The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats (Paperback)

by Andi Brown (Author), Richard Pitcairn (Foreword) "Most of us know the importance of eating healthily and getting plenty of exercise..." (more)
Key Phrases: daily play dates, nice puree, plastic yogurt containers, Vita-Mineral Mix, Whole Pet Portrait, Whole Pet Diet (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Andi Brown's well-researched, holistic approach to pet care is vital to maintaining optimal health, happiness, and longevity. If you believe, like Brown does, that pets are as integral to the family as they are to the ebb and flow of life, then this book will dramatically improve the health and vitality of all your four-legged family members." -- Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary contributor to ABC-TV's Good Morning America, pet columnist for Knight

Product Description
Despite their promise of a complete and balanced meal, most commercial pet foods are chock-full of dangerous by-products, indigestible fillers, and chemical preservatives. It’s no wonder that owners spends thousands of dollars every year treating their pets’ digestive disorders, tumors, joint and back problems, skin irritations, allergies, and heart, liver, and kidney disease. In THE WHOLE PET DIET, Andi Brown combines simple home cooking with natural supplements, dedicated playtime, exercise, and good old-fashioned pampering to help regulate pets’ weight and tap into their natural healing powers.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587612712
• ISBN-13: 978-1587612718
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,749 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #23 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Diets & Weight Loss > Special Conditions > Whole Foods
  #40 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Cats

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think this book saved my dog's life, April 13, 2007

By	L. Stiff (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but..., December 6, 2007

By	K. McCulloch "Kirsty A-F" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You REALLY Love Your Pet...., March 29, 2007

By	K. A. Stevenson "WIAPilot" (Tucson) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.