Top 3 Best Dog Food Toppers (And Their Benefits)
TL;DR: Dog food toppers enhance meals with flavor and nutrients, making them more appealing and beneficial for dogs. From boosting hydration to mitigating picky eating habits, the right topper can transform your pet’s diet. Learn about the best topper options for picky eaters, nutritional boosts, and hydration support.
Human beings love to top their food with something special. From colorful rainbow sprinkles to a drizzle of sauce or tasty shredded cheese, we know how to make a dish more appealing!
Why should pet parents have all the fun? That’s where dog food toppers come in!
Dog food toppers can be tasty, nutritious additions to your pet’s food bowl. They can make eating more beneficial — and more exciting! The best dog food toppers can provide a boost of hydration, make food more appealing, and provide crucial nutrients your pet needs.
In this guide, we’re sharing a few ideas for the best food toppers for dogs. We’ll even include details about how they can make your pup’s diet more complete and balanced. Keep reading to learn how a topper can transform a boring dinner into a nutritional powerhouse!
What is a Dog Food Topper?
A dog food topper is any addition you include atop your dog’s usual food. Sometimes, food toppers served as yummy treats (think of that sprinkle of cheese). For picky pups, a topper can make a dish of nutritious food more appetizing and encourage your pet to eat.
The best food toppers should also provide additional nutrition to your pet’s diet. Something as simple as adding a little wet food to a bowl of kibble can boost hydration. Likewise, adding a fish-based topper to your pet’s food offers a healthy boost of Omega-3s. You can also incorporate most nutritional supplements with a food topper.
In general, toppers are intended for supplemental or intermittent feeding. They can help make your dog’s daily diet more well-rounded. Only dog food toppers labeled as “Complete and Balanced” will provide all the nutrition your dog needs, however.
When used strictly as a supplement, dog food toppers should only serve as a small addition to your pet’s typical diet. “Too much of a good thing” can lead to weight gain in healthy dogs, resulting in a host of health concerns down the line. That’s why we encourage pet parents to choose leaner, highly efficient toppers, such as fish-based toppers.
The exceptions, of course, are those picky dogs who need more calories or dogs with certain health concerns. Always consult with your vet to determine the healthiest way to address your unique pet’s nutritional needs.
Best Dog Food Toppers for a Nutritional Boost
Most healthy dogs get most of the nutrition they need from their primary diet. However, the best food toppers for dogs can specificallysupport skin and coat health, heart health, brain health, and more.
The key is to incorporate healthy fats, like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Dogs can’t produce these essential fatty acids on their own, so they must come from your pet’s diet.
Omega-3s reduce itching and flaking of the skin and can ease inflammation due to allergies or food sensitivities. Omega-3s keep the skin barrier healthy and improve the appearance of your dog’s coat. Research even suggests that these fatty acids provide a boost to heart and brain health, keeping your pet sharp and energetic as they age!
The best dog food toppers for Omega-3 supplementation are fish-based food toppers. Fish is a lean protein and natural source of Omega-3s and Omega-6s. It’s less likely to lead to weight gain than other options, and dogs love it!
You don’t need to prepare a gourmet salmon steak for your dog every night to reap the benefits of seafood for dogs! These super toppers come in multiple forms, including convenient squeeze pouches and bottles of fish oil. You can even make your own topper by incorporating the contents of a topper pouch, like this homemade frozen dog treat. It has never been easier to give your dog a tasty, beneficial treat straight from the sea!
Best Dog Food Toppers for Picky Eaters
Some picky dogs need extra TLC to get all the nutrition they need from their bowl. Often, these pups have sensitive stomachs, allergies, age-related sensory loss, or even dental issues. In order to encourage them to eat their food every day, pet parents need to make their food dishes extra enticing.
The best dog food toppers for picky eaters need to be pungent, tasty, and interesting. Some foods are known to stimulate a dog’s appetite. The best toppers can help with weight gain and provide a nutritional boost.
Every dog has different favorites, but here are a few suggestions that tend to work:
- Fish-based toppers. The enticing smell of these lean, fresh, flavorful toppers draws pets in. Plus, fish delivers a major nutritional boost in the form of Omega-3s.
- Boiled chicken. If your dog is chicken-motivated, a little bit of boiled or shredded chicken can make their bowl more appealing.
- Bone broth. If your pet tends to be more interested in wet food than dry, moistening kibble with bone broth is hearty and enticing.
- Wet food. A little scoop of wet food on top of dry kibble is an easy way to get dogs interested in their bowl.
Best Wet Dog Food Toppers
Dogs with hydration concerns, such as kidney disease, might benefit from an additional source of moisture in their dish. Consult your vet, then try one of these delicious, hydrating options:
- Fish oil toppers. Fish oil allows pets to reap the benefits of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Fish oil also adds moisture and healthy hydration to your dog’s dish.
- Bone broth. This appetite stimulant is a nutritionally dense way to add moisture to your pet’s food bowl.
- Goat’s milk. Nutrient-rich and easily digestible, this unique source of moisture can help your pup meet their hydration needs.
Discover the Best Meal Toppers for Dogs from Boat to Bowl
Mix things up at mealtime with dog food toppers for your dog! Learn about the nutritional benefits of our seafood-based dog food toppers, and order yours today.
