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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michele Harris
michele.harris@erickson.com

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

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

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

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

History

For centuries, dogs ate table scraps.

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s menu

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to choose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.