Best Dog Food Toppers for Picky Eaters (Tested on 2 Dogs)
Bone broth, goat\'s milk, sardines, pumpkin puree, scrambled eggs, and freeze-dried raw toppers to help picky eaters and fast eaters enjoy their meals.
Dog Food Toppers That Make Picky Eaters Actually Eat
Alice has always been a grazer. She will stare at a bowl of premium kibble for hours, walk away, and maybe come back to it when she realizes nothing better is coming. Dodo is the exact opposite. She inhales her meals so fast I worry she forgets to chew. We use food toppers for both of them, just for entirely different reasons. For Alice, it is about making the bowl interesting enough to eat right away. For Dodo, it is about adding moisture and texture to slow her down and keep her engaged.
Bone Broth and Goat's Milk
Liquid toppers are the easiest way to change the texture of dry kibble. I keep a carton of Primal or Open Farm bone broth in the fridge at all times. Pouring a quarter cup over Alice's dinner softens the kibble slightly and adds a strong scent that usually gets her attention. Make sure you buy broth made specifically for dogs, as grocery store versions often contain onions, garlic, or high sodium levels which are toxic to them. I usually warm the broth up for about ten seconds in the microwave before pouring it over her food. The warm liquid releases the aroma of the kibble, making it much more appealing to a dog who relies heavily on smell to decide if something is worth eating.
Goat's milk serves a similar purpose but adds a creamy texture and a good dose of probiotics. We use the frozen raw goat's milk from Answers Pet Food. I thaw it in the fridge and pour a few tablespoons over their bowls. It is especially helpful for Alice's sensitive skin and allergies. The natural probiotics support her gut health, which seems to correlate directly with fewer itchy flare-ups. Dodo loves licking the milk off the bottom of her slow feeder bowl. Sometimes I will freeze the goat's milk into silicone molds to make little frozen treats for them during the summer.
Sardines in Water
Sardines are cheap, easy to find, and packed with Omega-3 fatty acids. I buy the cans packed in water with no added salt. One small sardine mashed into Alice's food coats the kibble in a fishy oil that she finds irresistible. It is a messy option, and your kitchen will smell like fish for a few minutes, but it works better than almost anything else we have tried. I usually give them each one fish twice a week.
The extra oils have made a noticeable difference in Alice's coat over the last few years. Her fur is softer, and she has less dander. When dealing with a nine-year-old chow shepherd mix who is prone to dry skin, any natural source of moisture is a win. Just be prepared to wash their bowls immediately after they finish eating, or the fish smell will linger in your kitchen all day.
Plain Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin is a staple in our pantry for digestive issues, but it also makes a great everyday topper. A spoonful of plain, unsweetened pumpkin puree adds fiber and moisture. You have to be careful to buy the 100% pure pumpkin and not the pie filling, which is loaded with sugar and spices.
When Dodo is eating too fast, I will smear a tablespoon of pumpkin against the sides of her bowl or freeze it into a Toppl toy with her kibble. It forces her to lick and work for her food instead of just swallowing it whole. For Alice, I mix a small dollop right into her dry food. The moisture helps bind the kibble together, changing the mouthfeel just enough to keep her interested. It is also incredibly cheap. A single can of plain pumpkin costs around two dollars and lasts us almost a week in the fridge.
Scrambled Eggs
When Alice is going through a particularly stubborn phase and refusing to eat for a full day, I pull out the eggs. I scramble one egg in a non-stick pan with no butter or oil and mix it directly into her kibble while it is still warm. The heat from the egg warms up the kibble and releases more of its scent. It is a high-value addition that feels like a special treat, and she rarely leaves any behind.
I do not do this every day to avoid unbalancing her diet, but it is a reliable backup plan when I need her to eat before we leave the house for the day. Eggs are a fantastic source of protein and amino acids. Sometimes I will hard-boil a batch of eggs at the beginning of the week and just chop half of one up to sprinkle over their bowls. Dodo goes crazy for the egg yolks, while Alice prefers the whites.
Freeze-Dried Raw Toppers
For convenience, freeze-dried raw toppers are hard to beat. We use Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers or Instinct Raw Boost Mixers. You can crumble them dry over the food or rehydrate them with warm water. I prefer rehydrating them because it creates a thick gravy that coats the kibble completely. A small handful is usually enough to convince Alice that her boring dry food is actually a gourmet meal.
Dodo gets a few pieces mixed in just to keep things fair, though she would happily eat the kibble plain. The freeze-dried pieces are also great to use as high-value training treats. I keep a small pouch of them in my pocket when we are working on recall training at the park. They are less messy than hot dogs or cheese, and both dogs will drop whatever they are doing to come running for a piece of freeze-dried beef.
Finding the right topper is mostly trial and error. What works for Alice one week might not work the next, so I rotate through these options to keep her interested. Start with small amounts to avoid upsetting your dog's stomach, and remember to adjust their main food portions slightly so they do not gain unwanted weight. A topper should be an addition to a balanced diet, not a replacement for it.
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