Do Dogs Really Benefit from Food Toppers, or Are They Just a Trend?

[hiwesuc]

Hello everyone,

I’ve noticed a growing trend of adding food toppers like bone broth, freeze-dried meat, vegetables, or nutritional supplements to regular dog meals. Many pet owners claim these additions improve taste, nutrition, and overall health, while others believe a complete dog food already provides everything a dog needs.

I’m interested in learning from real experiences rather than marketing claims. Have you used food toppers for your dog, and if so, what results did you see?

Did they improve appetite, digestion, coat condition, or energy levels?

I’d appreciate any insights, recommendations, or cautions.

 

[hiwesuc]

Hello everyone,

I’ve noticed a growing trend of adding food toppers like bone broth, freeze-dried meat, vegetables, or nutritional supplements to regular dog meals. Many pet owners claim these additions improve taste, nutrition, and overall health, while others believe a complete dog food already provides everything a dog needs.

I’m interested in learning from real experiences rather than marketing claims. Have you used food toppers for your dog, and if so, what results did you see?

Did they improve appetite, digestion, coat condition, and for the best results many pet owners trust Talis Us Pet Store, or did you notice improvements in energy levels?

I’d appreciate any insights, recommendations, or cautions.

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Ravenbird]

I can't say whether it actually helps anything, but so far (going on 7 years with my one dog), my homemade raw/gently cooked meat from the grocery store (translate that to human-grade) has hurt only my wallet. Also she gets a (home grown) egg almost every day.

I am basically just changing the % of carbohydrates in the daily diet, as kibble is way high in carbohydrates and dogs can live on 5% carbs. The meat mix I make is always a variety: beef, chicken, turkey, liver, plus finely chopped green beans and pumpkin.

 

[BGpa]

I'll add a small amount of toppers occasionally for interest to an otherwise very good kibble Bonnie has thrived on since puppy, as recommended by K9 trainers and borders.

Wingtips, neck bone, popes nose from a roast chicken, a sardine, tuna bits, other meat scraps, maybe a tablespoon in the morning feed mixed in kibble.

At night a tablespoon of large curd cottage cheese if she's been loose.

Reduce kibble to adjust for extra calories.
At some point you can go to two feedings a day.

 

[JanS]

We used to add a little bit of topper but haven't been lately. They say straight dry kibble takes a lot of water for the dog to absorb it and digest it so a little wet topper helps that a lot. Some people even soak the dry kibble to help with that but I haven't been doing it.

 

[Sunje]

My boy has been a picky eater since 6 mos, and since I was showing him at the time, I couldn't just let him go hungry until he would eat--had to keep weight on. So I played w/ a lot of different foods. I cut up beef heart into small pieces and roast that, and he gets a bit of that on his food. What really has helped was to start him on Yea-Sacc sprinkled onto the raw food (yes, sometimes he's turned up his nose at that too. ). That is used in some dog foods as a spray-on, and I've noticed it really has helped to stimulate his appetite and he has been consistently eating better and has put some weight on.

 

[Gelcoater]

Hello everyone,

I’ve noticed a growing trend of adding food toppers like bone broth, freeze-dried meat, vegetables, or nutritional supplements to regular dog meals. Many pet owners claim these additions improve taste, nutrition, and overall health, while others believe a complete dog food already provides everything a dog needs.

I’m interested in learning from real experiences rather than marketing claims. Have you used food toppers for your dog, and if so, what results did you see?

Did they improve appetite, digestion, coat condition, or energy levels?

I’d appreciate any insights, recommendations, or cautions.

Welcome to Doberman Chat!
New members usually start here.

https://doberman-chat.com/forums/introduce-yourself.80/

We’d love to see pics of your dog(s)

 

[Ravenbird]

Did they improve appetite, digestion, coat condition, or energy levels?

To answer this, I have to say this puppy came to me at 10 weeks with over the top food drive, energy levels and a shiny coat that never had dander, so I can't say any topper helped, she's always been this way. She also has always had mild digestive upsets, although very sporadic like once every few months... and is sensitive to any sulphur based antibiotics and pain meds (bad diarrhea and painful gas cramps). Lots of discussions about this in other threads here. So no, it didn't help that, but again, it's something that has always been, and I did try changing some things, but nothing seemed to be a regular cause. The best cure for occasional belly aches and/or diarrhea that was not related to medications, came after I started using a slow feeder about a year ago. She inhaled her food in about 15 seconds for years but with the slow feeder it's about 5 minutes per meal now and we have had only a couple of mild episodes of tummy upsets.

It's good that some of the comments are saying they have/had picky eaters because that clarifies one of your questions about appetite. If your dog is lacking in any or all 4 of these conditions that may indicate a need for an overhaul, not just a topper.

What really has helped was to start him on Yea-Sacc sprinkled onto the raw food

I had to look that up, sounds very interesting!

 

[Two Dobes]

I use more freeze dried topper (which can also be used as a full meal) to try and 'lessen' the amount of kibble I use. I also add green beans, egg, sardines, vegetable of the day, just to add nutrients. My dogs have always had good coats, before I ever used to add stuff....so I like to believe it is just adding more benefits.

 

[LifeofRubie]

I do a dollop of yogurt and bone broth with their AM feeding (as well as Vit C, Dasuquin+MSM, and Manganese tablets). They get some premade raw with their evening meal. Otherwise, base is a kibble that they've both done really well on.

Is it all snake oil that makes me feel better than do anything but create interest for them? Perhaps. This routine has been in place for most of their lives and at 10.5 (Dobe) and 8 (Lab), they're gosh darn healthy. Probably more importantly: they've also never been overweight and we keep them active physically and mentally. They weren't spayed/neutered until they were ~18 mos (F Dobe) and 24 mos (M Lab) - which I understand not everyone has control over if they've adopted and what not.

I just think it would be really boring to eat dry discs for your whole life but I know that's what a lot of dogs experience and I'm certainly not judging! That said, I do think the marketing for these things is totally bonks and meant to make you feel like you're not doing 'enough.' If you feed pumpkin, buy the $2.50 can of pure pumpkin at the grocery store; don't get the one from the pet store with a dog on the label for $5, for example.

 

[Wrangler]

Mine get a topper of a can of Sardines (in water) once a week with their Sunday Dinner. They go nuts when they see me reach for the cans.

 

[MyBuddy]

I just think it would be really boring to eat dry discs for your whole life but I know that's what a lot of dogs experience and I'm certainly not judging!

That's one of the reason I do it. I don't think food should be boring. For me or my animals! I kind of base things for my animals off how I feel. Like, if I'm cold, my dog might be cold. If I'm hot, she might be hot too. If I'm eating, did she eat? And if I like a variety, wouldn't she?

Plus, we do benefit from the minerals and nutrients in different foods and I bet that they do too. My horses don't want to eat hay all the time, every day, day in and day out. They'd like some fresh grass once in awhile. Or carrot, apple, watermelon, or store bought treats. Eating the same thing everyday seems boring and I don't want my animals to get bored of eating. I want them to eat! I like them to feel excited about their meal! So the things that I top with would be safe for them, nutritional and a delight!

Annie gets a high rated kibble, to which I add a portion of store bought raw Patty. Mainly chicken. See below. All summer I am taking home grown zucchini, cucumbers, and some carrots and putting them to a food processor and freezing portions to give her throughout the year. Just a spoonful on top of the kibble. In her evening meal she is getting four squirts of oil. Once in awhile I will add a raw egg, cottage cheese or canned sardines in water. When I'm slicing watermelon she gets a piece. She loves it! LOL and you can't open a banana without giving her a piece. Those are the only two things that I will give her while I'm slicing it.

So, yes I think dogs benefit from toppers. As for being a trend, if it is, it's that people are aware now that some dog foods don't provide everything for our dogs. Some. Not all. There are some good dog foods out there. But adding some toppers does provide a little interest. Especially for those that are not food motivated.