dog diet/weight

Question
I have a 7 month toy poodle he weights 5.6lbs, is he under weight.  I feed him Nutro Ultra Puppy Dry Food is  this a good  brand  of puppy food for him.  Sometimes he doesn't eat it, what can I do to get him to eat regularly?  Please help me i'm at a loss...

Answer
Nutro Ultra is a decent food, it is the best that Nutro makes.  I personally do not like Nutro products for several reasons.  Most of their foods contain too much grains, and not enough meat.  The company who owns them, Mars, also owns other food brands that are low quality, like Pedigree.  Nutro was also involved in the 2007 recall and their tainted food killed pets.  

There are better foods out there, and since your dog is so small and doesn't eat a lot, why not buy the best.  Some good brands are Fromm, Orijen, Solid Gold, Nature's Variety, and Innova Evo.  Blue Buffalo Wilderness is also good, and available at PetSmart.  Look for grain-free foods, they will be higher in protein.

Another option is buying pre-made raw frozen diets.  Raw diets are very healthy, natural, and is what I feed all my dogs.  You can find out more by searching online- Nature's Variety and Northwest Naturals both make frozen nuggets for dogs.  Dogs love the taste of real meat.

For this dog, she probably doesn't find dry kibble very palatable.  I would suggest adding canned wet food to her food.  Some good brands are Merrick- this food is similar to homemade food, comes in about 20 varieties, and is chunky like stew.  Feeding a dog only canned food is fine, or you can mix it with the kibble and add a bit of warm water.  Some other brands are Innova Evo, Evangers, Nature's Variety... all can be found at specialty dog health food stores, or even regular pet shops.  You can also add a teaspoon of plain yogurt or cottage cheese to his food to improve taste.

He doesn't need strictly puppy food, a lot of brands of food are "all lifestages."  You may have to try a few brands before you find one he likes.  Reviews of particular dog foods can be found at www.dogfoodanalysis.com

I hope this helps!