Puptection Health & Nutrition Center

This review is LONG overdue! Last summer my youngest dog was diagnosed with meningitis. She is a three year old Pomeranian. Meningitis in dogs is less serious than that in humans, but can be very serious. Meningitis is an auto-​immune disease in which inflammation occurs in the brain, leading to seizures. Although it is different than that of human meningitis, last summer was very scary and stressful. My dog had multiple seizures and was rushed to the ER multiple times. She spent nights there undergoing cytosar (a chemo treatment for inflammation) and was put on 3 seizure medications and prednisone. I am totally against prescription drugs, but this is my baby and I wanted what was best, although I kept doubting all this medication on such a small dog. I had one of the top neurologist in the state, don’t get me wrong, she was great. I just knew there had to be a natural way to get my pup out of this without so much medication.
I came across Puptection, as I was looking up holistic doggie stores or vets. After talking to countless vets, neurologist, and store owners, talking to Alex over the phone, gave me so much hope. I came into the store shortly after. He put things into perspective for me and the funny thing is he was saying the exact same thing I had been thinking! He even said, «see you know.» If I wouldn’t put all these chemicals into my body, why do that to my precious pups? Even the doctors said that over vaccination could very well be the cause of the meningitis! He asked me to start my dog on the clay and even though the vet asked me to feed her a bland diet, (no nutrients, as we were trying to suppress her immune system,) add veggies to her diet. She had been on raw food before, but after this I was asked to feed her only a bland diet. I decided to go slowly with what both the neurologist and Alex asked me to do. I couldn’t take her completely off the meds as I’m sure medication is certainly needed to a certain extent. I respect that. I was able to slowly get my dog off the prednisone and the seizure meds with the most side effects.

Great little local store with tons of excellent and nutritious pet products at reasonable prices. My picky little Yorkie absolutely loves the kibble that is mixed with raw pieces. Manager of the store is extremely friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend.

Alexis, the nutritionist at Puptection is the absolute best!
My little Jack Russell was recently diagnosed with renal failure and Alexis helped me and my dog Jack through this frightening ordeal.
She recommended a raw food diet which includes: rabbit meat, freeze dried vegetables and purifying clay (he also takes milk thistle and steamed sweet potatoes).
Within days I could see that he was feeling better and eating all of his «new healthy food» with lots of gusto. A month later I took him back to see his vet and he could not believe how good he looked. Jack’s creatinine level initially was 3.4 and after all these healthy changes in his diet it had gone down to 2.4! The normal level is 1.6.
My vet said keep doing what you are doing… it’s working!
I consider the people at Puptection Guardian Angels. Thank you.

Such friendly customer service here! When I only drop by for a can or two of cat food, they treat me like a valued customer. I even get waves & smiles when I just walk by – I love that neighborhood vibe!
My cat has been losing a dangerous amount of weight lately affiliated with hyperthyroidism. while we wait for her radio iodine treatment I’m trying to help her bulk up, but nothing was working. Puptection folks recommended «Purifiant Argile Purifying Montmorillonite Clay» (which has a long list of benefits, including improved absorption of nutrients) and their Raw beef formula. In less than a week there is a noticeable improvement in my cat’s weight/​eating habits and her mood seems better.
Thank you SO much — very grateful to have you in my neighborhood!

I went here for a vitamin supplement for my dog. They sold me an immune booster which is not what I wanted and didn’t realize it until I got home. Emailed them to ask if I could bring it back and they never responded. Sold me the wrong product + then didn’t respond about getting a refund. Not a good experience here.

After my poor dog suffered through a couple years of Beneful kibble (I know, I was totally ignorant of raw options), an ear infection, and an impacted anal gland that had to be surgically removed, I found Puptection.
I found the place through a friend whose dogs overcame skin and stomach problems after switching to Puptection’s raw diet. I picked up some beef mix, and some dehydrated veggies/​fruit. In a very short time, my little guy has more energy, his ear infection is gone, his coat is amazing, and he actually poops less, because there’s no kibble waste to expel.
I couldn’t be happier. They take time to make you feel welcome when you come in to the store. They walk you through the contents of the food, the benefits, feeding instructions, everything. They’re also more than willing to take your phone calls and help you out with whatever questions you might have.
A-​plus. Love this place.

I am recommending Puptection for a consult if your dog has any kind of digestive issues. Alex and Alexis were very helpful and gave me solutions for my dog. I have a yorkie terrier that was diagnosed with IBD. My dog had lots of diarrhea and vomiting and her stomach was very sensitive. She was on some prescribed medications by the specialty vet and we were told to keep her on a strict salmon and potato diet, nothing outside of this because of the severity of her stomach issues and digestive system. After visiting Puptection and thoroughly going over our dogs health problems, Alex and Alexis developed a special diet for my dog and recommended a veggie friendly raw food diet for our dog along with a bentonite clay to detox (use of the clay only for two weeks), Coconut whipped cream along with some other products from their store. We were able to take our dog off of all the prescribed medications and we noticed a big change within the first few days. Our dog has been on this program for approximately 3 months now and is doing fabulous and her coat looks awesome. I am so happy with the results and my dog is very happy. I am so thankful that I stopped in to obtain information and talk to Alex and Alexis.

We originally went into Puptection with our dog to check it out and get him a treat. After talking to Alex and Alexis about the problems we were having with our dog and diabetic cat we decided to switch them from the food we were getting from the vet and try a raw, holistic diet to see if it would help alleviate some of their problems. Our dog absolutely loves the new diet and gets so excited every time we are preparing his meals. It also has taken care of his health problems and he is a much happier dog! Our cat is a bit more finicky, but we are working on getting her to change her diet completely as well. I highly recommend considering switching your dog or cats diet to a raw holistic diet whether they have health issues or not, as it is just a better quality food that is more in tune with their natural instincts. Alex and Alexis are very knowledgeable and friendly and will help you find the perfect food. In addition, the cost difference between the food I was getting from the vet and the new holistic food is roughly the same so it is not an overly expensive option and your dog or cat will love you for making the switch!

If you love your animal, you must come here to Puptection. You will be amazed at how much you can learn from Alexis and Alex. They are both professional, caring, and patient while you ask your questions. After my loving kitty got diagnosed with a mast cell tumor I came here to see if they had any recommendations. They spent nearly an hour with me going over what types of foods that I can feed Shoopy so that she could boost her immune system and kick those cancer cells to the curb. Everything that they said made sense from switching her to a raw food diet to adding coconut flakes to her meals to rubbing coconut butter on her wound to heal to giving her purifying clay. The vet told me that she’d probably have a scar on her leg and the fur wouldn’t grow back, but after Puptection told me to use that coconut cream on her wound, it miraculously healed and the hair grew back! Within a few weeks of the raw diet her coat became silky smooth and she had a lot of energy. She is not totally down with the coconut flakes or the clay but I think that this is the best holistic store to come to try out different types of natural food to care for your pet. Alex and Alexis told me of stories about dogs and cats that were really sick and after switching to a simple holistic diet they became much better. I believe that everyone should come here if not to just learn about what holistic options there are (stay away from big chain stores like Petco and petsmart if you can avoid it!).

Stopped into this store a month ago out of desperation… needing to find a new food for my dane. He has IBD and became intolerant to his most recent food. (He’s probably been through at least 20 super hi quality foods over the last 6 years… all of which he has become intolerant to).
This store has a decent supply of very hi quality foods and very competitive prices-​but also offers nutrition/​consoling advice and REALLY DO know what they are talking about.
My dog has been eating raw/​very limited ingredients for a few years and doing great-​until a few months ago. When Alex suggested a clay product and a raw food with veggies-​I resisted… because I was certain that my dog was unable to tolerate veggies and he certainly didn’t need another additive.
Well-​out of desperation, i gave it a try (although have cut way back on the added veggies… at least for now). His diarrhea, which had been off and on for 4 – 6 months was gone within 3 days and he is doing great on the food.
good people/​good prices and good advice makes for a great store.

This place literally saved my cat’s life. Pillow started losing weight and not sleeping. She was waking me up every two hours throughout the night crying. I would feed her wet food with vitamins but nothing was soothing her. I took her the the vet and they put her on antibiotics and pain killers for a kidney condition that they could not quite figure out. Still no improvement. I was at my wits end and completely sleep deprived, while my poor kitty was wasting away before my eyes. My friend told me about Puptection and thought they might be able to help. I told them her symptoms and what the vet had told me and they recommended a raw food diet, purifying clay, and specially blended rosemary oil with vitamins and omegas. After the first feeding of the new diet she slept 4 hours. The next night 5, and then started to sleep through the night again and was eating all the food I gave her. She is well on the road to recovery now. She is acting like herself and is gaining weight again. I looooovvvveeee Puptection!!! They SAVED my cat and my sanity. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

As a pet owner with a sick puppy with food allergies this past year has been tough finding the right food and many, many vet visits. After completing much research and talking in detail with the store manager, Alex I believe I have found the solution! From a cost perspective it is comparable to the fancy dog food I had been buying with no success. Staff is very helpful and do spend the time to consult on each concern I had prior to starting the new diet. If you are looking for a natural food store for your pet this is the place!

We started the veggie mix with our dog 2 weeks ago. We were skeptical but have really notice our dog Chilipepper has a lot more energy and really likes the taste. They also recommended some herbs for Chillipeppers hip problems. He normally hopped when running but we have noticed he is starting to take normal strides.
The staff is very friendly and gives good insight on dog diet.
big fans!

I visited Puptection today & had the most wonderful experience. Alex, the Manager and Alexis, the Nutritionist were extremely knowledgable, informative and genuinely interested in helping me. My dog, which is a Goldendoodle has chronic ear infections and haven’t found a cure. My doctor suggested many different methods, changing food, expensive medicine and even surgery, without any improvement. Needless to say we needed something different. Alexis and Alex helped me pick out the Coconut whipped cream to help treat his ear infections. They also suggested I try the powdered detoxifying supplement which will help clean out his system. I am also tying the custom blend of dehydrated fruits and vegetables along with the Stella and Chewys for protein. If your looking for top notch customer service while buying your pet nutritious food and holistic supplements Puptection is the place for you. I will not return to my local ‘big box pet store’ now that I have found Puptection!

Puptection is awesome! My dog was eating a low quality kibble and was taking a lot of harmful medications for joint issues. They did a full consultation, and we switched her to a raw meat and dehydrated fruit/​vegetable mix, along with an herbal supplement for her joints. She is doing great, and loves her new diet. Alexis the nutritionist is very knowledgable about the products and needs of your pets, and takes a lot of time to prepare a very client specific diet for your pet. I haven’t seen any other specialty pet food supply stores in Chicago with a completely holistic approach. Stop in and check them out! They have all sorts of treats and toys too.

This is a place we were looking for ever since we rescued our two pit bulls. We have them on a raw diet since we adopted them but needed more information on what exactly we should and could feed them besides the raw meat. When I bought the Groupon I did not think I would learn so much about nutrition for our doggies. Our female has a lot of allergies and she had red spots all over her body before coming to visit Puptection, after about 3 weeks of following their instructions the red spots are gone and the doggies smell better than ever. I will refer any one that has concerns about what they feed their pets to go see Alex. We should all educate our selves better and not make decisions on what company has the cutest commercials on TV, most of those name brand pet foods have fillers which most dogs are allergic to. We used to ask our vet about where to go to get more informed and they never new where to send us, now we found the place and hope that more people become aware of what they are feeding their pets. THANK YOU Puptection we will keep in touch, even from Texas when move.

The Beloved Piggy Toy. In puppy land it’s glorious, five squeakers in one toy and there’s only stuffing in the head so when my puppy guts said Piggy I don’t have to worry about him choking. Anyone reading this should try out the cow because I will probably have already purchased the piggy. Anyway, the only other place I know of that carries The Piggy is a place in Downers Grove. A little too far to drive… who am I kidding? I drive there as soon as we need a new one but now I don’t have to!
Piggy Saga over. I went in there right before closing (and shortly after they opened) to check out their food selection and they carry Fromm’s which is my pup’s favorite dry food along with what seemed like a pretty decent selection of other brands. I just read the information on their Unilocal page and my interest is piqued regarding the owner. I’d like to meet her because my pup could definitely stand to lose a pound or two and in my experience so far Wicker Park/​UKV doesn’t have very much in the way of people that know a lot about dog food. It’s difficult to get a straight answer, even from the vets! The place is very clean and the employees I’ve interacted with there have been very nice and helpful. They had a hard time scanning the aforementioned Beloved Piggy but it was the second or third week they were open so I assume they’re working out the kinks. I’ll be back for sure.