And you thought you knew what goes into that bag of dog food.  Think again.  Sure, you've learned that the first ingredient listed on that bag of kibble is the "tell all" of its contents.  But, what about the rest of the ingredients?  Are you sure all the ingredients are safe?

In the book Big Kibble, the reader will learn about the historical background of how kibble came into being along with how corporate acquisitions and mergers played a major role in the manufacturing processes of dog feed.  We already know about Big Pharma.  Now you will learn about Big Kibble.

As a pet parent, I was appalled to read about some of the ingredients that gets added to kibble as well as those canned dog foods.  If you think that the ingredients are human grade, you will be in for a surprise.

Although most of the book concentrates on the manufacturing processes, there are other interesting chapters  that focuses on facts versus fiction in dog nutrition.  And should you decide that you want to switch to a fresh food dietary program for your "fur baby," there's even a section dedicated to fresh, wholesome recipes.

I found Big Kibble to be very informative and it is certainly a book that every pet parent should read.  Five stars.  Kudos to the authors!

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.  The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This review is concurrently being posted to my Goodreads account; and will post to my blog and Twitter (with a mention on my Instagram,) on 11/24/20.  Reviews to retail sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble will occur on publication day.

I am not even sure how many times, I have tried to figure out what the best food is for my pets. I have tried to google and do my homework so to say about what different things are good for them. Every time I hear a scary story on the news, it triggers another search. So when I was offered this book, I said yes I want to read it. 

I found the book informative and interesting. It is sad when something terrible happens to a pet, so trigger warning for that. But I think it is important information to get out there. Thanks for the opportunity to read. I appreciated all of the insights! 

Disclaimer: I was awarded this book as part of the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.

This is a must-read for all dog (and cat) owners. Although this book focuses on dogs, the information within applies to the manufactured garbage that unsuspecting pet parents are feeding their loved ones. Big Kibble offers an interesting history of the beginnings of dog feed, right up to today's despicable manufacturing processes. As I was reading, the authors briefly mentioned that they have developed and sell ”better” food for your dog. I rolled my eyes and said to myself, ”here we go, they're trying to sell their own line of product”. I kept reading and learned an incredible amount of information about the few (5) companies, that make almost all brands of dog food on our grocery store shelves, pet stores, pet websites, etc. Garbage byproducts are processed to the point of no discernable flavor, no visual identification & loss of nearly all nutrients. Flavor and nutrients have to be added at the end of manufacture, before it's pushed through an extruder. Often these substandard byproducts are tainted, as are the additives (flavorings & nutrients), with nonedible substances that can make our pet sick, and can kill them. The method of marketing is should be illegal and feeding these products should be considered abuse. As pet parents believe the pictures and ingredient lists, they should not necessarily be considered the abusers, but the makers know and they are the abusers getting rich (billions & billions of dollars) off of selling product that should not be ingested by any animal. One if the goals of this book is to draw attention to the fact that what we feed our dogs and cats is considered feed (not food) and therefore is not subject to decent standards. Because of this these manufacturers are hardly held accountable for any illnesses or deaths that occur because of their product. The biggest blow that they incur is to their image. I learned why veterinarians recommend & sell dog feed to us for our beloved pets. They're not evil or mean, I believe they are uneducated, therefore ignorant. By the time I got to the end of this book, which by the way, there are 5 or 6 recipes for making your own human-grade dog food, I started to think about all my friends that I want to read this book. You don't need to buy expensive dog food or ingredients to do right by your pet. Either save time and buy it or spend some time and make it yourself. You wouldn't cheat your human child, don't cheat your 4 legged child. My husband and I have been making our own dog’s food for about 8-1/2 years. It's not the same as the recipes in this book, but I thank God that we haven't been feeding our 9-1/2-year-old German Shepherd this commercially manufactured garbage. I've also learned that we should tweak his food for better nutrition. When all is said and done, do your homework about your pet's food. There are many blogs mentioned in this book for additional information as well. I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

If you have a pet or plan to have a pet, I recommend reading Big Kibble.  The authors are not unbiased - they have created their own dog food company that uses whole foods fit for human consumption.  However, their interests in drawing attention to the problems in the dog food by Big Kibble are aligned with the interests of regular dog owners. They  raise important points and draw our attention to facts that are easy to gloss over.

There are currently a small group large food and agricultural companies that produce most of the dog food. Feed is not subject to the same level of regulation or supervision as human food and the ingredients and processing of dog food as described in Big Kibble is horrifying.  Reading it reminded me of reading Upton Sinclair's The Jungle about the early days of canned meat production.  

Big Kibble also contains recipes for dog food so as you try to figure out what to feed your pet, you're able to make healthier food from home.

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/

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to review this book. I have been doing my own research on the best dog food for years and frankly was always a little skeptical. This book provides so much information and convinced me that making my own dog food would probably be more beneficial and provide better nutrition. The recipes aren't hard either. Highly recommend this one for all dog owners. Because why wouldn't you want your pup to be as healthy as possible.

The Horrifying Truth Behind Commercial Dog Kibble

Having experience with some of the problems feeding commercial dog kibble to a dog I owned, I still wasn’t prepared for the horrors found in this expose’ of the dog food world.  JustFoodForDogs owners Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez have done exhaustive studies on the prepared dog kibble that you find in your local grocery store, pet store, or pet boutique shop.  What they found will shock you.  You will learn why the official name of the product is dog “feed” not dog “food.”  You will learn the roots of the dog feed industry, how it is made, how just a few large companies control the processing of most of the kibble brands found in stores, and why premium brands may not be any better for your dog than the inexpensive bulk bags you find in warehouses.

This is a very long book, difficult to read at times.  Filled with historical information and facts, it provides more than I really needed to know about the history and processes used in making dog feed.  The information, though, is invaluable in helping you understand what kibble is made from, why it isn’t the best food for your furry friends, and what you should be feeding instead.  Since the owners of JustFoodForDogs have written this book, you might feel it is simply an advertisement for their products.  That notion is dispelled by the fact that the book provides you with recipes you can make yourself if you have the time and inclination.

It won’t be easy, or inexpensive, to feed your pets the diet described on the pages of the book.  But if you really love your dogs you will find it difficult to ignore the facts presented to you.  I made the switch 13 years ago with only a hint of the information provided here.  My current rescue dog is happy and healthy, nine years old now and still thinks he’s a puppy.  

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and especially the authors for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ecopy of this book in exchange for my review.  This is not a book I requested, but was offered to me by the publisher based on my other reading requests and reviews.

I am a dog owner (though not one to call myself a 'dog mom') and have rescued many cats and dogs over my life time.  I have learned first hand through different experiences that pet food tends to be very low quality, and it can lead to all types of heath problems in all animals.  I know there is a new movement for cooking fresh food for pets or purchasing small batch, organic or special diet refrigerated food rather than the large commercially produced pet food.  Based on those life experiences, I can't say I learned anything new, exactly, but i think this could be a good source for new pet owners to understand what is going into their pet food, and why buying high end food can be better for your pet's health.  Actually, I think understanding the financial requirements for proper care and heath of a pet should be addressed before a person buys or adopts a pet, including that it is important to be aware of your pets food and the cost rather than 'saving money' on store brand dog food.

But.  This book, in parts, does read a lot like a commercial for fresh pet food, which, apparently, the author of the book is in the process of launching a new line of.  I think information about the health and well being of your pet can still be learned from this book, though, and would recommend it to new pet owners, especially.

Interesting read for pet lovers. Everyone knows how big pet food business has become and we’ve all seen recalls and horror stories on the news of pets being sick by products. I’m glad someone finally decided to stand up and expose this. I like the idea of buying a pet food that is real. 

   What did I like? These people aren’t in it for the money.... they act like they genuinely care and even go so far as to give you pet food recipes in the book. I don’t live on the west coast So no store pickup for me but Petco will deliver this Justfoodfordogs product. I’d like to try it! I have a cat... and I’m constantly changing his food because he will start throwing up and refuse to eat. He just turned 13, and some cat foods make him really sick. Like despondent and throwing up. No matter how expensive or cheap I’ve tried just about every food on the market. I think it’s sad these pet conglomerates can’t make safer foods, and I agree there should be more regulations. Kudos to the great job on this book and your passion for pet food guys.

   Would I recommend or buy? Yes, pet lovers need to understand what they are feeding there dogs could kill them. Nothing worse than losing a doggie best friend because someone was trying to make a buck. I was shocked that AAFCO feeding trials are not more closely monitored.  So do you and your pet a favor and buy this book!

   I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review, five stars!

Thank you to St, Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

This book was an interesting read but it strayed from the topic and went on meandering tangents about pet physical therapy and pet/owner relationships among other things. It definitely did not stay to the topic of dog feed (food). It could have been much more concise. 

I feed my dog raw food (not Big Kibble) so most of this did not apply to me. I was curious about what recipes they use for their food. I don't agree with their theory that the modern dog has an evolved stomach and cannot process raw food. My dog is doing just fine (healthy coat, lots of energy, healthy teeth etc). It does provide some info about what goes into dry/canned dog food and emphasizes that it is "feed" and not "food grade" ingredients.

I was asked by the publisher to read and review this book, I was very interested in it because I have 2 German Shepherds that require a lot of feeding and could have health problems if not feed properly. Since, having both my dogs I have always gone above and beyond with their food probably to the point of extreme.

This book was another eye opener at how disgusting and horrific the dog food industry really is. What goes into the dog kibble is unhealthy and should be illegal. No one should eat what they are eating. It is scraps, waste and even sometimes pentabarbatol which is a euthanasia drug- that has been recalled many times but  I'm sure it still slips in. Even the expensive dog food isn't safe or the food that is marketed or labeled "grain free" or no "by products". Read the labels on these bags and you'll see, would you want to eat these things? Chicken meal or by product? I don't even know what that is!

This book was heavy on the marketing for "Justfoodfordogs" fresh ingredients, wholesome. The company has done their research but I make my dogs food so I know what goes in their mouth. I will check out the company but I don't think it will change my mind.

The book was overall interesting and I would recommend it to those looking to adopt or get a dog for information. 

Thanks to the publisher, St. Martins Press for my advanced ebook copy.

This was an interesting look at what goes into all the different brands of dog feed that you see sitting on the pet store shelves. They have a lot of shockingly disappointing and unhealthy ingredients, no matter what the labels "tell" you just to sell the product.

This book is also an infomercial style advertisement for the company that makes fresh dog food from fresh wholesome ingredients. The company name is "Justfoodfordogs". They sound like they have really done a lot of research, which they explain very well,  and make nutritional food for dogs with real food, (meat, vegetables, etc) formulated for what dogs truly need. No bad stuff. I've never heard of this company until this book, but they sound sincere and like they are making a true effort to do good for dogs.

I would like to thank the authors, publisher and #NetGalley for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was unable to complete this book, as I could not completely stand behind the ideas presented. I am a major animal health advocate as a veterinarina. I want our pets to live as long and healthy lives as possible. While "Big Kibble" can be a really daunting idea, full of lies and swaying the perception of the consumers, I do not believe that all "Big Kibble" companies are bad, as is suggested in this text. I believe in science. I believe in the veterinarian's research behind a few of the big name brands. While every company has it's moments, I choose to continue believing in these scientists working hard to preserve our pets. You will also note that our pets are living longer lives than they have in decades past, partially in part to complete and balanced diets. 

I received an ARC of this text from NetGalley, but all views are my own. Please do not let my review sway you from reading this text, as I do encourage pet owner's to be as educated as possible in regards the the health of their beloved family members.

this is really an eye opening experience. I use to have a dog and this book really made me question what kind of food I was giving them.

Two major takeaways came from reading this book. First, the industry that bags, tags and cans the "stuff" people give their dogs for dinner needs some serious regulation to make it way healthier than it is. And second, I wish the people who are telling the world about this travesty didn't have a dog in the fight.

But do not misunderstand: Even though the authors' company is in the business of selling freshly cooked "real" dog food and in direct competition with the corporate giants whose practices they're exposing, this is an important, well-researched and documented book. In fact, nearly 15% is devoted to notes and research citings, and I don't hesitate to say it's one that every pooch owner - or "pet parent," as the authors prefer to call them - should fetch, sit and read. I'll also assume that cat-lovers like me who consider puppies akin to grandkids - they're cute for an hour or two but I'm happy to see them go home - can infer that the same applies to the the feline feed industry (and for that matter, pets of any kind like ferrets, horses and pot-bellied pigs). But since the authors - and something like 63 million U.S. households with pets in residence - are dog-lovers, it seems like an a good place to start.

And trust me, it's an eye-opener; I learned a lot, most of it unpleasant to say the least. The rules and regulations of the industry - from start to finished products - haven't changed much since the early days. It's important to note that for regulatory purposes it's still considered "feed," not "food" - and still made from tons of ingredients you'd never for one second consider putting in your own mouth. And to that end, the authors make a good point: If we wouldn't eat it, why would we want to feed it to the doggies we love and treat as family members? 

Another important point they make is that quality does not increase with price (or at least not appreciably). Some of the blame, they say, has come by way of industry consolidation; to that end, there's a list of which companies own which brands - and that basically boils down to six conglomerates. As for oversight, infractions of what regulations exist rarely are enforced by meaningful punishment.

Industry history and practices are outlined in great detail and comprise most of the pages, but that's not all; there's a helpful section on nutritional needs for dogs, some of the FAQs from the company's website (the most common of which is, "Can my dog eat popcorn?") and even a section of recipes for the do-it-yourselfers out there. All in all, well done - and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Part expose of the pet industry, but mostly advertisement for their brand of fresh dog food. Although the authors do provide some valuable and disturbing information about the pet food industry and the lack of regulation, this is ultimately about selling their product, despite the disclaimer to the contrary at the beginning.  The authors never mention the names of any of their competitors in the fresh pet market and the infomercial quality of the introduction, at least for me, was very off putting. I cannot recommend this book as it is as much a marketing ploy as it is an expose.

Review Copy

This is an excellent book for anyone who cares about the health of their dog or cat kids. I thought I knew a lot about pet food; I'm a label reader when it comes to both my food and my cat food, I've been feeding cats and dogs for 50 years and quite simply, I pay attention.

Turns out before reading this book I was totally ignorant. It freaked me out and scared the hell out of me like no horror novel has been able to do. I was nearly in tears at a couple of secti0ns as I realized that my worst fears regarding the recent deaths of my beloved cats were entirely founded. There was a lot that I was already aware of regarding what the cheap foods contain. What I didn't know was that it got worse. You might think you're buying American sourced ingredients, but you're probably not. You might think you're buying pure ingredients. Nope. And the poison. Oh yeah, the poison.

I spent the morning reading up on how how to make my own cat food. After all, I made my own baby fo0d. I make my food and don't eat processed food. why should my furbabies? It's not as hard or as expensive as it might seem to appear on the surface. It does require research and caring.

Yes, the author of the book is a pet food manufacturer. But he cared enough to wise the public up to a very toxic situation. Everyone has options about the food they put in their mouths and in the mouths of the beings they care for. Knowledge is power. Take back some power now and extend the lives of those you love.

I have no words to thank St. Martins Press for offering me BIG KIBBLE or Shawn Buckley for researching and writing it. Pleasder check for this excellent book and buy it today.

BIG KIBBLE by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez is a non-fiction book that explores the pet food industry and offers their recommendations for improvements that should be made. Do you know what is in your pet’s food? How is it made? What does “premium” really mean?

This was a thought-provoking book that talks about the history of the pet food industry, the process used for making that food, what goes in that food, the lack of proper regulations, and seems to posit that much of the commercial pet food on the market is not adequate for a healthy pet. 

The book is focused on dogs and recommends food for them that is made from human grade ingredients like they sell through their company JustFoodForDogs. There are also a few other niche suppliers that use these ingredients. They even provide some recipes at the end of the book to make your own dog food.
One thing that was an important distinction in pet food that the authors emphasized is that pet food is regulated as “feed” not “food”. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) shapes feed laws and regulations. While states set their own rules, they need consistency since this trade crosses state boundaries. Dog feed has been classified as feed versus food since its origins. The FDA has a memorandum of understanding with the AAFCO which is not a governmental agency.

I found that the book was somewhat repetitive with some of the early text repeated near the end. However, there were also stories that were heart-wrenching, heart-warming and gave this reader insights into many of the medical challenges dogs can face.  The authors also give recommendations for improvements within the pet food industry. The book is easy to read for a lay person and doesn’t require one to be a veterinarian to understand it.

Overall, it was a book that I am glad I read. It seemed one-sided to me, but perhaps for a good reason. If you are a dog parent, this will be a thought-provoking and potentially shocking read.
St. Martin’s Press and the authors provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 1, 2020.

This is a book about the horrible things we are feeding our pets. There are so many dangers in the pet food industry. Many of which are hidden from us as the consumer. Many of us don't know of the fecal matter mixed into the kibble we feed our pets.  That is only one of the mass of dangerous ingredients that could be in the pet food.
A lot of the illnesses that our pets are developing are because of the food they ate fed.
This book alerts us to the dangers of some of these foods. It is informative and interesting.

This directly applies to what I am studying in school for career 2 as veterinary assistant. Fancy labels do not equate to proper nutrition for your dog or cat. Owners beware and read labels for your pets. If you cannot pronounce an ingredient, most likely it is a chemical additive which is not good for your pet!

Back when I unsuccessfully did a a vet tech nursing program, I did a Hill"s nutrition pet at home class, and learned proper nutrition for dogs and cats. ALWAYS use a measure for dry food, and do not overfeed your pet dry food. Dogs are omnivores and need a combination of both. Cats are true carnivores, and benefit more from a wet canned food. Dry food is garbage for your cat, fyi. Always talk to your vet about proper nutrition  before any diet changes.

Thankfully, I am in a stronger accelerated program for veterinary assisting. Maybe I will revisit the same school in 5 yrs or so and do their Vet Tech nursing program. I truly want to help owners and their pets of all kinds.

I really learned a lot from this book and highly recommend it for every dog and cat owner.

Thanks to Netgalley, Shawn Bickley, and St Martin's Press for an ARC and reaching out to me directly to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Available: 12/1/20