One of the most common reasons pet owners use dog food toppers is to make mealtimes more exciting. Some dogs are more selective, while others may experience appetite loss associated with stress, illness, or aging. Adding a tasty topper can encourage them to eat while also providing some additional nutrients.
Whole Dog Journal’s Favorite Commercial Dog Food Toppers
Some popular palatability-enhancing toppers include bone broth, freeze-dried raw, and wet food or gravies. Not all toppers are made the same, of course, and some companies have types of toppers that may be the best topper for your dog. For Whole Dog Journal, the best dog food toppers, by type, are:
Best Pour-On Dog Food Toppers:
Both Open Farm and Stella & Chewy’s make toppers easy to use by offering premade bone broths that can be poured over your dog’s meals. You can make bone broth at home by boiling beef marrow bones or chicken feet in water (see more below).
Best Powdered Dog Food Topper:
Native Pet offers a good bone broth powder that can be added and rehydrated.
Best Freeze-Dried Dog Food Toppers:
Vital Essentials, Instinct, and Stella & Chewy’s offer good freeze-dried meal toppers. These toppers can be rehydrated with water or bone broth for additional hydration. Freeze-dried meat and organ blends can be added to your dog’s diet to help enhance palatability. The benefits of freeze-dried toppers include their long shelf-life, easy storage, and minimal processing.
Best Wet Toppers for Dog Food:
Wellness Bowl Boosters and The Honest Kitchen Pour Overs are good options for pre-made wet toppers. Wet toppers are also a fantastic choice for picky eaters, as they typically contain aromatic gravy.
When to Use Dog Food Toppers
Dog food toppers are an excellent way to enhance your dog’s meals, whether to add variety to mealtimes, provide additional nutrition, or support specific health conditions. When it comes to toppers, you can choose from simple, homemade additions like lightly cooked meats and vegetables to commercially available wet and freeze-dried toppers designed to provide targeted nutritional support.
Toppers can:
- Improve palatability to entice picky eaters
- Add nutritional benefits to your dog’s current food
- Help your dog gain weight
- Add whole foods to your dog’s diet
- Enhance digestion
- Support joint health
- Provide skin/coat nutrients
- Offer immune support
Dog Food Toppers in Your Kitchen
You may be surprised to find simple ingredients right in your kitchen may provide the support your dog needs in a simple topper:
Digestive support: Pumpkin puree and psyllium husk powder provide natural sources of fiber to aid digestion, relieve constipation, and help with loose stools. These ingredients promote regular bowel movements and support gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria living in the intestines. We have recipes for easy pumpkin dog treats!
Probiotics: Plain kefir or Greek yogurt, preferably lactose-free, is a great source of live probiotics that can help maintain a balanced gut microbiome. Fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut (in small, unseasoned amounts), can also introduce beneficial probiotics to your dog’s diet.
Joint support: For senior dogs or canine athletes, green-lipped mussels contain omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine to help reduce inflammation and support joint health and mobility. Another excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids are sardines or anchovies packaged in water. These small fish not only aid in joint support but also contribute to cognitive health and skin and coat health as well.
For an extra joint-health boost while also adding some moisture, bone broth is an excellent addition. To make it at home, simply source some marrow bones or chicken feet from your local butcher, add some water, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and cook in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Bone broth is rich in collagen, which helps support joint, skin, and coat health.
Skin and coat: Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for maintaining a healthy coat and skin. In addition to sardines and green-lipped mussels, flaxseed and chia seeds can provide plant-based omega-3s. Adding a bit of flaxseed oil or a sprinkle of ground flaxseed or chia seeds to your dog’s meal can support skin health, reduce itchiness, and enhance coat shine. Eggs, particularly their yolks, are a fantastic addition. Egg yolks are rich in biotin, essential fatty acids, and amino acids, which help maintain healthy skin and coat as well as overall health. However, eggs should be lightly cooked to improve protein digestibility and neutralize avidin, a compound in raw egg whites that binds to biotin and interferes with its absorption.
Immune support: Blueberries, apples, and strawberries are packed with antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress and support the immune system. When feeding fruit, it is important to do so in moderation and avoid toxic options such as grapes and raisins. Vegetables, such as carrots, steamed broccoli, and steamed or canned green beans are an excellent source of vitamins, fiber, and can assist pets who are on a weight-loss journey feel satiated for longer.
Additional protein: Muscle and organ meats are fantastic, palatable additions to your dog’s meals. Chicken and turkey offer lean sources of protein, and liver is an exceptionally dense organ meat packed with iron and B vitamins. When sourcing meat for your dog, opt for lean options such as poultry, lean cuts of beef, rabbit, and venison to avoid excess fat intake that can lead to stomach upset and pancreatitis. Avoid giving your pet fat drippings from cooking things like bacon, chicken, pork, or beef, as they contain high levels of fats that can cause digestive upset.
Dog Food Topper Warnings
When feeding toppers to your pet, remember that all treats and toppers combined should not exceed 10% of their daily intake. Feeding toppers and treats in excess can lead to nutritional imbalances, toxicities, or deficiencies. Introduce new toppers slowly to prevent digestive upset and be sure to check the ingredients to ensure there is not excess sodium or sugar added.
Dog food toppers are a fantastic way to enhance meals by improving smell, taste, adding moisture, and supporting specific health needs. Whether using wet food toppers, freeze-dried toppers, or homemade additions, incorporating the right foods can boost your pet’s interest in mealtimes and their overall well-being. By choosing high-quality ingredients and using toppers appropriately and in moderation, you can provide your pet with a more enjoyable and nutritious dining experience!
