Question: Throughout the past six months our dog has been getting quite ill and having terrible bouts of diarrhea every time he eats a meal. We have attempted to feed him various different types of commercial dog food, but realized that he must be allergic to all the different types of protein sources we were giving him. Is there any way to get our dog the nutrients he needs without buying him commercial dog food (which will presumably make him sick)?

It may seem like you have exhausted all your options when it comes to your beloved pet`s diet, but don`t despair. There is one option you have yet to try, one that may not make him sick. This option is 100% natural raw food for dogs.

The point is to feed your dog raw protein sources from hereon out. Before being domesticated, dogs didn`t know how to cook food for themselves. They ate completely raw, whole food diets, which is their natural way to eat. Of course in this day and age of flashy marketing campains, it`s not in dog food companies` best interest to tell you this, they would rather you buy their unnatural concoctions in a can or plastic bag.

You should beging feeding your dog the raw food diet in small portions. The main element of the diet is clean raw meats, but you can also include raw fish, lamb, dairy, wheat, and yeast, all of which an be commonly found in most whole food dog food recipes. But be prepared to supplement the diet with calcium, since you probably aren`t using crushed bone or another natural calcium source. Commercial dog foods usually have calcium added, but this element will probably be missing in the natural diet unless you supplement it. It would also be a good idea to include a vitamin/mineral supplement as well.

Question: My Chihuahua pup is 6 months old, and I am considering switching him to a completely vegetarian diet. There are people who argue that this kind of diet is not meant for dogs and is unhealthy for them, but I am hoping to try it. Do you think it`s something I should avoid doing?

In recent times there has been lots of argument over what kind of diets pets (especially cats and dogs) should have. Pet food recalls in recent years have ignited a lot of curiosity about what constitutes a safe and healthy diet for your beloved dog. A vegetarian diet for your puppy should be fine, but you will need to keep an eye on the diet`s macronutrients to make sure the dog gets enough protein. Additionally supplementation should also be taken, such as omega-3 oils and vitamins/minerals.

It is also important to always monitor your puppy`s health and growth, and if you notice any changes for the worse then you will want to consult your veterinarian to eliminate the problem. Be ready to adapt your puppy`s diet if it proves unhealhty or insufficient for him.