As a dog (and cat) lover since birth and a pet parent most of my adult life I was glad to find out details of the pet food industry. I recall years ago how rare it was to find a people grade cat kibble and having to carve out a chunk of my budget to pay for it. I loved my cats and went the extra mile for them. I did it medically, too. The dogs and cats went to specialists more than once. We do this for our furrbabies. As the authors point out, these days our pets take the place of family for many.
Learning about advances in veterinary medicine and the incredible cost of various treatments was an eye opener. Then there are the details of what can go into the food we give our beloved dogs (and cats) - practices that depend upon the difference between a food rating (people grade) and a feed rating. To make sure the health of our dogs is protected from allergies and illnesses do we, as responsible pet parents, go the extra mile and cook their food as we would do for our human family members? Or do we read the labels/fine print and cross our fingers that we are doing all that we can for them? I learned that all pet foods have additives such as vitamins and that those can come from overseas without any real oversight in their manufacturing. Reading this book educated me but also showed me that there is a whole world out there of people who have a whole lot of money that they can lavish on their dog's diet. That's out of the price range for the majority of us. Doing the math, to keep the dog in my life fed the food the authors sell would be almost doubling our food budget per month. Add to that their information on the medical costs of treatment (hope you can get affordable pet insurance) and this book shows the chasm between those who can and do feed their dogs the "good food" and the rest of us who may be able to cook as often as possible for our dogs but have to rely on the big name pet food companies. I have to wonder how long it will take for those mega companies to buy the dog food company JustFoodForDogs they own and start cutting corners. Until then, while I would love to be able to feed such food to my dog, I will take the knowledge I have gained from this book and do my very best to feed the best food I can afford.
Overall it was very educational and I'm glad I read it. It was well written, easy going style and aimed at the layman. Written for the health of dogs but, as a pet parent of many cats, too, I can encourage reading this to give our cats a better diet, too.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I feel honored to have had the opportunity to read an early-release copy of the groundbreaking book Big Kibble: Hidden Dangers of the Commercial Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs. This eye-opening book, written by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez of the fresh, whole pet food company JustFoodforDogs, reveals the appalling lack of regulation within the pet food industry and the domination of the space by a select few multinational corporations that own the bulk of well-known dog food brands spanning the range from bargain to “premium” kibble.

I was shocked to learn the lax regulations that exist are set by an organization that is arguably more heavily influenced by the financial interests of these huge corporations than the interests of pets and the people who love them. The fact that thousands of pets have died due to dangerously-contaminated kibble starts to sound like almost inevitable tragedy once the reader learns that perfectly legal ingredients for kibble include poultry feces, expired food, and even diseased meat. These sorts of shocking revelations are found throughout this important text.

Because the corporations behind Big Kibble invest in and market to veterinary colleges, even the majority of veterinarians have tended to recommend questionable kibble as the go-to diet for pets. Until now, well-meaning pet parents have had no way of knowing how poorly regulated and nutritionally-questionable Big Kibble is. With the publishing of Big Kibble, the curtain is being pulled back on the dirty practices behind kibble, the sacks of meat we purchase for our pets and often leave in the garage for months at a time.

As a lifelong dog lover, I want to get the message of Big Kibble out there, and this is also the main motivation of both authors. Although they run a fresh, whole food company that creates nutritious food for dogs, they prove themselves to be truly driven to improve the lifespans and quality of life of dogs. Their main goal in sharing the book’s message is not to demean a big industry, but rather to help educate and support pet parents in choosing the healthiest, safest, most nutritious pet food for the furry members of their families. For instance, both authors are donating all their profits from this book to animal charities—that says a lot about their deepest motivations. The authors share studies and touching anecdotes alike about how fresh, whole food can enhance the lives and health of our beloved pets.

We know that processed foods have a hugely detrimental effect on human health, even when they are a modest portion of overall food intake, yet we have been feeding our dogs almost exclusively ultra-processed kibble from a poorly regulated industry. There is a better way forward. Like me, I expect that many pet parents will want to move away from typical, ultra-processed kibble to something better. JustFoodforDogs is one of many fresh food options to consider. This important book is highly recommended for any and all pet lovers, and I truly believe it has the potential to revolutionize pet health and well being.

A well written informative book. Some parts were interesting and kept my attention. Others were alittle too wordy.
I’m sure there is a core of readers who will enjoy this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This is a important read for all dog owners . I highly recommend this book. Thank you to. the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I started educating myself on pet food ingredients after the death of thousands of pets across America from contaminated gluten from China. A friend fed her cat and it died less then 24 hours later from the poisoned Chinese gluten. I called pet food companies and found they are legally bound to not give consumers any information. They all lie to consumers and its a widespread cover up. While working at a vet decades ago I had a vet that informed us that pet foods did indeed include the deceased pet bodies that were bought at rendering plants from pet food companies. SO this is not a new con that the companies have been doing to poison our animals. Imagine feeding your pet deceased pets bodies. This has been a unregulated industry and a money making industry for years at the expense of the health of our beloved pets.

This book is important for dog owners to understand that the commercial grade dog food is poison. The author includes not just ingredients but history of abuse by pet food companies. The deregulation of pet food companies that the author researched here is true to fact and critical knowledge. A must read if you love your pet.

Wow.
I knew going into this book that things weren't always kosher with the dog/cat food business - this is touched on in the book "Fast Food Nation" when they talk about feedlots and slaughterhouses and what happens with the run-off and the leftover "bits" when animals were slaughtered. What I didn't know was just how BAD it really is. And folks, it is R E A L L Y bad. Bad enough that I will tell you here - if you are pet owner, chances are you are feeding your pet with food that isn't classified as food, but as feed, it doesn't have the ingredients shown on the label and there is a good chance there are things that are both illegal and poisonous in the "feed". 6 big companies own ALL [yes, that is ALL] of the major pet feed brands [even the "healthy" ones] and you have to really search out small, family owned companies to get pet food that isn't feed and isn't adulterated. And I will also tell you, that if I owned a pet, I would absolutely be changing their food or start making it on my own.

You need to know [and the authors are very open and transparent about this and about their food as you can go and watch it be made if there is a facility near you] that the authors have developed their own fresh food for dogs and they do tout that [and other examples of fresh food companies as well]. They will also tell you that they are making no money off this book - this book developed from their love of their animals, the issues previous pets had that led them both to their professions and then to the dog food movement and all the money from the book is going to animal rescue, which is amazing. Those rescues are always in need of funds and to know that this book on the horrors of the pet food world will help fund them is glorious. I do not know that I would purchase their food [if I was a busy working person, I just might] over making it myself, but I am so glad that they [and the others committed to our beloved pets eating well] are providing this service.

This is not an easy book to read. It is tough to realize that, in feeding our beloved pets, we have been doing them a huge disservice. It is V E R Y tough to realize just how big a disservice. And it certainly horrific to realize that there are people out there, running these companies, that don't give 2 figs about animals and the "feed" they make for them. I would bet almost all the money I own that if any of them have pets, they are NOT feeding them the "food" they are making and selling to the rest of them [and if they are, they don't really care about their pets]. There are several really sad stories in here and I spent quite a bit of time in tears. When I wasn't be horrified. It was a really, really, rough read.

All that said, I think that this is a necessary book. I think all pet owners and future pet owners should read this. And then they should learn how to read the labels of their pet feed. And then then they should learn how to better feed their beloved pets. For all the devotion they give us, they deserve nothing less.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shawn Buckley, Dr. Oscar Chavez, and St. Martin Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m going to start this review with the fact that I am a veterinary professional. I went to school to become a veterinary technician and have been working in the field for a few years now. This gives me a different perspective than others who have perhaps read this book. This novel also brings up a pretty hot topic in the veterinary field, so sorry about the rant that is sure to happen later.

I was offered a free copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley because of some of the other books j have reviewed recently.

With that out of the way, I was intrigued by the premise of this work of non fiction.

The book gives a good history of the main Big Kibble companies, which I found very interesting. The authors are obviously wanting you to not feed any animal kibble and feed specialised diets, which by the way the author just started a website to help you do that.

The heartfelt stories found within are exactly that, heartfelt but I found the blatant leaning of this book to be a bit much. My issue with this book is how the author made kibble be such a bad thing. I know this is me using my veterinary knowledge to poopoo everything, but I went into reading this book a sceptic. And I left as one still. The novel read as a very long and elaborate commercial.

Do research, ask questions, consult a veterinarian. And please listen to what your veterinarian recommends. The veterinary industry is not out for your money, we want your pet to be healthy. No matter the food you choose to feed them.

I’m leaving this review by stating, again, that I am a veterinary technician. I am obviously biased to what I have been taught and my experience in the veterinary field. I tried to come to this book with an open mind, but I understand this review somewhat shows how biased I actually am. Personally I have nothing against raw diets and specialised foods, if they are well researched and are for the good of your dog or cat.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Big Kibble (Shawn Buckley, DR. Oscar Chavez, with Wendy Paris) should be read by all pet owners. The authors compare the Big Kibble industry to  Big Tobacco and after reading this book I can understand why. Made in America doesn't mean ALL ingredients are from America. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

I don’t have any pets, but if I did I would definitely fix the recipes included in the book. Pet food quality needs to be controlled. You think you are feeding your pet the best food and it turns out to be junk.

Yikes. This will probably make you, like me, rethink your options for feeding your animal companion. The authors have written an expose of the dog food (or, as they term it, feed) industry. There's no good news - ingredient lists don't tell the whole story, the additives are bad, pets have died. How to solve it? Well, the authors advocate for fresh food, which to be honest, is unrealistic for the vast majority of pet owners. They conveniently sell from their own website. This made the book feel in some ways like one long argument to buy their products. I didn't realize this going in but it soured my attitude toward what is actually a well researched and written book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was incredibly well researched and eye opening. It’s a book every dog lover and pet owner should read.

Though advances in medicine and treatments have advanced exponentially over the years, our dogs are still only living approximately 12 years, and often times have shorter life spans than they did 50 years ago. Much of this is likely due to what they’re consuming.

The premise of the novel is the benefits of feeding dogs fresh, whole, human-grade food. It turns out, the kibble and food widely available for animals is feed-grade quality and therefore, really not food at all. On top of containing fillers, animal by products, and really anything but the lovely meats and vegetables featured on the packages, they often contain chemicals and incredibly harmful toxins that have repeatedly been found to harm or even kill our pets.

Recall after recall has changed little in the industry. With almost no oversight, Big Kibble is free to use cheap products, chemical processes, and poor hygienic and transport practices. You would think that killing your customer base would be bad for business, but convenience, low price points, and a lack of knowledge have made kibble an attractive option for many pet owners.

The authors Shawn and Oscar opened JustFoodForDogs in 2010 so they are actually practicing what they preach and are seeing the benefits in their own dogs and their clients’ dogs on a first hand and daily basis. Oscar has a history as a veterinary nutrition professor at a reputable college and Shawn originated the idea of cooking fresh, whole food for his dogs with his girlfriend and they realized they had a solid business idea.

I was worried going into this that it would basically be a promo for their brand. Though of course profits are important, it’s abundantly clear that this is not the sole mission of JFFD. So clear that their recipes are included for free online (and in the book), the authors openly admitted to blunders including a recall due to contaminated green beans they had purchased from a wholesaler, and they also mention other businesses with similar products on a repeated basis. This helped make the book feel more genuine and honestly made JFFD that much more attractive to me as a consumer.

I really enjoyed the personal stories about people’s dogs, especially the ones with happy endings! With my legal background, I was also particularly interested in hearing about the various lawsuits brought against Big Kibble and the comparisons between Big Kibble and Big Tobacco. There was also a lot of history - about kibble itself, dogs as pets, etc. - that I suspect many readers will really enjoy.

If you were debating whether or not to buy a copy of this book please be aware that the authors are donating 100% of the royalties to pet rescue organizations. I mean, WOW.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this insightful novel.

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