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It's one of those books that arrive full of promises to make your pet's life much better, happier and healthier.

The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats by Andi Brown, the founder of Halo, Purely for Pets, a company in Florida that specializes in all-natural, holistic pet care products, has a plan to make your pet whole again.

And it mostly involves cooking for your pet.

Brown has very unkind things to say about commercial pet food. She notes that pet obesity is an epidemic, with one in four pets a flabby animal. And she notes that people are spending thousands of dollars each year to treat pets for obesity and other health issues such as skin and digestive disorders, heart, liver and kidney diseases. Brown maintains that such health issues were uncommon 30 or 40 years ago.

Why?

Brown claims the answer can be found in commercial pet food, including what she calls vet-prescribed foods. She claims the foods are no better for pets than junk food is for their human owners.

Using case examples of pets with health or parasite issues, Brown makes a case for switching dogs and cats to her whole food diet to help restore them to health. And she says it can be done in eight weeks.

Even people with busy lifestyles can find the time to cook for their pets, Brown maintains, using her recipe that can be cooked and then portioned out and frozen until ready for eating.

As well as diet, she also tackles bathing, fleas and ticks, teeth decay and others, using natural ingredients.

Published by Celestial Arts and selling for $16.95 in paperback, the book makes an interesting case for alternative thinking. I would be interested to hear from anyone who gives it a try to see how the pets fared.

For more information about Halo, visit www.halopets.com.

Kohl's books about animals

If you are looking for cute books for a little one on your gift list, check out the new Animal Planet collectors books and plush series, being offered at Kohl's stores nationwide to raise money for charities. Focusing on wild animals, the books follow elephants, zebras, tigers and giraffes on their daily affairs using photos and a story.

Katya's Busy Morning follows a mama tiger as she tries to provide for her hungry babies. Tembo the elephant and Milia the zebra learn how to keep the herd safe from predators. And Dedan the giraffe takes a journey to protect his family.

The books are being sold as part of the Kohl's Cares for Kids program, which benefits The Childrens Medical Center of Dayton. Each sells for $5 and all the proceeds go to the charities.

Study: Pets a help to seniors

I have always thought it one of the worst things — taking away pets from seniors who have to move into assisted living facilities. Now, it's more than just an opinion.

A national survey conducted by Purina of older Americans with pets and without pets shows that the biggest benefit is companionship. The pets also improve the owner's mood and reduce the owner's stress. And more than half said the pets give them someone to care for, which makes them feel needed and loved.

During October — which is Senior Pet Adoption Month — 200 animal shelters around the country are hosting Senior PetLover Adoption Days to give seniors an opportunity to find a companion. Seniors can get $50 off coupons to adopt a pet.

For more details, visit www.purinapetlover.com.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2248 or

ldenger@DaytonDailyNews.com.