Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs

by Shawn Buckley, Oscar Chavez

A big, inside look at the shocking lack of regulation within the pet food industry, and how readers can dramatically improve the quality of their dogs' lives through diet.

What's really going into commercial dog food? The answer is horrifying.

Big Kibble is big business: $75 billion globally. A handful of multi-national corporations dominate the industry and together own as many as 80% of all brands. This comes as a surprise to most people, but what's even more shocking is how lax the regulations and guidelines are around these products. The guidelines--or lack thereof--for pet food allow producers to include ever-cheaper ingredients, and create ever-larger earnings. For example, "legal" ingredients in kibble include poultry feces, saw dust, expired food, and diseased meat, among other horrors. Many vets still don't know that kibble is not the best food for dogs because Big Kibble funds the nutrition research. So far, these corporations have been able to cut corners and still market and promote feed-grade food as if it were healthful and beneficial--until now.

Just as you are what you eat, so is your dog. Once you stop feeding your dog the junk that's in kibble or cans, you have taken the first steps to improving your dog's health, behavior and happiness.

You know the unsavory side of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Now Shawn Buckley, Dr. Oscar Chavez, and Wendy Paris explain all you need to know about unsavory Big Kibble--and offer a brighter path forward for you and your pet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Dogs, Audiobook, Health, History, Business

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 1, 2020.
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Review to be posted around November 1, 2020

[Yodamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very informative book on dog FEED (note the difference) that will give you a quick education on the history of kibble and what is allowed to go into it. I’d done some reading before about dog foods/feeds while researching a good kind to feed to my own dogs, and had been shocked at some of the things that are really allowed to go into them. So I was interested to read this book to see if that was confirmed here. I also wanted to check out the recipes for making your own dog food from fresh, which seems to be the best way to go, or buying it premade from a vendor. Either that, or doing the raw food. It just depends on how much time you have, of course and how far you want to dive into it.

The book is a good read for any dog owner who wants more information on kibble and dog nutrition, and you can always ask your vet’s opinion about what you read as well, if you have any questions. The authors are up front about the fact that they recently launched a fresh food delivery service, and they want to share some of what they learned about dog nutrition, and recipes with dog owners. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the authors Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for my unbiased review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever wonder what is in the big colorful bags of pet food lining the pet aisle of every major grocery store chain? I come home every two weeks with a big blue bag for my cats and a big yellow bag for my dogs. Happy looking pets adorn the fronts of both bags, with lovely charts about nutrition and wanting the best for fuzzy companion(s). My pets are set in their ways. I have tried multiple times to switch them to "better'' brands of food...and they won't eat it. I tried mixing it with their fav food.....I tried cold turkey. I tried everything. Nope. They want the blue bag and the yellow bag. So I bring home the same brands every time.

But what is actually in the food? And how is it made? Is it really good for my pets?

When I saw the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it. And, I'm not going to lie -- this was a difficult read for me. The authors don't pull punches when they hit their message home -- pet food is often filled with less than savory ingredients that are not the best choice to feed our furry buddies. I already knew that basic premise...but this book filled in a lot of facts I was not aware of.

The authors talk about the history of pet food, what goes into pet food, and that it's an industry that generates $75 billion in revenue. The pet food industry is poorly regulated and very brand driven, with a handful of companies pretty much running the show. The book focuses on dogs specifically, touching on basic nutrition for dogs, what foods can safely be eaten by dogs and the basics of cooking for dogs or otherwise supplementing or replacing their kibble-based diets with better choices.

This book is interesting, although quite distressing in places. And the authors make sure to stress that their advice and information is not meant to replace the input of reader's local veterinarian. This is definitely a must read for anyone who owns dogs, especially when there are frequent reports about dogs dying from badly manufactured pet food, factory mistakes, dangerous ingredients in treats or other problems. Some of their recommendations are just not going to ever happen -- like tax deductions for pet owners -- but I do see where they are coming from.

I'm glad I read this book, even though I found some of the information hard to read. It is amazingly distressing what goes into pet foods. Yuck.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Kibble is big business bringing in $75 billion globally and yet to this day it has been providing its consumers with less than ideal nutrition. Why aren't more people talking about this??!

I will admit I am huge animal lover and reading this book shook me to my core. I was shocked and appalled by what happens within the pet food industry. Most shocking for me was that its not just the cheap brands we need to be concerned about.

What's really going into commercial dog food? The answer is horrifying. Would you eat saw dust, poultry feces or diseased meat? My guess is that you wouldn't. I would also be led to believe you wouldn't plate it up for your pooch either. But what if I told you that you unknowingly already have?

Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs is a hard pill to swallow. It brings to the forefront all the abuse and corruptions that have developed within one of the fastest growing industries. If you love your furry family members then I urge you to read this book and take a closer look at just what's in the bowl.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Wiley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here we go. Another "expert" here to tell us what we're doing is bad, and the only solution is to do it his way, which just happens to be conveniently and expensively available for sale at our local petco or on amazon or online.

If a guy wrote a book about toothpaste and told us that all the big toothpaste brands are killing us, and the only way to brush and not get cancer is to brush with a special blend of ingredients, and oh, by the way, he happens to make a toothpaste with that exact formulation, and you can buy it right now, would you question both the ethics and motivation of that person?

[Kimba Tichenor · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am sorry that I could not offer a more positive assessment.

[Don Gerstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years I have been feeding my Pomeranian a higher-priced dog food, believing that I was doing the best for my pet by giving her a better blend of food and vitamins. In pet stores, I looked at the thousands of pounds of dog food I considered inferior and something I would never feed to my dog. “Big Kibble” opened up my eyes and let me see that the brown bits I was giving my Pom were not much better (if better at all) than those thousands of pounds of food I had refused to purchase.

Written by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez, with Wendy Paris, “Big Kibble” offers an important look into how dog food (and more correctly designated as dog feed) is substandard and can actually be detrimental to the health of our pets. Dogs are considered members of the family, and I know I am not alone when I will not feed the human members of my family food that would be harmful to them. Why would I knowingly consider feeding them to a canine member?

The authors explain their personal history as well as the story of how today’s dog food came to be. It is an illuminating and scary story, one that at times might cause anger when one learns exactly what is going on inside a hugely profitable industry. There is also a section enlightening readers on some of the myths we might have believed (such as, is it okay for a dog to eat cooked food or can I feed my dog popcorn).

At first I thought this book might be nothing more than a huge advertisement for the authors’ dog food company, Just Food For Dogs, but by the middle of the book my thoughts had changed. The in-depth information came from folks passionate about changing the way dogs are fed. One could argue that the book encourages pet owners to visit the Just Food For Dogs website, though the detailed recipes at the end of the book (a make-your-own-healthy-food-for-dogs chapter) would not be included if all the authors wanted to do was make a profit. The book, taken as whole, was written by people who want to make a difference.

Interesting book for anyone who has curiosity about the food processing industry (including what happens to the waste product when human food is made). A must read for anyone who has a dog and cares about the health of their pet(s). Five stars.

[Rosemary Reeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking call to action from the founders of JustFoodForDogs, engagingly if somewhat repetitively written. The thesis is that regardless of cost, brand, or market niche, commercial dog food is undifferentiated, poorly regulated, potentially dangerous, and insufficient for a healthy, happy dog. Instead, the authors recommend fresh food made from human-grade ingredients, such as that sold by the authors' JustFoodForDogs and a few other suppliers. The authors also provide recipes and suggestions if you want to make your own food for your dog, and they debunk common myths about what dogs should and should not eat.

I found this book interesting, compelling, and frustrating. I started the book in agreement with the authors' overall premise but without understanding the background behind it. I just figured that when you know what goes into your dog's food, you will know what goes into your dog. From this book, I learned a lot about the pet food industry and how and why dog food is regulated as animal "feed," not food - a critical distinction. I learned that no matter what the picture on the bag or the box, the source of "meat" in commercial dry dog food is overwhelmingly likely to be meat "meal." I learned more than I really wanted to about how that meal is made, with warnings that are particularly stark in light of current concerns about animal-human transmission of disease. I learned about canine nutritional needs and how they differ from humans'. The tone is personal and engaging, and the stories about dogs are warm, funny, and touching.

This book seems padded in spots. The long introduction is cogent and detailed, almost like a stand-alone article. But significant parts of the introduction are repeated in the book. After what seemed like a long discussion on pet food company consolidation, the punchline was that the size of the company didn't make a difference when it came to the safety or sufficiency of the dog food they produced. Big was bad; small was just as bad. It seemed like a long journey to get there.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to any dog lover. The recipes are meat-focused and sound dog-friendly. As the authors put it, food plays such a large role in our dogs' lives: "Food is one reliable source of joy, a highpoint of every single day."

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

[Deb✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Denise Wilbanks | This Is My Everybody]

BOOK PREVIEW: Big Kibble by Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez

Let’s see what is in store for us…

STORY... Big Kibble is big business: $75 billion globally. A handful of multi-national corporations dominate the industry and together own as many as 80% of all brands. The guidelines―or lack thereof―for pet food allow producers to include ever-cheaper ingredients and create ever-larger earnings.

A big, inside look at the shocking lack of regulation within the pet food industry, and how readers can dramatically improve the quality of their dogs’ lives through diet to offer a brighter path forward for you and your pet.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WITH THIS BOOK?.... Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez have not only written this book but started a company, Just Food For Dogs, that offers 100% human grade meals for dogs.

I am definitely all in and ready to learn… And to read… ✨😎✨

Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs by Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez
2020 New Book Releases | December


Animals and Pets | New Book Releases Nonfiction

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books & DIY Home Ideas | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com ... Including my video tutorials for DIY home ideas inspired by recommended books to support you in bringing your favorite books to life in your life and home.

You can see all my December Book Previews & additional features for Big Kibble by Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez at https://www.thisismyeverybody.com/boo...


✨😎✨A big thank you to Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez, St. Martin’s Press, Sara Beth Haring (with St. Martin’s Press) and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent (and horrifying) look at what really goes into dog food (or "feed" according to legal definitions, as it is not food), including that expensive stuff that you might think is good for your dogs. The authors do a great job of explaining not only why the stuff in there is very bad for them, but how it keeps getting contaminated and killing off dogs by the thousands in all different ways (yes, even the expensive stuff).

I was already aware of the recalls due to pentabarbatol (a euthanasia drug that is used on pets but keeps showing up in such large doses that it keeps poisoning dogs), so I kind of figured that shelter pets were ending up in dog food, but I had no idea of how many recalls there have been lately and how awful dog feed is for dogs even when it isn't contaminated. Interestingly, the authors go into details about some other contaminations that caused thousand of dog deaths, but they don't talk about the pentabarbatol one that I followed so closely a couple of years ago.

This book definitely feels padded at times. It could be half the length and give all the good info. I appreciate the detailed look at the industry though, and really appreciate that the authors give all the recipes for the dog food they sell (which is cooked fresh in Petco stores and other locations from USDA approved foods instead of the recycled and rendered products allowable in animal feed). People can buy their dog food or they can easily use the recipes here to make up big batches of their own for the fridge or freezer. They still say you need to add a multivitamin powder, though I would prefer just adding real foods. The authors say that we humans also need vitamins in addition to our foods, but I don't take multivitamins and my blood tests always show great levels -- same with my husband and kids.

I do wish the recipes included a vegan or vegetarian formula. The second oldest living dog in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records was a border collie who lived to be 26 on a homemade vegan diet that her owner made for her, so I know it's doable. I've already started cooking dinners for our dog, Moose (feeding kibble in the mornings for now anyway) using ingredients I'm cooking up anyway for the family but I tend to cook vegetarian and would prefer to have at least a large part of his diet be composed of healthy plant proteins for financial and ethical reasons (it seems wrong for animals to suffer to feed another animal). That's just a small suggestion though. In all, I found it helpful and motivating.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[O Prism · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this book thinking I would learn more about how to better feed my dog. My problem with this book is that it talks about ordering fresh pet food from outside sources, when the authors have just launched a website for - you guessed it, fresh pet food from outside sources. I saw this as a conflict of interest and somewhat disingenuous, as it read like a promotion for this type of food, which is better for your dog and by the way you might as well purchase our brand. There is useful history of the creation of pet food, common sense and caution, and some recipes for making your own pet food in the back of the book. While I believe there should more education on what goes into what we feed our pets, promoting oneself at the same time gave me great discomfort. I did learn from reading this book, and there was much effort made to educate the public. Left me with mixed feelings.
Thank you to the authors, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the publisher contacted me about reviewing this, my first reaction was "No" as I don't do much non-fiction. But then I thought about it some more. I'm owned by a cat and not a dog but I have been thinking recently about what I feed my cat, so I said yes. While the book's focus is on dogs and their nutritional needs, much of the history of pet feed and its ingredients, applies to cats too. I am definitely reading the labels on Claude's food more closely and reconsidering what I can feed him. The beast is not much for fresh human food; he turns up his nose at turkey, chicken, and tuna but loves cheese.

If I owned a dog, I would be changing his food ASAP. While Chavez and Buckley don't use scare tactics, they don't really need to. The facts they present are scary enough. Animal poop is allowed to be used in dog food. There's no federal oversight of pet food. The "governing" body is an association that works with feed companies, not to improve them, but to help with sales. Heavy levels of certain metals are allowed in dog feed. The nutritional levels you see posted on labels? Not accurate. They are calculated before the food is processed, but processing, even simple cooking, changes nutrient value. Feed can contain as little as 3% beef, calculated pre-processing, so the final value may actually be 1 or 2% beef. yet that package can legally be labeled as containing beef.

Chavez, Buckley, and Paris have an easy to read, conversational style. There are a few dry patches and some repetition, the book is heavily researched and annotated, but mostly it was an easy read. Easy in style, if not always in content, and thought-provoking for sure. I was appalled at what is allowed to go into pet food, and just how processed it actually is. The difference between pet food and pet feed was eye opening also. And all those boutique, high-cost brands? Many of them are no different from the cheap feed, just marketed differently. The authors break down what is known about canine nutrition and the methods manufacturers use to meet a bare minimum. A bare minimum calculated before processing. Much of the taste and nutritional value that are lost in processing are added back in via spray-on flavor and generic vitamin mixes. But those mixes aren't regulated like human vitamins are and the minerals and vitamins may not be from optimal sources. But one problem is that not enough is known about canine nutrition. Most veterinarian programs don't even offer courses in animal nutrition. And sponsorship of scholarships and conferences is often hosted by pet feed manufacturers. A common practice in many fields to be sure, but it effects vet students and full-fledged vets opinions of dog food and nutrition.

And of course, as we know from human medicine, diet affects health. Why wouldn't that be true for dogs? The authors give anecdotal evidence but there is apparently a dearth of research on canine diet and health, a fact they lament. They have done some studies of their own and hope that more people will do similar studies.

Buckley and Chavez have a business making fresh food for dogs and they talk about their path to that event but they don't push their product or business, though they do toot their own horn re work they have done "disrupting" big kibble. But they also acknowledge and praise other businesses, their competitors, making fresh, healthy food for dogs. There are even some recipes included for people who want to try making their own dog food.

If you have a dog or work in a dog related field, this book is a must. Agree or disagree with it, it will make you think.

Quotes:

"People assume we have a massive amount of data on companion animal nutrition that has been supported by their tax dollars, and that is incorrect. We are 50 years behind human food and livestock feed in terms of nutrition information. There are not federal grants for pet food research. Today, the library of animal nutrition could fill a cardboard box." (location 2673 in my Kindle ARC)

Big Kibble can legally use not only moldy grains and second-rate vegetables and vegetable scraps but also spray-on flavor and outsourced, premade, feed-grade, vitamin mixes-one batch of which recently proved deadly. (location 2460 in my Kindle ARC)

..., the FDA lacks resources and even authority to do everything it should. It has historically lacked the power to impose recalls and punishments and has been lax about following its own recall protocols.*note 28 They have enforcement discretion, which means they pursue and enforce some situations, but certainly not all. (location 1824 in my Kindle ARC)

Waste products, just to be clear, are not good sources of calories for dogs, and can actually be harmful-a truth about waste-as-food in general (even if your dog has been known to eat rabbit poop while walking through a park.) (location 1753 in my Kindle ARC)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very informative book that talks about what's inside our pet food and the process of how they are made. It also discusses several factors and laws that can serve as a guidelines in the pet food industry. What fascinates me the most is the discussion that evaluates the differences of nutritional needs of our pets. It is important for pet owners to read this book to better care for their pets and to be more educated.

[Julie (Bookshelf Adventures) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biased approach to the “truth” of the Big Kibble dog food companies. It read like a very long commercial, but did have some great points about feeding human food in chapters 10 and 11.

Full review, including me on a soap box, on my blog here:

http://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/...

[oohlalabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an eye opener into the dog food industry, what are kibbles and how it’s made, the process of testing & FDA regulations, and unfortunately the lengths some companies did to pass their tests. It’s disheartening to read, but overall the authors provides an unbiased, well researched book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and the authors for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

[Constance Boson · Rating 1 out of 5]

So a guy from Newport California -- one of the wealthiest zip codes in country -- starts a company called "Just Food For Dogs" and then writes a book to let America know we should be serving our dogs human food, preferably his. As he drives his luxury car from his beach house to the office, does he stop to consider the 41 million Americans, including 13 million children, who go hungry every. single. day? No. He thinks about how to sell you really expensive dog food so he can sell his company to one of the companies he's complaining about in the book. Check and see if he's still into dog food so much after he gets his payout.

If you want to make the choice to buy and cook food for your dog, that's your business, but save your money on this book. It's a hit job and it just reeks of self-interest and self-promotion.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

TLDR: Yes, the state of pet food sucks, but this book does not provide adequate evidence that their alternative is substantially better or safer. There are multiple parts of this book that are significantly misleading.

The Good - Talks to pet owners about the fact that certain trends in dog food are not in fact good for dogs, such as raw food and grain free diets and explaining why. They encourage folks who are feeding home-cooked meals to work with a board-certified nutritionist and to make sure it is complete and balanced and to put in essential vitamins. Some of the calls for action, especially for improving regulations for pet food safety, transparency, and truth in advertising (and requiring this of ALL pet food manufacturers) all sound great. I'd even be on board for changing veterinary ethics rules - psychology shows that even if someone receives a donation as small as a pencil it may change their disposition to a company.

The Bad - That being said, the authors seem to be both woefully oblivious to the impact of their own conflict of interest as the manufacturers of pet food themselves. Frequently throughout the book the hypocrisy made me want to punch something.

They get angry at "big kibble" and/or veterinarians for having a potential conflict of interest. However, the book is one prolonged advertisement for their products particularly their food and vitamins, more broadly the class of foods their product belongs in. They fail to mention that some other foods in their category have not even met the basement low bar set AAFCO has set for "feed". They also fail to mention that while veterinarians are ethically obligated to disclose potential conflicts of interest, pet store sales people are not and pet store team members can and do get bonuses for transitioning pets to a food that the owners can only purchase at that pet store.

The book reads like a political hit piece. They spend much more time talking about what "big kibble" is doing wrong than they do talking about what they do right. The implication is that "big kibble" is doing this awful thing (and so THEY clearly would never do it), but often a detailed description of what they do instead is conspicuously absent or contradictory. For instance, they object to the fact that vitamins are added back into kibble after it is cooked, but they also encourage pet owners to make sure to add vitamins into the food they cook to for their pets. They criticize one company for having to clean its equipment between batches to prevent contamination and then explaining shortly thereafter their own battle with adulteration of their food. They talk about how the fads in pet food (raw and grain-free) have ended up harming pets and yet they don't understand why clinicians and nutritionists are concerned about the potential risks of their new, largely untested category of food. They note the problem with boutique premium brands of food - that they can seem higher quality than they actually are due to a lack of regulations around transparency and disclosure - is also a risk pet owners take when they purchase their boutique brand of pet food. They talk about how we should not trust people who work for "big kibble" just because they say they are pet lovers, but they they encourage us to trust them throughout the book because they are pet lovers.

The book often fails to share important information or doesn't tell the complete truth. For instance, they talk about pet owners were "tricked" into feeding their dogs kibble, implying that dogs have been eating "people food" forever. While they allude to potential toxicities, they allude to giving a pet bacon in one section (risk of pancreatitis) and they fail to mention the 10% limit, that if a pet is getting over 10% of their diet from something that is NOT complete and balanced then their diet can become unbalanced and unhealthy for the pet. They fail to mention that most "big kibble" companies have board certified veterinary nutritionists formulating their foods, while they conspicuously did not include the letters after the name of the veterinarian who runs their company and helped write this book. Why? Probably because he did not actually become a board certified veterinary nutritionist, but instead got his MBA. What are they doing instead of trying to hire qualified specialists? They make it sound like they are giving veterinary students a limited 3 week externship in nutrition and hoping that makes them qualified to do a job it usually takes clinicians 3+ years to complete. They also misrepresent "facts" such as the integrated learning program used at Cornell's Veterinary Program. Since this program uses a case-based learning approach that integrates the learning of multiple disciplines at once in the same way they will be used in practice. Nutrition would be part of almost EVERY course using this approach, though they also have the opportunity for students to learn even more through electives. Meanwhile they bemoan the lack of education on nutrition topics, they often make unscientific claims in the book simply sharing their opinion or saying that they feel it is "common sense that." The truth is that science is not always common sense. So when they say that they think the problem with grains is not grains but mycotoxins, that does not mean they have good evidence to back that up. That they think the problem with legumes and pulses is not the food but a lack of taurine, that is their opinion, no based on solid evidence. I would be nervous that pet owners would read this book and take their opinions as more factual than they actually are, and we'll end up in another mess just like the grain-free debacle again, except with a food like theirs.

It's clear throughout this book that the goal is primarily to make people so scared of feeding the most common forms of commercial dog food that they will buy their food instead. Instead, I'd love to see a book that focuses FIRST on how we can bring people together to better regulate pet food and related research to make sure ALL pet food is safer both for animals and their people.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just another company trying to scare me into spending entirely too much money on dog food. I have two dogs and according to their website calculations I should spend almost $300@month on food for them!!

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa Maxwell Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kris Ruggiero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes, in horrifying detail, what is in a bag of dog kibble. Do not read this section if you have a queasy stomach. It wasn’t anything I didn’t already know, but there is clear detail about how toxic metals, sawdust and deadly drugs have ended up in both kibble and canned food. Dog food is still classified as “feed” under the FDA guidelines, so what goes into kibble, wet food, and dog treats does not have to adhere to the same regulations as human meats and produce. Big Kibble also describes the false advertising that exists in the pet food industry. That pretty picture on the front of the bag of a roasted chicken and vegetables is not necessarily what is in the bag of food that you’re buying. There is a detailed history of dog food, from its inception until now, which I found very interesting and informative.
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Big Kibble advocates for dogs eating fresh food and the authors have their own company, JustFoodForDogs. Sometimes this book felt a bit like a big infomercial. All kibble is bad and our fresh food is good. All the dogs I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with have eaten kibble—different varieties, different companies, but it was the mainstay of their diets even though I have cooked for my dogs at times. The book does include recipes and resources which I think any dog lover would find helpful. But ultimately, I believe every pet parent has to make the best informed choice regarding their own dogs. (And cats!) Do some research online. What fits into your budget for the number of pets and the type of dogs you have? I have a large black Labrador. It could be cost prohibitive for me to feed him fresh, prepackaged food, but it might be beneficial for me to try some of the recipes. I wish I had known about this company when my dachshund, Henry, was alive. I may have tried the fresh food for him. I definitely agree with the authors in that there should be changes to the pet food industry as far as not classifying dog food as livestock feed.
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My grandmother always took in stray dogs. When I was growing up, I remember a motley succession of mutts that came and went as the years passed. There was Scruffy and Puggy, a Shih tzu named Misha and near the end of her life, she found a companion in a dog named Evander, who was half-Pitbull, half-Rottweiler. She adopted the dogs no one wanted or couldn’t take care of. I don’t think she ever fed any of these dogs any kibble. The ones who were with her earlier in her life were fed leftovers from whatever she cooked. Her dogs always seemed to live forever and were rarely sick. Food for thought.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.*

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an informative and eye-opening expose on the history and manufacture of dog food, fondly called kibbles. As I was reading the manufacturing process and the actual makeup of these foods I felt quite foolish. I can’t guess the number of hours I’ve wasted over the years in the pet food aisle, poring over the various colorful food bags, the promises of health, happiness, beautiful coat, long healthy lives of the critters so lucky to have loving owners who care to purchase only the very best.
As it turns out, the majority of dog food is all made by about five huge kibble makers in this world. Switching from one brand to another probably doesn’t accomplish a thing. Admiring the beautiful photos on the bag of beef, lamb, vegetables, and so on is so amazingly deceiving. The regulations bird-dogging (get the pun?) these nefarious methods are nonexistent, to say the least. So your pet dies and after a long costly court battle, you finally prove the food did it? The huge conglomerate is only liable for the cost of replacement of your dog, nothing else. No lesson learned there.
You don’t EVEN want to know what’s actually in those colorful little nuggets of doggy delights. Instead of what you envision after studying the packaging and glowing reviews, you’ll be shocked at the smorgasbord of filthy, long dead, worthless, diseased, and dangerous crap that’s fed into those big kibble-making machines.
It’s a sad set up for a country like America, which prides itself on being ahead of the curve, to learn that we’re so amazingly clueless when it comes to the health and welfare of our furry friends.
Oh, but wait! Your vet says it’s good? Read that chapter. Surely these big companies can’t tell such blatant lies? Read THAT chapter. This stuff may not be the best but it can’t be deadly, right? You know the drill by now…read this book.
(I dropped to four stars due to the repeated advertising of the author’s company/products. A mention would have been sufficient.)
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is December 1, 2020.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can Big Kibble do to the dog food industry what The Jungle did for human food? I'm sure authors Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez hope so.

This book was fascinating. I'm not currently a dog owner, though I have been in the past and one of the most important things for us was picking a food we thought was healthiest for him. Certainly we worry about what we put in our own bodies; shouldn't we do the same for our pets?

And the truth of the matter is that we have so many options. Unfortunately, as this book points out, there are very few parent companies that own them all, so if the supply chain is bad, everyone suffers. And it's startling that there is no regulation in the industry. And the difference between "feed" and "food" is vast.

Big Kibble contains much more than a treatise against large dog food manufacturers. It's a well-researched book about the rise of dogs as our number one companions and the history of their care and feeding. But it's first a foremost a call to be vigilant: dogs are getting sick from their food because of a lack of oversight and regulations. Sure, Congressional hearings and other investigations take place--finding things like illegal antibiotics and plastics well *after* many find their pups on the vet's table.

One thing to keep in mind--the authors of this book are not simply unbiased observers. They have a stake in this game: they are the founders of JustFoodForDogs, a specialty pet food company. They are quite open and upfront about this, but it should be noted. Their food is not cheap. It's the conundrum many people face when trying to feed their families: highly processed stuff that's inexpensive, or the nutritious fare that is quite costly. Unfortunately, that is a larger problem than just the conglomerates themselves.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for offering me this copy to review. It was definitely eye opening, and will certainly enhance my research the next time we welcome a new bundle of fur to the family.

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure wish I had seen this book years ago. I think it could have extended my sweet Honey dog’s life. Some of the things brought to light in this book I already knew,but many I did not. This explains why there are so many dog “feed” recalls and unnecessary deaths of our beloved pets.
I did not realize that the standards for dog feed is not anything near standards for human food. It is classified as animal feed, like livestock destined for slaughter or short term uses like laying eggs. So many pets in this book had remarkable restorations and longevity of life once taken off the dried poison most of them were fed. I used to work in a grain elevator so I know what animal grain vs. people grades of grain.
There are so many people and even vets who believe grain free diets are the way to go. Nothing could be further from the truth. The problem is with grains and vegetables that do not pass human food standards but can be fed to animals. Large livestock can handle small amounts of toxins in grain, but has devastating results for small animals such as dogs and cats.
This book is very detailed about the process a handful of people made their “job” to expose. Although this group tried and tested several types of fresh foods for dogs, I liked that they also share the recipes.
One of the few books I have read cover to cover everything except the links for their proofs and research.
I received an ARC through Net-Galley and the publisher.
in return I am posting my unbiased review. I do review everything I read just wish I had finished this sooner. There is a lot to absorb and well worth your time to read it front to back as well.
Would make a great gift for any dog lover.