Dog food toppers have changed the way pet parents feed their dogs. From picky eaters to food enhancement, dog food toppers offer tailored nutrition. As pet parents view their dogs as family members, they demand a varied, balanced diet. Imagine giving your dog a nutritional boost without completely overhauling their food.
According to Nutrition Requirements of Dogs and Cats, dogs cannot survive without protein. Dietary protein contains ten specific amino acids that dogs cannot make on their own. These are called essential amino acids. Amazingly, dogs can tell when their food lacks a single amino acid and will avoid such a meal.
Dogs need a certain amount of energy to survive, and this energy equates to calories. Energy is found in three major dietary components: carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Unfortunately, no two dog foods are the same. That doesn’t change the fact that your dog needs a well-balanced, nutritious diet that tastes good, that they look forward to, and that serves their nutritional profile.
The commercial pet foods available today are supposed to be complete and balanced. Sadly, there can be a significant variation in the nutritional levels of dog foods. There are things pet parents can do to ensure their dogs get a nutritional meal that serves their needs. Knowing how to read a dog food label is a start, as choosing the right dog food is crucial.
What Are Dog Food Toppers?
Toppers for dog food are add-ons that you sprinkle or mix into your dog’s normal meals. They are available in many forms, including sprinkle-ons, oils, pure vegetables and fruits, and more.
High-quality food toppers for dogs help improve their nutrition, increase food palatability, and are ideal for picky eaters. They offer flavor and functional benefits to enhance your dog’s diet without switching their food.
Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib, authors of The Forever Dog book, say there are things pet parents can do to improve their dog’s meals. Dr. Becker writes, “Raw or cooked, carrots and parsnip slices make great training treats, while cilantro, parsley, and fennel can be minced and mixed in with your dog’s food.”
Dr. Becker invites pet parents to feed carrots or parsnips, which can be food toppers, to remove mycotoxins from your dog’s body. She says Mycotoxins are “tasteless, odorless fungal toxins found in pet food ingredients that cause organ damage and immune problems.”
How To Use Dog Food Toppers
Dog food toppers do not replace a meal unless otherwise indicated. For example, Elevate Pet Provisions offers a topper for dog food in regular and sensitive stomach formulas.
Each topper has the same high-quality, natural ingredients as their dog food. The regular formula includes grass-fed beef, sweet potato, apple, spinach, green bean, cod liver oil, calcium supplement, and celery extract. Our sensitive formula topper includes grass-fed beef, white rice, sweet potato, pumpkin puree, cod liver oil, calcium supplement, and celery extract.
“With the advent of overly processed foods, it was only a matter of time until it caught up with us,” according to Jared Byerly, Creative Director of Elevate Pet Provisions. “Poor food quality in the pet space and many food allergies and intolerances led us to create sensitive stomach recipes.”
He says while all of their products have limited ingredients that are great for sensitive stomachs, these specific recipes have added pumpkin and rice to aid digestion and are rich in nutrients with natural antioxidants.
Sprinkle the topper onto your dog’s dry food or mix it with their wet food to enhance the flavor and add nutrients. If you like to travel with your dogs, this also makes a great on-the-go option.
When To Use a Dog Food Topper
Flavor Enhancement
Like people, dogs like variety. Keep your dog's flavor profile interesting by adding a dog food topper to its meals. Think of it as sprinkling a flavor boost onto your food, and what a difference it makes.
Nutrition Improvement
Consider a topper like Elevate Pet Provisions to improve the nutritional profile of your dog's meals. Active dogs with high energy may also benefit from a protein boost.
Protein Booster
Speaking of protein boosting, the ideal food topper may improve the right amount of protein for your dog’s life stage, size, breed, and specific needs. Protein is a building block for developing muscle, skin, and coat health.
Help Transition to a Different Dog Food
As a bonus, Elevate Pet Provisions’ toppers can be used on their own or mixed with your dog’s current diet until you switch them over to Elevate Pet Provisions air-dried, human-grade food.
Picky Eaters
If you have a picky eater, the right food topper can make a difference. Consider what dog mom Christy Caplan of WagandCluck.com wrote us recently.
“I tried the topper on Herschel's kibble, and he's never hungry in the a.m., and he was like - YEP, more of that, please,” she says.
Texture Improvement
Whether you feed raw or freeze-dried, canned or kibble, air-dried or homemade, dog food toppers can add the right texture to your dog’s food, thus making it more enjoyable.
FAQs
Here are some of the more commonly asked questions about dog food toppers.
Are dog toppers good for dogs?
Yes, they can be. It’s important to read the ingredients in a topper just as you would the dog food label.
Do dogs need food toppers?
Toppers for dog food can be beneficial depending on an individual dog’s needs and preferences. Some pet parents enjoy giving their dog a flavor and nutrition boost, while others like feeding a topper to their picky eater.
Are dog food toppers healthy?
Pay close attention to the ingredients like any supplement, food, or treat in your dog’s diet. Look for whole food ingredients made in the USA and the topper’s purpose.
