So, what is a food topper anyway? Food toppers are either homemade or commercially prepared concoctions that you add to your dog's dry kibble. It can be anything from warm water, to fruits/veggies, homemade or commercially prepared gravies, or canned dog food. Sometimes they are called "mixers" or "additions".
Why bother using them? There are about as many reasons to use food toppers as there are different kinds of food toppers. Some people use them on their dog's kibble to enhance the flavor, to change things up to keep the dog from getting bored by the kibble, to add missing nutrients, to boost protein levels, as a supplement for a dog that maybe doesn't eat enough kibble, to provide a lower-calorie or lower fat replacement for some of the kibble, etc.
I can't tell you what the best toppers are or why you should use them, but I can tell you what I use, and why I choose not to use commercially prepared toppers except for occasionally store bought canned dog food (though they are definitely time savers).
I have three dogs that are prone to weight gain (hello, beagles!), and one of those, Otis, was noticeably obese when I adopted him. I discussed some of the reasons this is a serious health issue in my post about
Obesity in Dogs. One of the things I am doing to help him lose weight is I switched to a lower calorie and lower fat kibble, and also cut back on the amount of kibble I give him. I don't want the adjustment to be hard on him, or for him to always be hungry and looking for food. I've dieted before, and being hungry is miserable. So, I started replacing some of the kibble with a food topper, and in his case, it's fresh or steamed fruits and veggies. It's super easy to make, and I usually steam up the veggies while I'm catching up on reading news articles or checking Facebook.
But food toppers can be a nice change of pace even for dogs who don't need to watch their weight. Using different kinds of toppers can help keep food interesting and can also help fill any gaps in nutrition. For example, my basset has decided she doesn't like the salmon food that my smallest beagle must eat due to an allergy to chicken. To help make her food more palatable, I add some steamed or fresh veggies and fruits and she gobbles up all of the food.
Homemade vs. Commercial toppers
There is nothing inherently wrong with using commercial toppers, and I have been known to occasionally use canned dog food to make a slurry (more on that below!). As a rule, though, I prefer to make my own because then I know exactly what's in it (no chemicals or questionable ingredients) and it's less expensive. I tend to use vegetables that are in season (and sometimes no salt added canned vegetables) and just buy a little extra to use for the pups. Some vegetables, like butternut squash, produce way more food than what the humans need, so the pups get some, too.
I don't want to endorse any of the commercially made toppers because I just don't have a ton of experience with them, other than some canned foods. I have found that "stew" type canned foods work better than "casserole" type, and it really only takes a spoonful or two - just enough to cover the kibble or be mixed with it. If you have the casserole type, you can add water to make a slurry - which will result in fewer extra calories and the can lasting longer since it will take less caned food to cover the kibble.
For commercial toppers, I suggest looking for brands and flavors that have ingredients you recognize and can pronounce., and make sure meat or veggies are the first ingredients. I've not used any the the available gravies or other toppers, so feel free to let me know in the comments (either on this blog or on FB) about what you think of any that you try.
Homemade toppers are easier and less time consuming than you think. I frequently add either a single ingredient or a medley of ingredients to my pup's food, including beets, green beans, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, green pepper, apples, and strawberries. Sometimes, if I have bits or scraps of uncooked meat, I will throw it in, too.
Several days ago, I roasted some
butternut squash and sweet potatoes for my family. I like to cut them both up into chunks for quicker roasting, so I just cut extra and set aside for the dogs. We only eat half of the squash, and the other half becomes a food topper. I chopped up the half of a butternut squash and a small sweet potato and steamed them together for maybe 10 minutes. Once it cooled, I put it in a container in the fridge. Sometimes I warm a few tablespoons of vegetables with a little water before adding it to their food, but sometimes I just add it cold (especially on hot days!).
After eating this for a couple of days, my pups had gone through a bit of it, and I added a can of no salt added green beans. After another couple of days, there wasn't much left, so I chopped up some
apples, carrots, and fresh green beans and lightly steamed them while I checked Facebook and ate my breakfast. Once cooled, I mixed these in with the sweet potato and squash. Once that mixture got low, I added in a can of no salt added
beets - which turned everything in the bowl pink, but my dogs didn't mind! In another day or so, I will likely add in some raw fruits and veggies like
chopped strawberries, chopped raw carrots, and chopped green pepper. I like to use up the last of something that would otherwise probably not get used. I also sometimes add raw chopped apples.
homemade veggie topper: sweet potatoes, butternut squash, canned green beans, steamed green beans, carrots, and steamed grannysmith apple.
I also will sometimes just add warm water, and will stir the kibble in the water to create a gravy. The extra water helps to fill a dieting dog's stomach, and makes the food smell better to your pup, too. Adding water doesn't add any calories, so it's a win-win for those watching their dog's weight.
So, what's a slurry you ask? It's a semi-liquid mixture. In the case of dog food, it's like a runny stew. You can mix stewed or casserole canned food with water to make a slurry, or you can even mash up some sweet potatoes/squash and add water to make that into a slurry. The water helps to thin out the food and will help to cover the kibble with it. It's a great way to stretch a little bit of veggies or a little bit of canned food, but only as a topper and never as a meal replacement.
I have also been known to take one of the
3 Ingredient Cookies and crumble it over a bowl of kibble when I'm in a hurry. I make the cookies in batches and usually end up freezing at least half, since unfortunately, they will mold after a few days left at room temperature. My dogs will eat them either frozen or thawed, and I usually have some at room temp. I just crumbled one (or half of one for the smaller dogs) over the food and Voila! The kibble becomes undeniably tasty to my pups.
If your dog doesn't have allergies to foods like chicken, you can add in a little low sodium chicken broth. Many dogs like a little plain yogurt (greek yogurt seems to work best) or cottage cheese. My dogs love scrambled eggs, though after finding out one of the dogs is allergic to chicken, I have stopped making that. It was great though - I could split one (or sometimes two) scrambled eggs between the three dogs and they were in heaven.
Just make sure the foods you are using as toppers are safe for dogs. This means NO grapes or raisins! Dogs can have fruits that have a pit like peaches, but the pit itself is toxic. Apples are a great choice, but be aware that the seeds are toxic to dogs.
(Dangerous Foods graphic courtesy thatpetplace.com)
(Healthy Dog Snacks graphic courtesy Enlightened By A Dog)
SOURCES:
Personal Experience :)
