The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer

People want the best for their canine companions, and this has only become more evident during the pandemic when dog rescues and adoptions increased dramatically. Just as people became more cognizant of their own health and happiness, their dogs’ came under the same scrutiny. In this book, Habib (director of the documentary The Dog Cancer Series: Rethinking the Canine Epidemic) and veterinarian Becker (The Whole Dog Journal’s Best Homemade Diet Book of All Time) persuasively offer thoroughly researched information on ways to improve dogs’ quality of life and longevity. Their “D.O.G.S.” formula for optimal dog health consists of “Diet and nutrition,” “Optimal movement,” “Genetic predispositions,” and “Stress and environment.” Diet and nutrition are the main focuses of this highly readable book, where the authors decipher ingredients in kibble and list the vitamins and nutrients dogs need for optimal health during various stages of life. The authors say that the more highly processed a dog food is, the less nutritious it becomes, and they offer suggestions to improve the quality of meals. Nonjudgmental in tone, the book guides readers through options such as purchasing better-quality dry or canned food; using a combination of better kibble with healthy add-ons (mostly fruit and veggies); migrating to a fully raw diet; or making home-cooked meals. Exercise, timing of feedings, breed differences and genetics, and environmental contaminants are also addressed.