Book Reviews
The Plant-Powered Dog
by Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, MS, with W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Vegans love their canine companions, but when it comes to feeding them, there's often a tug at the heart. Many commercial pet food brands are far from plant-based, never mind questionably healthful. There's even been back and forth about the scientific viability of a vegan diet for dogs. Can they get enough protein? Can they digest plant materials? And do we have to subject other animals to cruelty to feed our companions?
The Plant-Powered Dog is the most comprehensive guide to sustaining your pooch's health on a veggie diet I have ever seen. In part one, Laverdure-Dunetz breaks down the reasons to transition your pet to veganism, the nutritional science behind it, ingredients, recipes, and advice for dealing with picky eaters. Part two covers plant-based dietary support for various canine diseases, including cancer, diabetes, food intolerances, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and GI disorders.
The author shares her journey in the book, explaining how she started with a Master of Animal Sciences and had a business creating custom fresh diets for pets. However, when she went vegan, Laverdure-Dunetz did not want to harm animals to feed pets, and the ethical conflict was wearing on her soul.
As she delved into researching plant-based diets for dogs, she discovered that, not only was there a huge demand for fresh vegan pet food, but it was also a health-supporting option for canines. Her clients offered their pups vegan meals, and the dogs thrived.
Because Laverdure-Dunetz knew she couldn't prepare food for all dogs everywhere, she decided to write a book, get her research out to the public, and share what she had learned by offering up the most current scientific data. Some of her science includes an examination of dogs from a genetic perspective, i.e., are they like wolves and what that means in terms of nutritional needs. She takes a look at how chronic inflammation from commercial pet foods is affecting our dogs. The canine microbiome is also discussed, and all these are related back to the animal's diet and other lifestyle factors. And in case you haven't guessed, vegan dog food can indeed provide adequate nutrition.
How to make it all work is another factor, though, as fresh is best in all matters of food. The author lays out charts with ingredient options, food blends, and more to help make it easy to set yourself up for success making homemade plant-based dog food. She teaches practical ways to plan your pet's diet and even support their specific needs by age, breed, activity level, season, and wellness challenges. Supplements are also covered.
If your pet has serious health concerns or is reaching end of life, Laverdure-Dunetz has you covered. Her breakdowns of food and supplements are incredibly specific by physical malady. Her understanding of animal science has both reach and depth. The compassion she feels not just as a vegan, but as a dog-lover, really comes through as she offers support for canine health conditions, many of which have become chronic in current times.
This book is well-researched and crammed with up-to-date information to help you feed your dog a healthful vegan diet for life. Though dense with data, it's still easy to follow. If you're considering a vegan or plant-forward diet for your dog, The Plant-Powered Dog will be an invaluable resource.
The Plant-Powered Dog (ISBN 978-1-61781-330-6) is 378 pages. It is published by Dogwise Publishing and retails for $29.95. Rissa Miller/Former Senior Editor
Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen
by Karla Salinari
Karla's cooking was influenced by her exposure to two culinary worlds-one in Miami (where her step father was of Cuban background) and the other in Puerto Rico, where her dad began to follow a plant-based diet, and her aunt and uncle owned a vegetarian restaurant. She creatively reminds readers that traditional Caribbean food is healthy and generally easy to prepare. Gorgeous photographs of dishes such as Garbanzos Guisados (Chickpea Stew), Sopa de Platano (Plantain Soup), and Chivato de Calabaza (Calabaza Custard) are included.
Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen (ISBN 978-1-5107-7271-7) is 175 pages and published by Skyhorse Publishing. It retails for $29.99. Debra Wasserman/VRG-Coordinator
