The title itself reminds me of dog food, which is exactly what the book is about! What’s the big deal with dog food anyway? Have you ever thought about why dog food is advertised with delicious sounding foods us humans love, yet it comes in a bag full of hard, dry, crunchiness with an unappetizing scent? And why is it that the dog food with chicken is the same price as with salmon?

This book is very eye-opening! While I do not have a dog anymore, it does make me wonder what I was feeding my pooch when I did have one. I mean, seriously. What’s really in that bag of dog food? This book teaches readers about the requirements in the labeling and regulations as well as how these ingredients are transported and manufactured. It makes me sick to my stomach that this is what I fed my precious and loving best friend.

If you are a dog owner or dog lover, you will come to a realization of what we’ve all been misinformed about for years. You’ll find that there are several bloggers who go out of their way to find out what’s going on and what’s in all this dog food. The dog food companies also investigate one another and sue each other for millions. I am so appalled at how dog food companies have taken advantage of consumers all these years!

The supposed “high-quality” dog food you’ve been serving your pet pooch (or even cats) could be laced with chemicals that can kill your pet! There’s even evidence that there’s ingredients that came from China that contains chemicals not allowed in the US. Some of these victims do major investigating and you’ll never believe what they’ve found. Why should your pet(s) be rushed to emergency after eating a treat that you were trying to reward them with?

You’ll also find recipes towards the end of the book. While you won’t want to make just one meal, cooking a batch and saving some in the refrigerator and freezer will make the rest of the week easier. Feeding your pet human-grade foods is way healthier than what’s in that dry bagged or canned dog food. I love that I could feed my best friend food that I can make in my own kitchen. Knowing exactly what my pup would eat is so refreshing.

A digital copy of Big Kibble by Shawn Buckley and Dr Oscar Chavez was provided complimentary by St Martin’s Press via NetGalley. I give this book 5 our of 5 tiaras because it’s very informative and I learned so much about dog food. This is the start of a dog food revolution!

The book, Big Kibble, by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez, has really opened my eyes to the ingredients inside the majority of the dog food kibble and wet food packages.  I had always assumed the package ingredients listed were the true ingredients inside the package but come to learn they are only a representation of what we might think is in there. This book has taught me that you can’t assume and that corporate America doesn’t love and care for pets as family members do.
This is an amazingly written and notated book about the health of our beloved pets and how we can keep them that way. 
Pet food is considered feed and is not regulated by federal oversight.  Many of the additional fillers are from China which has very different regulations than what is considered healthy and can (and has)  contained ingredients harmful and toxic to dogs. Thus the numerous recalls even from the highest rated dog food companies. Mr Buckley is trying to show the general pet lover exactly what is being fed to our animals we consider family members.  This even includes those that claim the food is all natural and healthy from the most expensive to the least expensive. 
The recipes included are great and include items you generally have on your shelf. The recipes vary greatly so your pet is not eating the same brown kibble every day of his life. 
Thank you Shawn Buckley and Dr. Chavez for your hard work, in-depth research and insight to keep our pets healthy.
#Netgalley #BigKibble #StMartinsPress

Okay, so this is not an easy book to read, but a relevant and important one.  Some of the info is scary and disturbing, but so very important for us all to be made aware of so we can ultimately make the best choices for our beloved pets. What I mean by scary is that people are the architects of some truly heinous behavior in the name of the almighty dollar at the expense of our furry family members.  I think of myself a a responsible caring dog mom and try to make sure my sweet girl eats well.  Most of the time I am more concerned with what I feed her than I feed myself and yet some of this information was new and horrifying to me.  I does seem at times slightly biased, but is still a wealth of very illuminating information.  Every pet family should read this to avail themselves of this information and make choices that are best for our pets and lifestyles. Laws and regulations really need to change.  Pets should never be considered and treated as property. NEVER.  It allows this heinous behavior.  As pet families we need to do better and this is a great place to start.

Big Kibble is a surprising look exposing the truth behind commercial pet food companies. What they put into pet food is inedible to humans, so why is it safe for our four-legged friends? Honestly, it shouldn’t be! There is a difference between ‘food’ and ‘feed’, and it’s not a good one. The pet food industry is a huge money-maker globally, without much interference from the FDA. There aren’t many guidelines, which means the industry makes money by using cheap ingredients including poultry feces, saw dust, expired food and diseased meat. I wouldn’t want my dog to eat this, but thanks to some fancy marketing, the general consumer doesn’t know this is what they are feeding their loved ones. This book exposes all the secrets. 

The problem I had with the book is lack of information regarding which companies produced a good, healthy product for our pets, except for the product in which the authors company makes. It seems Shawn Buckley started a company called “Just Food For Dogs” which makes a high quality, very expensive food, and it’s the only only acceptable food discussed in the book. I understand the author wanting to sell his own product, but I thought the book would have had some other less expensive options for those of us that can’t afford that type of food for our pets. I’m assuming there are others out there, I hoped this book would have explored more other options. Now I have to do some research on my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy of this digital book in exchange for an honest review.

Big Kibble is an eye-opening and important read for any dog lovers, or just pet lovers in general. There are so many unknown and terrible products going into pets food. While I like that the author had alternatives, this seemed more like a marketing book to me for the authors own company. I didn't mind that as much but I can see it would turn off others from reading this. I think past that, this is super important to reference what we are giving our animals and how we can safely feed them for the best quality of life! Thank you so much to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whether you have a pet or just love animals, Big Kibble by Shawn Buckley and Oscar Chavez is a book for you. The authors present a thorough examination of the pet “food” industry that is as eye opening as Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle.

I enjoyed learning about the history of manufactured pet food, which is really pet “feed”.  Whether it is canned or dry kibble, the stuff in your dog’s bowl is considered feed that is loosely monitored and regulated.  The byproduct, junk (like plastic) and random body parts that can be found in your pet’s meals is absolutely disgusting!  

None of these “ingredients” is specifically called out in labeling.  Additionally, many popular brands add misleading information on their packaging so that consumers believe the pet feed is manufactured in the USA.  Authors Buckley and Chavez maintain that the ingredients come from overseas (primarily China) and are just combined into kibble form in the USA.  Further, the authors state that overseas factories are notorious for amping up protein content by including plastics in their dog feed product.  The examples of how this has sickened pets is heartbreaking.

Big Kibble turns from the history of the industry in general to the history of the fresh dog food trend.  It focuses on the Just Food For Dogs company, which the authors have a financial interest in.  While the content is good, the author’s arguments would be more convincing if they had given equal focus to other companies producing fresh dog food.  That said, I greatly appreciated the inclusion of recipes for readers to make meals for their dogs in their own kitchens.  The recipes include common food found at the local grocery store, and you can be assured that what your beloved pet is consuming is food not feed. 

3.5 -4 stars

This is a book all dog owners need to read. What we are feeding our dog is absolutely gross. Grab this book and you will never buy commercial dog food again. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quite interesting read. It will make you read all the labels on your dog food bags and cans. Hopefully changes will be made in the quality of pet food by result of exposure of their practices and additives. They include recipes for making your own pet food & information to buy from them. Pet owners, vets and staff should read this book and it should be added to a reading list at vet schools. I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

When choosing food for my pets, I depend on the truth in labelling and some superficial research I completed.  Obviously, it was not enough.  I feel as if I've been to class and learned some desperately required lessons in pet nutrition.  Everyone should read this book, everyone.

This book is perfect for pet parents, pet lovers, dog lovers, animal lovers, parents who are going to adopt a puppy or senior dog. Such an eye opener, thought provoking, very informative, it tells us “what is really going on” behind the big market of processing food for dog food/pets out there.

There is a detailed story about how the process began, how we should be aware about the label in the can food/dry food, the hidden danger behind all the processed food that is being sold in the market, it is in this book. I’m just sad that there are many of us still not realized for this “hidden danger” every time they feed their pets with processing food.

However, despite this book being good enough for pet parents/pet lovers, unfortunately it did not offer/write an alternate solution for the low income pet parents out there. The actual cases that are being written down here mostly happen in a big city (i.e New York), which technically has enough budget for extra care for their pet (fresh food supplies, vet visit etc). There are many low income families that also have pets and treat them as a family, but failed to provide them good food or vet visits. So processed food pretty much is the fast and easier solution for them, in my opinion this book lacks information/not discussed for that section. Overall, this is a well written, full information book for pet lovers. Any pet parent should read this for a better life for their fur baby.

Thank you to St.Martin Press for the invitation to read and review the eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for the honest review.

4 stars

While reading this book, I was thinking about what people I know; a future veterinarian, a chef, and someone working with the FDA, would think of these findings, research, facts and most importantly the movement on behalf of our dogs.  All of these individuals are intelligent, open-minded, and caring.  It takes courage to bring the truth to the public and fight for rights of those who can’t speak for themselves.  The authors did just that.
Outdated thinking and even marketing have had an adverse effect on not only us, as human beings, but on the health of our dogs.  This book is meant to open your minds with the history; the beginnings of how so-called food is made, through all of its stages for our pets.
You will learn that there is nothing marketing and good PR can’t do to push potentially dangerous, unhealthy food.  If you are thinking, there has to be regulations, you would be correct.  You will come to understand the applicable rules are followed on a basis of how our pets are categorized.  Are they livestock and merely our possessions?  If you think of your dog as a member of your family, your companion and the one who truly gives you unconditional love, read this book.  If you wish to be educated about the foods that we are giving our dogs; its nutrition and ingredients; read this book.
You have the right to know, be aware, and be allowed to make a choice based on truth.  I found “Big Kibble” to be informative, but not dry.  Real pet parents tell their pet’s stories.  Because of a movement toward more nutritional diets using real food, we have a choice.  We are respected as an intelligent consumer and not just a dollar sign.  Thanks to Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez, our dog’s lives can be longer and healthier.  Knowledge helps to break the cycle of misinformation.  “Big Kibble” is that knowledge.

As more people become vigilant about what they eat and where it comes from, most do not stop to think about what their pets eat. Everyone knows that processed food is not healthy, how healthy is it for pets? As pet owners, we expect what we feed our dogs to have passed inspections; much like, foods for human consumption. This book is an eye opener about how kibble is transported, made and ends up in the bags sold in grocery stores.

There is a detailed history of how dog food began, where the labels tell us beef, chicken, so it must be real meat. Are you aware that meat used can be from dead, destroyed or diseased animals and made into kibble? If humans wouldn't eat meat from a dead or diseased animal, should dogs? Is premium dog food better?

Shawn Buckley, noticed something when he went to purchase his dog's food. His dog's regular lamb and rice dry food was out, so he picked up the chicken dry food and noticed they were the same price. Everyone knows that lamb costs more than chicken, so it'd make sense that dog food made of lamb would cost more, but they were the exact same price. This lead Shawn to investigate, and start to make homemade food for his dog, Simon. They noted that Simon looked better and acted better. 

I learned a great deal reading this book, and how companies who manufacturer food overseas aren't checking for quality control, and these corporations who make millions don't dole out very much for an injured animal that has consumed tainted food. These companies pour a lot of money into vet schools, so often vets recommend their brands without really knowing what goes into the product. 

If you have a pet, this is a great book to read. Not only does it give information, but it includes tackles myths, and provides recipes. Our companions can't speak for themselves, and they count on us, to make better decisions for them.

I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

All of a sudden she was jerking and stumbling on our walks! She is our 14 (almost 15) year old Bichon Frise named Frosty. My wife and I worried about her tremors which appeared to be getting worse and went on a crusade to find out what was going on.

One of the easiest and her favorite dog treat was a very popular brand we'd often shared with her. After I stopped them, she seemed to improve. We took her to the vet and he found no immediate neurological cause.  How would a popular dog treat cause such a dramatic event?

The authors of Big Kibble discuss the very thing that happened to Frosty. Could there have been some kind of poison or substance in her expensive brand of the dry kibble that caused Frosty to begin having tremor episodes? Very likely.

There are interesting animal feed discussions, US feed regulation discussions, tragic dog stories and happy dog stories. Fresh ingredients to safely allow and those "not for dogs." 

This book will open your eyes to the dilemma that is the problem of choosing healthy dog food. The book writers are interested in keeping your dog healthy as well as keeping their own (fresh dog food) business growing. 

The companies supplying the majority of the pet feed (not food--there is a major difference in regulations) in the country are a monopoly. Successful companies with thriving brand identity are bought out by these large corporate behemoths. 

Learning the pitfalls of such disclosures as “Made in America” and "whole natural ingredients" makes me angry. Companies putting profits before our animals are being exposed, their sources exposed, their ingredient list exposed. My takeaway from the book: prepare your own food for your four legged friends and lose the big corporate poison brokers. Five stars - CE Williams

This is a book that all pet lovers, especially dog owners should read.  It shines a damaging light on the unregulated pet food industry and the junk that is in dog food.  You are what you eat, is not just for humans but dogs as well. After reading the book, I emailed my pet loving friends and co-workers about the upcoming publication.  As much as I highly recommend the book, some readers will probably view it with a sense of skepticism.  I believe the message would have been more effective if the messengers had no skin in the game.  However, the authors were cognizant of this issue and addressed it in the book.  

I must admit that I strongly disagree with one of the authors recommendations that the Service should “Extend Tax Benefits to Pet Parents” such as the child tax credit.  The IRS Code & Regulations are already full of loopholes leading many taxpayers to reflect zero to minimum tax liability, making this unrealistic recommendation is a bit far fetch.

Big Kibble:  The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs by Shawn Buckley was nothing more than advertisement for JustFoodForDogs.  I was disappointed that there was more of a motive for the book than just wanting American people to know how unsafe and unmonitored, pet food can be.  One redeeming feature was the fact that they did include some recipes you could make to serve your dog, but again, the ultimate purpose of this book was to sell JustFoodForDogs. 

I was given a copy of this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Big Kibble
Wow! I thought I knew a lot about dog food but this book really took it to another level. There is a lot of great information inside. It does take a little bit to get through all of it. This book is divided into parts which make it easy to find the information you’re looking for. I’m amazed at the history of how dog food became the food we feed our pets. The authors show and tell us how they came to be involved in making and presenting a food that sounds good enough for people to actually eat. They obviously cared enough about their own pets and that turned into an adventure to change the way we think, make, buy and feed our pets. There are many success stories inside. At the end of the book they have included recipes that you can do at home. That’s really a gift. Also the proceeds from this book go to pet rescue organizations. I think it’s fair to say that while their ‘Just Food For Dogs’ products is making money for them, it’s not really all about the money. Very well done and very informative. Highly recommend if you’re looking at changing the way you feed your pet or just interested in finding out how the pet food industry is regulated and how it ticks. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Animal lovers must read this explosive and alarming tell-all. As a dedicated pet parent, I was disgusted and aghast at how little control we have over their diet even when we think we're purchasing quality ingredients. Name brand or a large bag from the discount store, I now know there's little to no difference between the many varities and that we may as well be feeding our animals food from the dumpster. I often had to take breaks from reading since I was so overwhelmed and completely sickened as I read about what the majority of pet food companies think is acceptable to feed to our beloved animal companions. From melamine to rotten, diseased meat, it's a world of anything goes, our animals' health be damned. 
Filled with extensive research, Big Kibble lays it all out and isn't afraid to include the most disturbing of details. In an industry that seems to have no standards, this book is sure to become the Supersize Me of the pet food world. Despite the anxiety inducing lack of control I felt while reading this, the authors do offer many solutions, not just at a corporate level, but also for individuals. Included in the back of the book are pet food recipes that can be scaled up or down to create large servings that can be refigerated or frozen ahead of time. With ample evidence provided to argue for a more back to basics diet, dog parents everywhere will rejoice at these easy to follow recipes after being awash in unsettling information surrounding the world of kibble production. 
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy. This did not impact my review.

A much needed frank look at dry dog food, the companies who make it, and what exactly is in the food we’re feeding our dogs. A must read for dog owners.

What’s really in that bag of kibble?
Don’t let those savory T-bones and fresh vegetables on the bag fool you

Michele Harris
michele.harris@erickson.com

In 2019, Americans spent a total of $95.7 billion on their pets, with $36.9 billion going towards food and treats. One reason for the record-breaking sales is the growing popularity of pet food mixers and toppers—products that boost the flavor and/or nutrition of standard food—and the growth of subscription pet food delivery programs.

“Consumers are more educated than ever about the ingredients that go into their pets’ food, which means they’re willing to pay more for quality products,” says Steve King, CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA). “As the demand for natural, minimally-processed ingredients continues, we expect to see steady growth in this category.”

While advertising copy may use words like “healthy” or “nutritious,” there is no clear consensus on what kind of pet food is best. 

In their new book, Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to do Better by our Dogs (St. Martin's Press) authors Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez take a hard look at the dog food industry. What they find is troubling. 

History

For centuries, dogs ate table scraps. 

In 1860, Jack Spratt, an American electrician observed stray dogs chowing down on “hardtack,” the virtually indestructible crackers sailors ate to stave off hunger. That observation led to Spratt’s Patent Meat Fibrine dog cakes, the world’s first manufactured dog biscuits. 

Later, Spratt’s introduced bags of hard, crunchy dog food pellets known as kibble. Not only did their ground-breaking marketing campaign make Spratt’s a howling success, but it also helped convince Americans that manufactured dog food was better than no-cost table scraps. 

After WWI, America had too many horses, leaving Chappel Brothers, a horse slaughterhouse in Rockford, Ill., overwhelmed with supply. As piles of meat scraps grew, they had an epiphany. All those scraps could be re-purposed into dog food and sold for profit. 

They called it Ken-L-Ration and it was the first main-stream canned dog food.    

By 1936, Americans were spending an estimated $100 million on pet food—most of it canned. 

Today’s menu

Today, consumers can choose from thousands of dog food options: canned, kibble, extruded, coated, raw, freeze-dried, grain-free, fresh, and even vegan options. Which formula is best is largely a matter of opinion. 

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that “all animal foods, like human foods, must be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.” 

In reality, however, it’s up to the pet food manufacturers to run, monitor and interpret their own feeding trials—a system that leaves plenty of room for skewed outcomes since government regulators rarely question the results.

The system works because companies know they won’t survive if the pets who eat their products don’t survive, but sometimes, things go wrong.

In the early 2000s, thousands of pets died after ingesting food that was laced with melamine plastic which made its way into some pet foods through ingredients that were sourced from China. 

More recently, the FDA issued an alert about a possible link between grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. Dogs who were fed various brands of grain-free dog food became ill and some even died. All of the products involved in the alert listed peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as their main ingredients. The issue is still being studied. 

How to choose

The pet food industry has long relied on waste and discards from human food production and even today, poultry feces, sawdust, expired food, and diseased meat are commonly and legally found in some dog foods. 

Turned off and concerned, many pet parents are turning to “fresh food” made from recognizable ingredients. Companies like Spot and Tango, The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie offer customized fresh dog food subscriptions.   

Big Kibble authors Buckley and Chavez started JustFoodForDogs. Their premade formula has “100% human grade ingredients” like chicken, spinach, apples, and rice. It also contains added vitamins and minerals to offer dogs complete nutrition. 

They also offer a do-it-yourself dog food kit that includes a shopping list of ingredients, instructions and a can of their vet-formulated nutrient blend to mix into the food you prepare. 

Fresh food costs more, but for a growing number of Americans, the cost is secondary. 

“Scientific research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) shows that when you invest in your pets’ health, you’re investing in your own health,” says King. “Improved physical health and reduced feelings of loneliness and social isolation are just a few of the health benefits you’re likely to experience by owning a pet.”

Thank you to the publisher for emailing me to invite me to view this title. This was a subject I am sad to say I don't know that much about. I give my dog the food that her breeder gave her when she was a puppy. I try to offer her treats that "looked" good, but wow was I amazed. "Big Kibble" sells dog feed, not food, and it is sickening what they can get away with. Thank you to the authors for bringing this information to the public, and I hope that dog and cat owners will read this to learn more about what they are feeding their pets.