My mom’s dog, Buchok, is a canine vacuum cleaner who sucks up anything edible she encounters. But not all dogs are like Buchok. That’s why dog food toppers exist!
Dog food toppers enhance the palatability and texture of dry dog food, making it irresistible even for Gordog Ramsey and his friends.
It’s no secret that most dogs can be downright finicky. Others would turn their noses up even if you buy the healthiest, highest-quality dog food you can afford.
However, there is more to dog food toppers than increasing appetite. Any dog can benefit from the supplemental proteins, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients present in dog food toppers.
In this post, I will share recommendations for the healthiest and yummiest dog food toppers that are all the rage today!
Top 5 Best Dog Food Toppers Reviewed
While dog food toppers should only constitute a small portion of your dog’s overall diet, it remains crucial to opt for quality ingredients that have nutritional value. Options that are free from common food allergens such as grain, artificial flavors, food dyes, and preservatives are ideal. That said, here are dog food toppers to consider.
Native Pet Beef Bone Broth Powder Dog Food Toppers (4.5 oz.)
Pawsdown the Best Dog Food Topper
The Native Pet Beef Bone Broth Powder is among the healthiest and yummiest dog food toppers you’ll ever find! It is made with 2 premium ingredients: real bones from grass-fed cattle and sunflower lecithin.
Worry not about sensitivities. Unlike cheap dog food toppers, this limited-ingredient recipe is devoid of artificial ingredients and fillers.
Crafted by pet nutritionists, each scoop is loaded with nutrients, including glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen. More impressively, it provides up to 90% protein. Now, that’s super!
You can sprinkle the powder on top of the kibble or mix it with hot water to create a savory gravy. Either way, it transforms an ordinary bowl of dry dog food into an irresistible feast that even the pickiest pooch would eat.
No wonder it is voted among the highest-rated dog food toppers across e-commerce platforms.
- Pros
- Simple recipe using quality, wholesome ingredients
- 90% protein per serving
- 4.75 oz provides up to 48 scoops
- 1-year shelf life after opening
- No artificial flavors and filler ingredients
- Gluten-free, grain-free, and human-grade
- Great for dogs with chicken allergies
- Easy to mix, no messy cleanup from wet food
- Cons
- Once your dog has tried it, there’s no going back
Reviews
Oliver | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Great product! This product is a game changer for my dog’s food. When I add this to his meals, he goes nuts! Love as well the simple ingredients.”
Maccheese | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely tasty for my pup! My pup knows exactly when I open the container that his food will be extra yummy and nutritious! I love the simple ingredients and he definitely loves the taste! Plus you do get a lot for your money!”
Stella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust (Freeze-Dried Raw, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe)
Runner Up Best Dog Food Topper
Watch Sniffer’s eyes light up with delight as he noshes on the Stella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust! While it can have a pungent smell—which dogs love, by the way—it isn’t crafted using modern witchery (artificial flavors, hormones, and bulking agents).
The secret recipe? Ninety-five percent raw, cage-free chicken, organs, and bone, combined with organic fruits and veggies straight from Mother Earth’s treasure trove. Since it is in powder form, you can easily mix it with kibble.
Two tablespoons of this magical dust adds 48% protein to every meal and hypnotizes Sniffer to lick his bowl clean. It’s truly a spellbinding way to make mealtimes a one-of-kind experience!
- Pros
- Made with responsibly sourced ingredients
- 45% protein per serving and an array of vitamins and minerals
- Easy to mix, no messy cleanup from wet food
- No artificial flavors and filler ingredients
- Gluten-free and grain-free
- Also available in bacon, beef, and duck flavors
- Cons
- Some pet owners find it a tad pricy, but you know it’s high-quality
- These dog food toppers have a strong smell
Reviews
Saffon Dreams | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Truly magical and works on the most picky eaters! This product is a tad pricy but if you have a picky eater like I do, then it’s well worth the price! I don’t know what they put in this stuff but it’s truly magical, and I hope they never stop making it.”
Wednesday Beagle | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust is really magical! It smells like dead animals, just like the way dogs love it! It mixes intimately with all of your dog’s dry food, so it all smells yummy. My dog went from not eating any of the dry food to eating all of his dry food sprinkled with the Magical Dinner Dust.”
Stella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust (Freeze-Dried Raw, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe)
Runner Up Best Dog Food Topper
The Wellness Bowl Boosters Bare is a single-ingredient dog food topper. Yes, 1 ingredient only—savory, freeze-dried beef naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, rosemary, and green tea extracts.
A serving of these freeze-dried meats provides up to 45% protein. And guess what? Some chunks have a little bit of fat, making those bites even more satisfying for your canine sidekick.
The pieces have a crunchy, airy texture that you can easily crush and sprinkle onto a puppy’s meal. As the pieces are close to the size of a chickpea, you can also use these dog food toppers as rewards or training treats.
- Pros
- Freeze-dried to lock in flavor and aroma
- 45% protein per serving
- No artificial flavors and filler ingredients
- Single-ingredient, gluten-free, grain-free
- Can be used alternately as a treat
- Great for dogs with chicken allergies
- Reasonably priced
- Cons
- Dog food toppers with fat aren’t the best choice for dogs with pancreatitis
Reviews
Epatty J. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Exceeded expectations! I have two finicky eaters. I didn’t think I would ever find a dog food they would both like. I’ve tried toppers of all kinds as well as mixing their kibble with wet food. I could not believe how quickly they took to this topper and they cleaned their dishes every night. Without this topper, they will walk away from their bowls. They are now letting me know when it is dinner time and get excited when I put their bowls down. I will be ordering more!”
Chrissy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Great for pregnant doggies! I added this to my girl’s dry food for the extra protein, she loves it! I just sprinkle a little on the top and lightly mix.”
Instinct Grain-Free Healthy Cravings (Beef, Chicken, Lamb in Savory Gravy)
Transform bland meals into a gourmet feast with the Instinct Grain-Free Healthy Cravings! This bundle offers three different dog food toppers to spice things up: real beef, real chicken, and real lamb recipes.
Each recipe is made with either USA-raised beef, cage-free chicken, or grass-fed lamb fully cooked in a savory gravy. It is made with zero grains, corn, wheat, soy, potato, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives.
A serving of these wet dog food toppers adds 8% protein to every meal.
- Pros
- Each recipe uses responsibly sourced meat as the no.1 ingredient
- Cuts of real meat
- Rich in omega-3 and boosts hydration
- No artificial flavors and filler ingredients
- Gluten-free, grain-free, starch-free
- Smells amazingly good
- Cons
- Pet owners say that the portion sizes are too small for a large breed
Reviews
Thainternut | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Dogs love it! I have a very picker eater and he needs to gain weight. I bought these hoping to entice him to eat more—it worked! I divide the pouch into either 2 or 3 servings. It’s just enough to provide the extra flavor to get him to eat.”
Janny B. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My English Bulldogs say, ‘YUM!’ This is most definitely dog-approved. What else matters?”
Blue Wilderness Trail Toppers Wild Cuts Salmon Bites in Hearty Gravy (3 oz.)
Adding these dog food toppers by Blue Wilderness is another hack to make picky pooches eat their meals with gusto while also providing a nutrient boost.
The recipe starts with high-quality protein from tender chunks of real salmon soaked in a rich sauce made of chicken broth, chicken liver, and egg.
Yes, these are wet dog food toppers packaged in an easy-open, single-serve pouch. The gravy in each pouch makes kibble softer and easier for puppies and seniors to chew.
- Pros
- Real salmon meat is the no.1 ingredient for superior taste and aroma
- Rich in omega-3 for healthy skin and shiny coat
- Helps boosts hydration
- No artificial flavors and filler ingredients
- Gluten-free, grain-free
- Easy to pour out of the pouch
- Cons
- The lingering fishy smell
Reviews
Patrick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Perfect! My dogs love this stuff; they get very excited. Furthermore, they dance when I’m preparing it. It’s really cheap. This is the cheapest I’ve ever seen it.”
BG | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Empty bowls. My Yorkie and two toy Aussies love this food. This is what they get for their dinner. They don’t even leave a drop of gravy in their bowl. With 3 picky eaters, this food is a hit.”
Dog Food Toppers Comparison Table
| Native Pet Beef Bone Native Pet Beef Bone Broth Powder | Stella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical | Wellness Bowl Boosters Bare Beef | Instinct Grain-Free Healthy Cravings | Blue Wilderness Trail Toppers Wild Cuts Salmon Bites | |
| Flavor | Beef | Chicken | Beef | Beef, chicken, lamb | Salmon |
| Protein Content | 90% | 48% | 60% | 8% to 9.5% | 8% |
| Fat Content | 2.2% | 28% | 20% | 2% | 2.5% |
| Food Form | Powder | Powder | Freeze-dried | Wet | Wet |
| Health Benefits and Special Features | High-protein, collagen-rich | Fortified with vitamins and minerals | High-protein, weight gain | Appetite stimulant, added hydration | Appetite stimulant, added hydration,rich in omega-3 |
| Grain and Gluten-free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Best For | All breeds and life stages | All breeds and life stages | All breeds and life stages | All breeds and life stages | All breeds and life stages |
| Availability | on Chewy on Amazon | on Chewy on Amazon | on Chewy on Amazon | on Chewy on Amazon | on Chewy on Amazon |
Wet vs. Dry Dog Food Toppers: Which Are Better for Sniffer?
Wet dog food toppers include broths and gravies containing meat morsels like the Instinct Grain-Free Healthy Cravings and Blue Wilderness Trail Toppers Wild Cuts Salmon in Hearty Gravy.
Not only do wet dog food toppers enhance flavor and provide added nutrition, but they also soften kibble. Thus, dry food is easier and more enjoyable for senior dogs and teething puppies to eat.
On the other hand, dry dog food toppers come in either dehydrated or freeze-dried forms. Dry dog food toppers, like the Wellness Bowl Boosters Bare Beef, have the added benefit of being handed out as a dog treat.
Alternatively, dry powder toppers, such as Stella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust, are also available. Native Pet is another fantastic, versatile option, as it can be used as both a powder topper and broth.
Important Reminders On Dog Food Toppers
Dog food toppers have been a topic of debate among veterinarians. While some vets believe that these toppers are an unnecessary expense, others think that they are beneficial to a dog’s diet.
“A dog’s base diet is complete and balanced. It gives them all the nutrients that they need in sufficient amounts and ratios,” says Jonathan Stockman, an assistant professor of veterinary medicine at Long Island University.
toppers, however, are designed to also serve as a whole meal. If a topper is balanced and complete, it will be clearly labeled as “formulated to meet AAFCO standards” for a given life stage.
Dr. Jessica Romine, a veterinarian at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Southfield, Michigan, who is board-certified in veterinary internal medicine, advises that if a topper is not labeled as a complete and balanced food, it should not comprise more than about 10 percent of a dog’s diet.
Conclusion
Dog food toppers can provide extra nutrition and glamorous flavors to your dog’s regular kibble, thus making mealtimes more exciting. But remember, finding the best dog food is your top priority. These tasty toppers should not replace a complete, well-balanced dog food.
Furthermore, it is always a good idea to speak with your vet to rule out any underlying health issues. There are several reasons why dogs don’t eat other than simply being picky. If your dog is sick, your vet may suggest dog food toppers formulated to aid his recovery.