Why does he eat grass?
Have you ever gone on a fast-food bender, eating anything you can find with the word “fried” in the name? When you came out on the other side of those dark, frightening days, you may have found yourself craving something cold, crisp, and nutritionally clean – something like a salad. Your dog’s body works the same way. Every so often he may wish to partake of a few juicy blades of grass to compensate for a lack of vegetable matter in his diet. If you notice him grazing often, try switching him to a food with higher veggie content or even give him some steamed veggies as a treat, as they’re far easier to digest than grass.

Another reason he may be visiting Nature’s Salad Bar is to help calm down an upset tummy. Dogs will sometime eat grass to induce vomiting if they’re not feeling well, which is a natural and fairly healthy way to fight illness.

The only time you need to worry about your dog’s vegetarian habits is if they start interfering with his regular diet and nutrition. If he refuses to eat his normal food or is inducing vomiting too often, a trip to the vet is probably in order.

Do I really need that $40 bag of dog food my vet keeps trying to give me?
That depends. Does your vet say you need it? Your veterinarian is just like your doctor – if you’re not honest and frank with him or her, he/she can’t adequately treat your dog. If you can’t leave the office without being given a sales pitch for the newest line of top-quality food, ask exactly what it will do for your dog and why you need it. Older dogs with more brittle bones or a lack of energy may benefit from specialized food, many pups have food allergies that prevent them from eating store brands, and some more minor conditions can actually be alleviated through higher-quality food.

The main differences between the more expensive brands and their cheaper counterparts are ingredients. The higher-priced brands have set formulas for their food, which means that the ingredients in one bag of food will be identical to the next. Lower-priced brands have set formulas for nutrition, not the ingredients themselves. This means that the ingredients used to satisfy those nutritional requirements can vary from batch to batch and can sometimes mean trouble for owners whose dogs have very set tastes or sensitive bellies.

If your vet gives your dog a clean bill of health and doesn’t have any pressing reasons why he needs the food, simply say so and feel confident in your choice of food.

I’m a vegetarian/vegan and want my dog to be one as well. How can I do this?
Some of you may be chuckling right now, but that’s no joke. As more humans become vegetarians or vegans, they’d like their pets to follow suit.

To those of you asking this question, please know that, above all, your dog would never willingly opt to be a vegetarian if given the choice. Dogs come complete with all of the necessary equipment for living and eating as carnivores for a reason – they prefer the presence of meat in their diets. In the wild, dogs receive a majority of the plant and vegetable content they consume from the digestive systems of herbivorous animals they’ve killed (an icky thought, yes, but important to know). If you are morally opposed to the use of meat in society and feel that your pets should share your beliefs and morals, then speak with your veterinarian about possible options.

Some commercial food companies now make vegetarian and vegan dog foods which can be found at whole food and organic markets. Pay close attention to the content and whether or not the food satisfies your dog’s nutritional requirements. If not, you may be able to supplement the food with vitamins or other additives, but always consult your veterinarian.

Never feed your pup tofu, soybean paste, or any other bean product, especially if he is of a larger or barrel-chested breed. First of all, would you want to live with your best human friend after he or she ate large quantities of beans? Probably not. As you know, beans create gas. Beyond being aromatically disgusting, excess gas in larger dogs can build up and lead to stomach bloat, an often fatal condition.

Can I cook for my dog?
Great question. Now turn to your dog and ask him the same question out loud. Is he nodding emphatically? No? Maybe he speaks a different language. Try asking in German.

Dogs love home-cooked meals! Besides being a fun treat for both of you, proper home canine cuisine can be chock-full of great nutrients. The most important point to remember is to include a wide variety of ingredients. Don’t just broil a chicken breast and slap it in his bowl, give him a side of rice or potatoes with a teeny bit of natural corn oil stirred in. Make sure that all bones have been removed to prevent choking or tears in the stomach lining, and use caution if you’d like to include milk. Some adult dogs have a difficult time processing it, which can mean diarrhea duty for you the next morning.