Dog Food Toppers: What They Are, the Best Types, and How Much to Add

A dog food topper is a small amount of real food, like freeze-dried raw meat, bone broth, or a crumbled single-ingredient treat, that you add on top of your pet’s regular meal. It adds flavor, moisture, a variety of nutrients and can win over a picky eater without switching foods. Here’s what to use and how much to add.

Shop our meal toppers for dogs and for cats.

---

What Is a Food Topper?

A food topper is anything added on top of your pet’s regular meal. Toppers can be mixed in, sprinkled over, or poured on. They are usually used to:

• Add whole food nutrition to kibble or another base diet
• Tempt picky eaters
• Add moisture
• Bring variety without changing the whole diet

---

Types of Toppers to Try

Topper	What it adds	Try
Freeze-dried bites	Meat, organ, and bone plus functional ingredients	SuperBoosters
Bone broth	Moisture and flavor	Bone broths
Complete freeze-dried food	A partial raw meal	Small Bites for dogs, Meal Bites for cats
Single-ingredient treats	Organ and muscle meat, crumbled	Heart or liver treats
Frozen raw base blends	Meat, organ, and bone, no produce	In the freezer at independent pet stores

---

How Much Topper Should I Add?

Toppers add calories, so account for them. A good starting point:

• Keep toppers and treats together to about 10% of daily calories if they aren’t complete and balanced.
• If you use a complete and balanced food as a topper, like Small Bites or Meal Bites, reduce the base food so the total calories stay the same.
• For reference, SuperBoosters have about 62–84 calories per ¼ cup depending on the recipe, and our bone broths about 1.4–2.7 calories per fluid ounce.

Watch your pet’s weight and adjust as needed.

---

Toppers for Picky Eaters

Aroma drives appetite. Warm broth poured over food, or freeze-dried bites rehydrated in warm water, release more scent and can win over a reluctant eater. Rotate toppers every so often to keep things interesting.

---

Cat Food Toppers

Cats are often pickier about change, so start with a small sprinkle. Freeze-dried Meal Bites are an easy first topper, and frozen bone broth for cats is available at independent pet stores. Single-ingredient heart treats, crumbled, are another favorite. SuperBoosters are made for both dogs and cats in a variety of protein options.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good topper for dog food?

Real-food toppers like freeze-dried meat bites, pet-safe bone broth, or crumbled single-ingredient treats add flavor, moisture, and nutrition. 

How much topper should I put on my dog’s food?

Keep non-complete toppers and treats to about 10% of daily calories. If you use a complete and balanced food as a topper, reduce the base meal to keep total calories the same.

Are food toppers healthy for dogs?

Toppers made from real meat, organs, and whole foods are an easy way to add protein and flavor to your dog’s bowl. 

What can I put on my cat’s food to entice them eat?

Try warm bone broth made for cats, rehydrated freeze-dried bites, or a crumbled heart treat. If your cat stops eating, call your veterinarian.

Can I use dog food toppers for cats?

All of our single-ingredient treats, freeze-dried SuperBoosters and our frozen bone broths are made for both dogs and cats. Check the label before serving.