Customer Reviews

Simple Little Vegan Dog Book

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First, some background: I went vegetarian my freshman year of college (1996) and vegan approximately eight years later. Currently, I'm an adopted mother to five rescued dogs, whom I've been feeding a vegetarian diet (consisting of both store-bought and homemade food) for about seven years. In the past year or so, I've been trying to transition them to a vegan diet. The Book Publishing Company kindly sent me a copy of THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK for review on my blog.

Michelle Rivera's THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK is a quick, easy read. Part cookbook, part nutritional primer, part lifestyle guide, the book is divided into several sections:

1. "The Vegan Lifestyle" briefly examines the reasons for and benefits of veganism for dogs (here called a "vegan lifestyle," since dogs are not "vegans" in the ethical/moral/philosophical sense of the word). Throughout this chapter, Rivera offers anecdotes from several guardians of vegan dogs, detailing how and why they decided to transition their dog-kids to vegan diets. She also includes some basic information about canine nutritional needs.

Though Rivera did consult with veterinarians while writing THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK, the book is not intended as a comprehensive nutritional or health guide. Rather, it helps to provide encouragement and support to those parents who have already decided to transition their dog-kids to veganism. In this way, the dog parents profiled within these pages function as a sort of support group for those already on the path to canine veganism, instead of an impetus to begin the journey.

That said, if you're still struggling to decide whether veganism is the right choice for you and your dog-kids, THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK isn't for you. Instead, I recommend searching your local library for books on canine nutrition - and not, necessarily, books specific to veganism and dogs. (To the best of my knowledge, no such books exist. Publishers, are you listening? *wink*) I think you'll find that most veterinarians, while generally opposed to vegetarian and vegan diets for dogs, will begrudgingly admit that such diets can be healthy, as long as they're formulated with care and knowledge. For me, hearing these words from speciesist omni (nonhuman) animal medical and nutritional professionals is what ultimately compelled me to make the leap to homemade vegetarian and, eventually, vegan foods.

2. "Hazardous and Safe Ingredients" is as straightforward as can be. Here, Rivera offers information about which foods you should avoid giving your dog-kids, and why. She also gives a few suggestions for healthful and tasty foods.

3. "Getting Started" seems a rather odd chapter to me. In this section, Rivera introduces five staples - beans, rice, lentils, barley and oatmeal - along with suggestions on how to prepare and store these items for later use. Thus, she explains how to soak and cook each item (good), directing readers to store and freeze the extras in single-serving containers (not so much "bad" as it is puzzling). Preparing beans, rice and the like doesn't strike me as a big enough inconvenience that I'd need to cook a huge batch at a time and waste valuable, energy-sucking freezer space to store the extras. Plus, these items on their own are just ingredients; they don't constitute entire meals, so these frozen foods still require extra prep. I don't see how this strategy is advantageous, that is, unless one cooks a new meal for one's canine kids every day? In which case, dog bless ya!

4. "Biscuits" begins the recipe portion of The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book. Here, we have four appetizers, if you will: Yeasted Gourmet Dog Treats; Basic Vegan Dog Biscuits; Bulldog Bulgar Biscuits; and Oatmeal and Parmesan Biscuits.

5. "Main Dishes" features eight hearty dishes: Barking Barley and Wheat Surprise; Snoopy's Great Pumpkin, Rice and Beans; Canine Cashew Casserole; Oats, Rice, Veggies and Lentils; Rover's Risotto; Fruits, Veggies and Oats; German Shepherd's Pie; and Chihuahua Chili sans Carne.

The theme in this section is flexibility. Many of these recipes are jumping-off points; readers are encouraged to experiment with different grains, fruits and veggies in order to create their own dishes. In particular, "Main Dishes" illustrates just how easy and enjoyable cooking for your dog-kids can be, given a little time, planning and creativity.

My only real complaint with this section is that many of the recipes call for store-bought, low-sodium, no-onion vegan gravy and vegetable stock. While vegan gravy and veggie stock are readily available in stores, finding versions that are both low in sodium and onion-free is, dare I say, impossible. Thus, recipes for each of these ingredients would have been greatly appreciated. Instead, I improvised and came up with low-sodium, onion-free versions of each myself.

6. "Special Treats" is the final grouping of recipes in The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book. Nom noms include Banana-Nut Crunch Bars; Apple Pupcakes; Bowser's Birthday Cake; Pekingese Pumpkin Pops; Snickerpoodles; Cheese Dog Delights; Hound Dog Delights; Puppy Part Hors D'oeuvres; and Peanut Butter Banana Treats.

Of these recipes, I've sampled the following thus far: Barking Barley and Wheat Surprise; German Shepherd's Pie; Snickerpoodles; and Peanut Butter Banana Treats. All were a big hit with the dog-kids, and the husband even liked the German Shepherd's Pie!

So, to summarize: THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK is just that - a simple, little book about vegan dogs for their parents and guardians. If you aren't already inclined, it won't convince you of the merits of a vegan diet for your dogs. But if you're already on the path, it might help to make your journey a bit more enjoyable.

While we haven't quite figured out how lambs can safely lay down next to lions, animal rights activist and canine companion enthusiast Michelle A. Rivera has been able to create a compendium of nutritious 'cruelty free' vegan recipes for dog treats and meal times that are better for a dog than what is served them out of commercially canned dog food. With recipes ranging from a Canine Cashew Casserole; to Yeasted Gourmet Dog Treats; to German Shepherd's Pie, the dog compatible biscuits, substantial meal time staples and doggie treats comprising "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" will result in a healthy, happy, and 'earth friendly' canine companion. In addition to these thoroughly 'dog owner' friendly recipes, there is a wealth of information about why certain human foods are toxic for dogs; resource lists, and an informed introduction to the vegan lifestyle and how it applies to canines. "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" is highly recommended for dog owners of all breeds and backgrounds.

I love the EASY healthy vegan dog recipes in this book! I am very happy with my purchase!

This book has no nutritional information with the recipes, so no way to size them up (or down) appropriately for multiple or bigger dogs. They seem geared towards small dogs, generally. I can't really use this for my three greyhounds. At least not yet, since I haven't fully learned just how much of a given ingredient my dogs need in a meal. There also are no claims that the meals are balanced, or what might be needed to make them so (taurine, l-carnitine, various vitamins or minerals ...).
I highly recommend (as does the author) that you do a lot of research on your own before you use this book. She may have done research, but she doesn't share it here.

My dogs love, love LOVE all of the recipes in this book--it has made home cooking a breeze! They are obsessed with the "entrees" and they are so easy, quick and cheap to make!!

My one caveat with this book is how little information it provides on dog nutrition. Home cooked meals are fine for dogs, and a vegan diet is too, but your dog may need to take a supplement/multi-vitamin and this book doesn't really talk about that.

This book is a great idea. Simple and easy. Recipes are delicious enough for you to eat as well as your furry little friends. Uses ingredients which you can find in your pantry and educates you on why you should feed your dogs a vegan diet and what is good and bad for dogs.

Great value, great concept and is completely animal friendly.