Ovid: Bibliographic Records

Raw meaty bones is more than just a book about pet nutrition, it is also a fascinating account of an individual challenging the orthodox views in the face of opposition of the veterinary authorities and the pet food companies. The book puts forward the view that dogs and cats should be fed a diet that should be nutritionally adequate and have physical qualities (texture, abrasiveness, chewiness) that will help control plaque and maintain oral health. Soft foods, whether prepared at home or by commercial manufacturers may be nutritionally complete but are physically inadequate and therefore promote periodontal disease. (The recommended diets for cats and dogs is given in an appendix and is also available on the Internet at www.rawmeatybones.com). The author, Tom Lonsdale, a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, and small animal practitioner near Sydney Australia describes how he came to his views after noting the symptoms of bad breath, bleeding gums and stained teeth disappear from pets after they were changed to a more natural diets containing lots of bones. However, he believes that the pet food industry through their close links with veterinary schools and through sponsoring symposia and conferences uses the veterinary profession to promote its products. The book describes how the author and his colleagues began 'disturbing the peace' by raising the issue in the Australian Veterinary Association. It then goes on to describe mouth diseases in cats and dogs, and an analysis of tinned food, and description of veterinary dentistry. The next section is an expose of how the pet food industry works with the veterinary profession at various levels (students, teachers, and practitioners) to promote its products, and of the various battles the author has had in getting his message across. The book is written in an easy, lively and readable style and will be of great interest to small animal practitioners, veterinary students, pet nutritionalists, and pet owners. One beneficiary of this book is this reviewer's own dog who now receives regularly raw meaty bones.