I feed raw and our puppy is very underweight. Everytime I increase her amount of food she gets sick, any thoughts or suggestions on what it could be?

I want to start by saying that I have been frequenting your site for the past ten years and have found it more than extremely helpful. Whenever I have needed sound advice, I have told my husband..."I'm going online to see what Ed would do." You've never let me down yet.

I had a GSD imported from the Czech republic that I recently had to put down and have gotten a new puppy. I got the puppy from a very reputable source here in my area, The dam is a dog that belongs to the person in charge of the Fidelco breeding program in CT (guide dogs) and the Sire is a well known dog of a man by the name of Bob Winski. I feel very confident that there are no known health problems with her lines.

I am not going to pretend that I am some knowledgeable Schutzhund veteran. I'm just a lady that loves Shepherds and has had them all my life. I did join a schutzhund club for a brief time with my last shepherd and had the opportunity to meet Bernhardt Flinks... He told me that even though I was a beginner, he loved my dog and that I was doing a good job with her... So, I don't usually consider myself one of those idiots that I enjoy chuckling over on the dumb and dumber posts. I can admit when I am in over my head and need help.

So, right now I feel pretty dumb and I need help. I am at a complete loss of what to do. My 6 month old Shepherd has not been gaining weight as she grows. I am a RAW feeder... I feed her as much as I have been directed. When I have tried to increase her portions, she has gotten sick and had diahearrea . Right now, she is only 34 pounds and her littermates are in the 45 pound range. She is very bony and looks emaciated even though she is completely content. Her appetite is ravenous!

I have had her tested for everything under the sun. We are waiting for her TLI(?) test to come back... The vets are stumped. She was spayed this week and came home fine the first day. The second day, the loose stool started again. The vet has put her on "Hill's ID"...which I would eventually like to get her off of..and back on a raw diet if she can tolerate it.

Another thought... I read somewhere...maybe on your site...that rawhides can cause loose stool? Is this true, and could this be the issue? My husband gave her a rawhide to keep her quiet and to distract her from her incision. I have since taken them away.

Any ideas would be so greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
Marj