Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: A Guide for Pet Parents - Tapa dura

[F]ed up with being underpaid and underappreciated' at his long-time job, Wellock decided to purchase a 'down-but-not-totally-out' franchise of pet supply stores, and the wealth of knowledge he's amassed since then selling dog and cat food is compiled in this thorough, pleasant manual. Wellock is a conscientious purveyor of pet foods with a knack for customer service. He occasionally lays out three or four varieties of kibble for his four-footed customers to taste-test. 'Pet parents' will appreciate Wellock's good-natured tone, penchant for dad humor, and detail-oriented approach: in a chapter entitled 'How to Read a Pet Food Package' he gives thoughtful exegesis on ingredient lists from a 'poor-quality traditional dog food', a 'good-quality contemporary dog food', a 'grain-free diet' for a cat, a 'raw diet', a 'baked diet', and a 'dehydrated' meal. He decodes terms for mysterious, potentially troublesome ingredients like 'chicken by-product meal' and also covers hot topics like 'portion control' (citing a study which finds that most people with obese pets think their pet is not obese), 'mooching', and arthritis. It may be prudent to note that Wellock is not a veterinarian; however, he is thoughtful, well-informed, and cares deeply about your pets, despite having never met them. * Publishers Weekly * Wellcock explains why a high quality diet is so important to your companion's well being. He provides shopping tips on choosing the right food, which ingredients to look for and avoid, and the importance of variety, and also busts some common pet food myths[.] The book includes chapters on weight management, choosing healthy treats, and how nutrition can affect conditions like allergies, arthritis and dental issues. * Animal Wellness * More and more dog and cat owners realize their responsibility for making diet decisions that are individualized and sensitive to the environmental conditions that occupy a majority of the daily life of a treasured four legged family member. After reading this book, the pet parent will become an advanced advocate for honest foods with repeatable desirable outcomes. This book will enable a pet parent to more confidently decipher pet food marketing materials, and food labels, by using a gained appreciation for scientific facts, experience, and wisdom. I am confident this book will inspire great choices for all pet parents. -- Gary Pusillo, PhD, PAS, ACAN diplomat, board certified animal nutritionist, and AAFS associate member Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats. Bloody brilliant! This book is so well told it felt as if David Wellock were having a face to face conversation with me. This book will be a timeless reference for those seeking guidance about many aspects of their pets lives and health. It should almost be pre-requisite reading for people planning to add a dog or cat to their family. -- Andrew Redman, pet parent A great read! David Wellock has covered all the bases with a pleasing writing style sprinkled with wit and humor. I certainly recommend this book to franchise owners and pet-parents. -- Edward K. Loyst, chairman, Global Pet Food Stores Inc. David Wellock's Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats gave me many ideas which, in my work to free dogs from a chained and miserable existence, I can put to great use with our rescued canines. These dogs come from nothing, and I regularly see dogs who appear unkempt and unhealthy upon coming into rescue blossom into vibrant, shiny beings with a little TLC and high quality food. I believe David's advice is sound and he's funny too-an unbeatable combination. -- Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better

While the internet provides pet parents with a great deal of information, finding and understanding that information can be like wading through a bog at midnight without a flashlight. In spite of the internet, pet parents remain desperate for valid resources. Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats is timely, informative, and delivers sensible information on topics of importance to all pet owners. From reading pet food labels to storing food, from understanding appropriate calorie intake to food allergies, David Wellock helps readers better understand the dietary needs of their dogs and cats. In recent years, Americans have come to pay more attention to the foods they eat. This trend toward a healthier lifestyle quickly found its way into the world of pet foods, allowing better diets to find success in the marketplace. However, the change has been somewhat perplexing for pet parents as they struggle to sort out the various, and sometimes misleading, messages surrounding the new foods available to their pets. Here, a seasoned expert in the care and feeding of dogs and cats, provides fact-filled, no nonsense, understandable information on the topics pet parents need to know in order to purchase and prepare food and develop an appropriate diet for their furry charges.