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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 67 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
117 of 118 found the following review helpful:
 I think this book saved my dog's life Apr 13, 2007
By L. Stiff
After my always-healthy mini dachshund became suddenly very ill last year (with a mysterious "sterile inflammation" of the bladder - she couldn't pee), which cost five thousand dollars and put her through a week of torture at my vet and the local emergency care hospital, I picked up this book in a local bookstore, when I was searching for answers about what had really happened to my dog. Then I picked up her bag of Hill's Science Diet R/D chow, and discovered that in addition to byproducts, it contains a low grade pesticide! No wonder her immune system was going bonkers. I started cooking for her last November, and so far, she is doing great - her skin issues have cleared up, she is bright eyed and energetic, and her coat is glossy and soft. Once you get your ingredients together the recipes are easy to follow. I prepare a batch that lasts for three days and keep it refrigerated - easy. I highly recommend this book because commercial pet foods are really bad news, as the government doesn't care what ends up in it and doesn't regulate the manufacturing processes - if you can't eat it yourself, you shouldn't be giving it to your pet.
135 of 144 found the following review helpful:
 Okay, but... Dec 06, 2007
By K. McCulloch
"Kirsty A-F"
This book isn't bad, it has a lot of useful information in it about home-cooking for your pet. However, at times it does seem like vehicle for this woman to sell her company's products. Sure, she tells you how to make most things for yourself but at the same time for every feeding recommendation she makes, its her company that sells some miracle product that will fit in perfectly.
Other things I didn't like about this book were that there's no nutritional analysis given for the recipes. The book also doesn't advocate feeding variety strongly enough for my liking. She actually states that its better to feed animals your dog could actually hunt. My dog is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel... she can hunt paper towel rolls and that's about it! If you are going to be home-cooking for your animal you should be sure to use a variety of protein sources on a regular basis. Unless your animal is allergic to every other source, you shouldn't just give chicken all the time. That's a diet that's guaranteed to be deficient in some nutrient.
Dr Pitcairns Complete Guide to Natural Health is a better book. Whole Pet Diet is more readable and possibly more accessible but the quality of the information just isn't as good. Pitcairn, unlike Andi Brown, is actually a vet and pesonally that makes a difference to me when evaluating the quality of the information offered. If you are serious about homecooking, get both books. Or if you just want one, get Pitcairn. If you are more interested in finding out about dog food and the pet food industry itself then read Food Pets Die For.
Just for the record, I homecooked for a few months. It is expensive and quite complicated since you must use supplements and feed the correct balance of nutrients. You won't learn about this balance from Whole Pet Diet BTW. I did a lot of research, read several books and various online resources. In the end I switched to raw feeding. Less complicated, cheaper, nutrient quality is guaranteed and much more fun for my dog! Whole Pet Diet doesn't advocate raw feeding (though Pitcairn does) but that's probably because Halo doesn't sell a premade raw product... yet.
44 of 45 found the following review helpful:
If You REALLY Love Your Pet.... Mar 29, 2007
By K. A. Stevenson
"WIAPilot"
Ironically, I ordered this book for my overweight dog just prior to the big scare with rat poisoning in the various commercial dog and cat foods. I think that incident is making a lot of pet owners rethink their position on cooking for their pets.
Almost everyone originally thinks that there is NO WAY that they would have time to "cook" for their pet. The recipes contained in The Whole Pet Diet couldn't be EASIER. (And I'm SURE that they are less expensive than commercial food.) The primary stew for dogs or cats makes 20 cups and you are urged to divide it into portion Ziploc servings and freeze the servings that you don't use in a 3-day period.
HOwever, this book is MUCH MORE than just recipes. It is an 8 week plan to bring play and nutrition and well-being to your cat or dog. It is filled with WONDERFUL success stories. I highly recommend it and have sent copies to several of my friends.
24 of 24 found the following review helpful:
This is a must read for anyone who cares about their pet Oct 15, 2006
By Justin Loeber
I was fascinated with the stories and the philosophy that Andi Brown has presented in her book. It all makes sense that man's best friend should enjoy fresh food without the poison that our government allows to be sold as nutritional. Andi Brown shares her recipes in a very generous way. As for me, I hate to cook, which is why it's great that she started her holistic food company 20 years ago for terrible cooks like me. In essence, the book has inspired me to make sure that my dog Rufus will always enjoy wholesome food. Makes me want to eat healthier too!
29 of 30 found the following review helpful:
 An education for pet owners May 20, 2007
By J.R.
"Bread Maven"
I barely have time to cook for my husband and myself, so there's no way I'm going to spend what's left of my free time making chicken stew for my dog...however, having said that, I did find this book to be a wealth of information about the kinds of things that need to be in her diet and the kinds of things that are actually contained in commercial brands of dog food. It prompted me to switch to a premium, organic meat-and-vegetable brand of dog food (sans grains, which I now know to be hard on her digestive system.) Yes, it's more expensive, but she's worth the extra money, and I feel more secure buying her food from a small, independent producer than getting huge sacks of kibble containing God knows what detritus from God knows where.
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