deception” and leaving consumers woefully ignorant about what they’re buying for their pets?

“How can this be?” you ask. It’s possible, generally speaking, because while our beloved pets may be an integral part of our families, legally they are simply property. And, although we may read nutrition labels and ingredient lists, we are profoundly uninformed about the making of the kibble we feed our dogs. [And, of course, no company would include dead, diseased animals, chicken beaks and feathers, and sawdust in their list of ingredients, even if those despicable items actually were part of the horrific mixture they used to make the kibble they put in the bag for consumers to feed their dogs.]

While, at first, it might seem rather disingenuous for the authors to expound on the merits of fresh dog food at the expense of the kibble produced by the companies that are part of this multi-billion dollar industry, they are forthright and upfront about their involvement with the fresh dog food movement [having founded JustFoodForDogs]. Nor is this a “buy my product” pitch. The authors clearly state their mission [advocating for dogs from “a sense of responsibility to dogs”] with no effort to hide any connection to JustFoodForDogs, thus debunking any conflict of interest thoughts that might arise with readers.

For every pet owner who lost a beloved dog [or cat] during the debacle with contaminated kibble from China, it’s clear that this “Big Kibble” narrative is not about selling dog food. It’s not necessarily about pointing fingers [although there is some discussion about pet food recalls]. Rather, it’s about educating, about making pet parents knowledgeable, about helping to protect those pets from a repeat catastrophe.

This captivating, informative narrative is a revelation, a sort of “here are the facts; you make the decision” premise that fully informs the reader about this important question. It’s difficult to ignore story after story after story of sick dogs switched to human-grade ingredients formulated into food especially for them and then improving to the point of thriving.

Even if you were to decide to accept as truth only a portion of the information contained in this account [but why would you choose such a limitation?], you would find yourself with serious questions about the kibble you give your beloved pet. [There are half a dozen recipes included so that you can cook nutritious meals for your dog should you choose to go that route.]

The authors give a history of the development of pet food, look at the supply lines for ingredients, examine the making of kibble, address some myths about feeding pets, and answer some frequently asked questions, all with the intention of informing the reader. There are strong feelings expressed here, not necessarily belligerent but fervent; determined to reveal the truth and to work for better oversight and regulation of the pet food industry.

Meticulously researched [and footnoted], “Big Kibble” is eye-opening food for thought [pun intended] . . . and a harbinger for change in what we place in the bowls of our beloved pets.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#BigKibble #NetGalley… (más)

What goes in our dogs kibble is gross, unhealthy and should be illegal , but it's not this kibble is all okay in the eyes of the law. I knew it was scraps, left over parts and ugly veggies, I had no idea it went so far beyond that. From the items used to the transportation, the tainted products, over processing, dangerous materials, misleading to outright lying on the labels, and a total lack of accountability, it's disgusting. I am shocked, horrified and ashamed that America has not stepped up it's standards.
The authors cover the history of pet food, before, the beginning and now. They cover the process from suppliers, to bag. The tests, responsibilities and legal requirements (and lack of) are covered. There is a great deal of information on byproducts, molds, chemicals, and more found in kibble. Vitamins are covered as well as minerals and starches. Then the big grain controversy, covered. Some information on canine heart disease known as Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). There is so much more, most of the book is education for us the readers to take and use before we make choices
The authors are in the dog food business. A small portion of the story talks about a fresh food product they have developed and sell. I expected the book to be a sales pitch, it's really not they don't push it at all they even have a couple recipes for you to make your own. They want you to have the knowledge that has taken them years to find so you can help you dog and others.
If you own a dog, you need to read this book.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review… (más)