Will this book really help my best friend live a longer life ? Or is it a scam ?

[Mihika Bedi]

There is this book called dog food secrets written by an Andrew Lewis. And look at what he writes -

" Grief stricken man searches for answers after unexplained death of his dog and accidently uncovers multi million dollar cover up responsible for upto 87% of all DDog deaths….and now he teaches dog owners worldwide, step by step, how to easily stop it happening to them before its too late.

You're about to discover the terrifying-truth about commercial dog food that is linked to the deaths of thousands of dogs across the US every single day. Many world-famous Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and published Dog Care Experts universally agree any dog that eats commercial dog food is at a much higher risk of dying prematurely and by the time symptoms are noticeable, it's often too late to prevent an agonizing death except by lethal injection. See their shocking, research-supported claims in this report.

Also in this report, I show you a simple solution proven to increase the lifespan of your dog by up to 134% and save you up to $10,000. To discover these amazing secrets just continue reading and your reward is a super-healthy, incredibly-happy dog that stays by-your-side for up to 8.3-years longer than statistically predicted. "

Heres the full link

' http://www.dogchitchat.com/dog-food-secrets.html'

The entire advertisement is written very well ( but its also gimmicky ) and it tries to trap you with your emotions for your dog. Despite saying this, i still want to buy this book right away. Yet i want the best for my dog, its not the money im worried about, its weather im reading what may not be the truth or maybe an exagerration.

Can you tell me if you have heard of this Andrew Lewis. Is he a fake

SECOND QUESTION - theres another book - Complete guide to the Cocker Spanial by Sharda Baker -

http://www.shardabaker.com/cocker-spaniel-club/

she also has a complete DIY training program

So plesae tell me, which of these do you reccomend ?

[Michael William Shea]

I certainly do not think the information is correct. Although,I certainly do not agree with a diet being high in carbs, fillers, by-products etc. A dog food that is high in protein, low in carbs, no fillers and by-products is very healthy for a dog. I know a lady who feeds her dog Purina and her dog lived till 18. Mine was fed a holistic diet, or organic and lived till 17 1/2. Being a vet, I have studies dog nutrition, and know that the high quality dog foods fine for them. I trust foods such as Newmans Own, Blue Wilderness, Canidae, Wellness, Our nature, California Natural to name a few. I don't put my trust in people like that, but what is healthy for the size of my dog, his energy level, his age, his breed, his bone size etc. If my dog is healthy, I wouldn't change his food. I would say he is pulling your leg.

[Delilah]

When you say "being a vet, I have studied dog nutrition" it gives readers the idea that all vets study nutrition and that is not the case. For example, my vet recommended food that is not nutritionally sound. Food that he happens to have available in his office.

[Michael William Shea]

A lot of vets have studied nutrition. Schools now are adding nutrition to their training. I didn't say all vets. I said being a vet, I have studied dog nutrition. I didn't say "All vets have studied dog nutrition" I also didn't say that the internet is a good source for information on nutrition. The food that vets carry is often there choice, I don't carry the same foods as others carry.
Just because a person thinks that the choice of foods they carry isn't nutritious isn't often true. It depends on the dog, and doing food testing on the foods. A lot of vets feed there own dogs the food that is available in there office and there dog has lived as long and is just as healthy. I think you missed the point here, it was on nutrition. I didn't label anyone.

[Belles]

All vets do study basic animal nutrition. To what degree they study it is a different matter. Some of them study nutrition as a specialty.

I am careful about the choice of dog food that I feed my animals, but I remember as a kid growing up, we had many dogs that lived long, healthy lives.. well into their senior years. Back then in the 60's and 70's and even in the 80's, there were few choices of food. Most of them would not be considered premium brands in today's nutritional thinking. I remember giving them Gravy Train for what seemed like years.. every night and morning, mixing their kibble with water to make a "juicy gravy".

Pet nutrition is a relatively new area in terms of looking at the overall animals' health. In all the years I spent growing up with dogs (my mother bred German Shepherds and we had other family pets), not one of them died too young or because of an illness like cancer. I admit, they didn't live as long as my dogs have.. but for a german shepherd their average life span was about 12 years. Certainly within the normal range of lifespan expectancies.

I don't think quality nutrition should be considreed as a "magic bullet" to help your dog live longer. I think it is a great aid to help your dog live a quality life with fewer physical problems. Overall, they feel better and are healthier than the dog that eats Ol' Roy. Just my opinion though.

Your vet may not carry a brand of food you would feed feed alot worse dog foods than Iams, your own dogs, but as I've said many times before on here.. you can certainly Hills and Eukanuba. None of those would be my choice, but there are people here who swear by it and their dogs are quite happy, healthy and do just fine.

I always encourage people to consider other choices, but you have to do some elbow work to find out most of your information. Nobody knows your dog better than you and your vet.

[Samantha Franklin]

I bought the dog food secrets program and found it reassuring with fun recipes. You can pretty much garner the same info though from this wonderful site for free - http://dogfoodanalysis.com/

ultimately finding the right premium food is a lot of trial and err. I really wanted to do grain free and after trying virtually everything - my shih tzu/springerdoodle mix did the best with wellness core (we mix dry kibbies with canned and she gobbles it up and has a gorgeous coat and all allergies are gone and her poo is solid like little tootsie rolls - haha sorry TMI). Every pup responds differently to each product - innova is a great company too! good luck with the food hunt!

[Belles]

Mihika,

I would respond to whether or not I would recommend the diet and nutrition books.. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." I don't know how they can claim to increase the lifespan of your dog by 134% or save you $10,000 in the process.

However, I do know one thing... a sound and nutritional diet keeps your pet healthier overall. So, you could be spending more in your every day foods and less in veterinary costs for poor health related to diet - if you feed quality food. I also believe that good breeding is as important as what you feed.

I recommend you consult with a veterinary nutritionist to find what formulas they recommend for your dog. Go with that for now and begin to do your own research to find out what you feel works best. It's taken me several years of shopping, comparing and learning before I can feel comfortable making dog food recommendations and guess what... every single dog I own does best on something different!!!! I have three and now I've found a food that works well for all three.

Another note.. I've changed dog food brands no less than 5 times in the past two years.. but you have to find the best you can afford that hopefully does not contain any grains and is holistic/organic.

you can go here to get some good information on dog food ingredients and ratings: www.dogfoodanalysis.com

[Michael William Shea]

Listen to Belles, she always has great advice. A healthy diet is certainly something that you should splurge on.

[Wendy C. Fries]

"A healthy diet is certainly something that you should splurge on." Excellent point! Sometimes I think we get fixated on the cost of food -- for people and pets -- and automatically pick up what's cheapest instead of what's best.

Wendy

[Michael William Shea]

This is what makes me furious. I have people that I help financially with vet bills in Greeley, Colorado, as well as dog food or cat. However, most of the people do not care what they feed there animals and do not listen to my advice. Now, if I am going to travel 45 minutes to help someone, I expect them at least to consider a change of diet especially if I am going to pay for it.
There is this one crazy younger person, who actually buys her food from the dollar store. How much is the food? The food is $1.50. I have offered a million times to buy her dog and cat a high quality canned food and dry if they will not eat the canned.
The reason I offered is not only that the food is the cheapest, most non-nutritional food you can buy, and her animals are in very bad shape. Her dog has chronic pink eye, and overweight, he pees all over the place and is never exercised. Her cat, is 30 pounds. The average male cat is about twelve or thirteen pounds give or take. Her cat bites her when she is hungry and she gives in and free feeds them.

After, realizing that I am not going to get anywhere with her. I purchased the foods, treats, toys etc and knocked on her door. She thanked me, but when I came back to see how some of the other animals were, all the items I purchased were on a table outside in the sitting lounge, for someone else to take. Furious, I knocked on her door and she came up with some lame excuse. I told her I would no longer help her with bills if she wasn't going to take better care of her animals. Before, you all dive in with why I didn't take the animals away from her. I feel that because her son commited sucicide, this is all she has, and with different vets and vet techs helping her out, I feel a bit better about her animals environment.
Her lame excuse, she buys too many cigarettes and that is why she cannot buy decent food. I reminded her I would buy everything, she said "No". It drives me crazy. I mean seriously!

[Belles]

I don't understand that. Here you have someone who is willing to give your animal a decent start on nutritional choices.. and yet you still refuse.

Michael, if it might even help you come to terms with it.. perhaps there is something wrong there to begin with. Maybe she suffers from depression or other mental health issues.. thus, the reason for the son committing suicide.

We could only wish that these people wouldn't own animals, but sadly, she's doing the minimum required to care for them and no one should fault you for not taking the animals from her - she's not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law.

Also, cats can live on a diet that is.. ahem.. sparse and disgusting at best. It might not be the best diet for her cat, but it probably is providing minimal nutrition. It's just sad that not everyone values nutrition. She's probably not eating a real healthy diet for herself either.. so there you go.

I think people who take better care of themselves also see the value of taking good care of their animals - more than those who don't.

Sorry for your frustration. That would frustrate me too.

[Michael William Shea]

If I were making the law, I would certainly make a law about tying up your dogs in the backyard and not taking your dog for a walk. She does have mental issues, however she is sane enough to know how to take care of your animals. Since, she told me " I can't afford food, or vet care because I buy too many smokes" She calls me a million times a day repeating that she needs help in teaching her dog to walk using a wheelchair. I suggested buying a short leash and an harness. She has never taken her dog for a walk before, who is extremely hyper, and she doesn't take her dog out enough and it pees inside the apartment building. I can understand that it might hurt her to walk, so use her wheelchair and stop making up excuses!!! Ugh