What the Pet Food Industry Is Not Telling You: Developing Good Practices for a Healthier Dog

Dr. Stephanie Krol

Publisher: Riley Publishing Pages: 254 Price: (paperback) $24.95 ISBN: 9781737320104Reviewed: July, 2022

In What the Pet Food Industry is Not Telling You, Dr. Stephanie Krol imparts valuable information on how to keep dogs healthy with a raw food diet.

Krol was dismayed when her beloved Jack Russell terrier, Winston, became sick and several veterinarians said he would die without surgery. Krol, who has a doctorate in education, began researching his problem and ended up switching his diet — until he didn’t need surgery after all. She had saved Winston’s life by changing his diet, which led her to write her this book.

A pet health and wellness coach, Krol explains the research behind her idea of switching dogs to a raw food diet. “What your dog eats is either preventative care or disease-creating. There is no neutral ground. Every bite matters for humans and dogs,” she writes.

She breaks down popular raw food diets, suggesting that people switch their dogs to single-category, rotational feeding. That means one day of eating meat only, then one day of just vegetables, etc. She also recommends a day of fasting, which mimics the diets of wolves in the wild.

Passionate about the subject, Krol manages to be conversational and convincing at the same time and delivers copious information, including interesting facts like, “your dog has stomach acid that is over ten times more potent than what us humans have.”

The book offers solid ideas about how owners can switch their dogs’ diets, but it would have been even stronger had Krol offered specific weekly plans for owners to follow. Additionally, at book’s end, she suggests readers visit her website to view her recommendations for tools to use, such as knives for cutting bones. It would have been much more useful had she included that information in the book.

Regardless, this volume is perfect for dog owners and holistic animal professionals. If you’re interested in exploring a raw food diet for your pet, then this is the book for you.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.

A wellness plan for dogs featuring a raw food diet.

Krol, who has a background in education and real estate, is neither a veterinarian nor a canine nutritionist; she was motivated to write this book because of a health scare involving Winston, her beloved dog. Instead of accepting the bleak prognoses offered by veterinarians, the author “decided to take my dog’s health into my own hands.” Her extensive research led her to implement a “Monogastric Diet” that, she asserts, turned her dog’s life around. Along the way, Krol discovered what she characterizes as the deficiencies of the American pet food industry and medication-oriented veterinarians who, she says, “are not in the business of restoring health.” The author carefully cites scientific studies and sources and includes comprehensive references to back up her claims, and she deftly and seamlessly weaves her suggested nutritional approach into stories of her dog’s journey to better health. Early chapters lay out the basis for the author’s wellness plan; she clearly describes her dog’s illness and the details she learned about commercial dog food, and she explains why she believes that holistic veterinarians are preferable to others. She also provides a sobering evaluation of the content of dog food, noting that pets “become the recipient of all the byproducts humans will not or cannot eat.” The book offers readers a cogent overview of canine diseases while frankly discussing current veterinary practices, especially regarding vaccinations; on this subject, she cites research that suggests “Vaccinations can hinder and hurt your dog’s natural life-giving state of being.”

Most of the book centers on Krol’s belief that dogs should be fed a raw food diet of meat and plant-based material. However, although she passionately supports this position, she acknowledges that some veterinarians and pet owners may not be raw food enthusiasts. While exploring the diet, Krol candidly concludes that the positives outweigh the negatives, advocating a method she calls “Single Category Rotational Feeding,” which involves alternating meals of meat and plants with periods of fasting. Portions of the plan may meet with resistance or even skepticism from some dog owners; for example, the author endorses feeding dogs raw bones, which, she writes, “are needed for proper nutrition”; despite the inclusion of citations to support this, some dog owners may still be hesitant. The plan calls for creating a menu of raw meats, including fish, cooked vegetables, and fruit. Krol helpfully provides “feeding options,” including daily schedules and “recipe samples and bone details.” She also helpfully includes a chapter on how to modify the plan for puppies and even explains how to adapt it for cats. For pet owners who are interested in administering such a raw food diet, Krol provides justification and sufficient information for anyone to easily execute the plan. At times, however, one may feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of detail as well as the additional preparation associated with the author’s dietary method.

A diligently researched pet-care manual, but some readers may balk at the considerable commitment required.

Pub Date: May 24, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-73732-011-1

Page Count: 254

Publisher: Riley Publishing

Review Posted Online: July 6, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022

Review Program: KIRKUS INDIE

Categories: HEALTH & FITNESS | GENERAL NONFICTION

THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS

13th June 2022

TITLE: What the Pet Food Industry Is Not Telling You

AUTHOR: Dr. Stephanie Krol

Star Rating: 5

To Sum Up:

A fascinating read which feels well-researched and honest. I'd recommend it to anybody who has an open mind to pet ownership.’

The Wishing Shelf REVIEW

I think my dad, God rest him, would have loved this author. When we were kids, we had lots of dogs and cats, and dad never took them to the vets, and I remember we fed them scraps from the table: meat, veg, stuff like that. Our pets seemed to live forever; I remember, our old golden retriever lived until she was thirteen.

It seems to me that today, we rush animals to the vets way too often, and, as owners, we've become over-dependent on canned dog food. I suspect my dad if I could ask him, would totally agree. What the Pet Food Industry Is Not Telling You is a compelling and often thought-provoking read, which basically looks at dog food(all pet food in fact) and the best ways to feed a beloved pet.

Written by a specialist, the book is filled with tips on how to keep a pet happy and fit, with an emphasis on ́keeping it natural ́and ́common sense ́. Being a dog owner myself, although I didn't agree with every part of the book, I thought it helpful and very much an eye-opener. So much so, that I intend to get hold of my own copy.

In terms of readership, I suspect this book is not for everybody. Vets, for example, spring to mind. Although I suspect many vets would agree with a lot of the author's thoughts on the subject. My wife happens to be a vet and she often warns pet owners not to feed animals cheap pet food. I suspect most animal lovers would find this of interest and, even if they don't agree with all of it, it might give them food for thought-pardon the pun!

Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-researched book written in an accessible writing style. If your pet is ever ill and visiting the vet is simply not working out, try What the Pet Food Industry Is Not Telling You. You might just find the answers you're looking for.

A‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review

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