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With purported benefits ranging from improved palatability to enhanced nutrition, a meal topper has the potential to upgrade your dog’s diet. But are dog meal toppers necessary? Or even healthy?
As it turns out, the subject of meal toppers for dogs is divisive. Proponents say a meal topper can boost the nutritional value of a dog’s diet, increase a picky eater’s appetite, or even help manage chronic health issues. Skeptics question whether additions to a dog’s diet—specifically those that aren’t nutritionally balanced—might not do more harm than good.
With your dog’s well-being at stake, how do you decide?
In this guide, we aim to tackle the topic from all angles. We’ll explore the potential benefits of dog food toppers, dive into the details from a nutritional perspective, and respond to common questions and concerns. By the end, you’ll have the information you need to decide what’s right for you and your dog.
What Are Nutritious Dog Meal Toppers?
A meal topper is an addition to your dog’s regular food. It could be as simple as a spoonful of wet dog food or a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Just about any dog-safe food can be used as a meal topper, but it’s important to consider the nutritional implications before adding something to your dog’s diet.
Most of your dog’s dietary intake should come from products that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Whether you offer fresh dog food, canned food, or kibble, it should make up 90% or more of your dog’s daily caloric intake. The remaining 10% can be reserved for treats.
Whether a meal topper counts as a “treat” or a regular part of your dog’s diet depends on its nutrient composition.
Meal toppers that could be counted as “regular diet” include things like fresh dog food or raw dog food.
Commercial meal toppers like bone broths, powders, and meaty mix-ins, however, should be considered treats. So are pantry options like canned pumpkin, cooked grains, or fresh veggies. They may be healthy for your dog, but they don’t offer a complete source of balanced nutrition—which means they should be offered in moderation.
Are Meal Toppers Good for Dogs?
Whether a meal topper is good or bad for a dog depends on the topper—and the dog. A meal topper can be a helpful addition in some cases, but it shouldn’t compromise your dog’s overall nutrition.
Here are some of the situations in which the right meal topper might be beneficial:
- Your dog is a picky eater and refuses to eat their regular food.
- You’re trying to make improvements in minor health concerns.
- Your dog needs more protein or calories than their current diet provides.
- You’re switching dog foods and struggling to get your dog to eat the new food.
- Your dog is highly active or athletic and requires supplemental fat and protein.
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What kind of meal topper should you offer?
There’s a huge range of meal toppers available, both commercially and in your pantry. What kind you try depends on what nutritional problem you’re trying to solve.
A powered meal topper might encourage a picky pup to eat what’s in their bowl. Or it might disguise the unfamiliar flavor of a new dog food during a dietary transition.
Meal toppers can also serve therapeutic purposes like improving hydration—especially with liquid meal toppers like bone broth—or increasing caloric intake for puppies or underweight adult dogs.
They can also make it easy to increase levels of specific nutrients (like a meaty mix-in for added protein) in your dog’s diet without significantly increasing their food intake.
With your veterinarian’s approval, the right meal topper could help you manage minor health concerns. High-fiber meal mixers or probiotic powders, for example, could benefit dogs with sensitive stomachs. Meal toppers rich in glucosamine may support joint health in senior dogs. For dogs with skin and coat concerns, supplemental omega-3 fatty acids could help.
How to use meal toppers properly
If your vet gives the go-ahead to add a meal topper to your dog’s food, choose wisely. Follow your veterinarian’s advice when selecting a product type and evaluating ingredients. Most importantly, read the label to determine whether the product is nutritionally complete or if it’s intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
Factor nutritionally complete products into your dog’s total daily caloric intake, adjusting the portion of their regular food to account for the addition if necessary. Limit supplemental products to 10% of your dog’s daily diet, making sure to include treats and other snacks in that total.
When a Meal Topper Might Not Be a Good Idea
Meal toppers aren’t a magical solution for serious issues like nutritional deficiencies or chronic health problems. And if they’re used in place of veterinary care, they could put your dog’s health at risk.
Here are some situations in which a meal topper may not be recommended:
- Your dog has lost their appetite entirely and is at risk for malnutrition.
- A veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with a specific nutrient deficiency.
- Your dog has a chronic health problem that requires veterinary intervention.
- A vet has told you your dog is underweight or has lost significant muscle mass.
- Your puppy isn’t developing properly or growing at the appropriate rate.
Can meal toppers make a dog pickier?
While adding a meal topper may help resolve issues with low appetite or picky eating habits, some pet parents wonder whether the opposite may be true. Will meal toppers make a dog picky or hard to feed in the future? Or will a dog just eat the topper and ignore the food underneath?
Questions like these are hard to answer because every dog is different. If you’re concerned that meal toppers might contribute to future challenges, try switching to new dog food first. A dog’s tastes can change over time—they may simply find a different food type, flavor, or texture more appealing. For dogs who ignore the food under the topper, mixing it in may solve the problem.
If you do decide to give meal toppers a try, stick to dog-friendly foods in small portions. Keep your veterinarian in the loop when it comes to your dog’s diet, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
