The Best Dog Food Toppers in 2026, Tested by a Picky Eater

Dog food toppers add extra flavor and texture to meals, making them especially enticing to picky pups and dogs with a low appetite due to health issues. Many toppers also add moisture to food and provide extra hydration. From wet and fresh to freeze-dried raw toppers, there are many options to choose from. The best dog food toppers, however, will be the ones that entice your dog to actually eat.

As a pets reporter, I’ve spent the past few years testing, researching, and writing about various dog foods. I also have a sensitive dog named Roo, who is reactive and has big feelings about the world, which can also affect her appetite. After trying 30 different toppers over three months, JustFoodForDogs Pantry Fresh recipes were the clear winner. The line features an extensive selection of fresh flavors and textures that keep food interesting, to the point that we even used it for mealtime enrichment. Some pet parents, however, might prefer the convenience of a dry topper, such as our air-dried pick from Ziwi Peak.

No matter which type of topper you choose, it’s important to remember they’re meant for supplemental feeding only. “Toppers do contain calories, and should never exceed 10% of your pet’s daily calorie intake needed to meet their caloric needs,” says Dr. Mark Freeman, a veterinarian and associate professor of community practice at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He also advises always reviewing the ingredient list and looking for toppers that follow the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) labeling guidelines.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Our top picks for the best dog food toppers

Best overall: JustFoodForDogs Pantry Fresh – See at JustFoodForDogs

Best air-dried: Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Food for Dogs – See at Chewy

Best freeze-dried raw: Instinct Raw Boost Mixers – See at Chewy

Best wet: Honest Kitchen Superfood Pour Overs – See at Chewy

Best limited ingredient: Open Farm Fish Toppers – See at Open Farm

Best powder: Native Pet Powders – See at Chewy

Best broth: Solid Gold Bone Broth – See at Chewy

Best crumble: Jinx Crumbles – See at Jinx

Best overall

JustFoodForDogs Pantry Fresh takes the top spot, thanks to its variety of enticing flavors and textures. The line appeals to a wide range of picky eaters and includes recipes for dogs with special dietary needs. JustFoodForDogs is no stranger to our lists either; it’s the top brand we picked for best fresh dog food, which Pantry Fresh technically is. However, the smaller carton and two-year shelf life make it much easier to store and portion out as a topper.

Whole meats, veggies, and fruits lead the ingredient lists, alongside flaxseed, cod liver oil, fish oil, or marine microalgae oil, depending on the recipe. These meat proteins, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids are what make a topper high quality, Freeman says. JustFoodForDogs is also known for putting its veterinarian-formulated recipes through extensive feeding trials, which Freeman adds is another hallmark of top-tier toppers.

But the real test: What did Roo think? Not only did she scarf down her food in her regular bowl, but she was so enthusiastic about this topper that we could use it in puzzle toys and slow feeders, too. I even prepped a bunch before I went on a trip since she has a history of losing her appetite when I’m away. According to her sitter, she licked each bowl and puzzle clean.

The biggest drawback is that it’s not the easiest to portion for calorie intake, so you’ll need a kitchen scale. For a fresh food topper that you can simply scoop and pour, Freshpet Vital offers a variety of flavors.

Best air-dried

“Fresh ingredients will always have the maximal nutritional value, but that is not practical for most manufactured toppers,” Freeman says. For pet parents who want a topper with a longer shelf life after opening or something easier to use on the go, air-dried toppers are an excellent alternative.

Ziwi Peak, in particular, uses a patented technology that gently circulates warm air to lock in nutrients while removing pathogenic bacteria. Based in New Zealand, the company meets or exceeds the standards of more than 30 countries, including those of AAFCO and FDA in the US.

Available in six flavors, the Ziwi Peak air-dried recipes include novel proteins like venison, ideal for dogs like Roo who are motivated by unique flavors, as well as pups with poultry or other common meat protein allergies. Ingredients like tripe and mussels provide omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. While I found the odor of these ingredients a bit off-putting, it only made Roo more excited to eat her meal, eagerly air-sniffing while I filled her bowl.

While the recipes are tasty, they are high in calories and fat. They also contain salt, which Freeman says is something to watch for, since low sodium levels are ideal when choosing a quality topper. During testing, Roo was also eating high-value training treats, so I had to be careful not to overload her stomach with rich, fatty foods that would make her stool soft.

The good news is that a little goes a long way, and you can crumble the small squares for extra mileage. I found a tablespoon or two enough to excite Roo. However, if you’re looking for an air-dried topper with about 100 fewer calories per cup, check out Pawstruck’s Beef or Chicken Meal Topper and Mixer. A bonus: It’s also more affordable.

Best freeze-dried raw

Freeman says that freeze-dried foods retain the majority of their nutritional value. They’re also easier to serve, making them one of the best dog food toppers for convenience. However, when feeding freeze-dried raw, it’s crucial to ensure the food has undergone a “killing step,” says Dr. Richard Hill, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. That’s because raw dog food is not safe to feed and can put both dogs and people at risk of serious bacterial infections.

Enter Instinct Raw Boost Mixers. These nugget-sized morsels have undergone high-pressure processing (HPP) to ensure the toppers are free of pathogens and safe for dogs. The brand also follows strict FDA food safety standards and tests its food in third-party laboratories.

As for taste, I was surprised by how much Roo liked these toppers, despite their drier texture — pro tip: add water to the nuggets if your dog doesn’t find them appealing on their own. Because they elevated meals so much and were super easy to serve, I used them in puzzle toys, snuffle mats, and even on training walks. I found that if I crumbled some of the pieces, they’d coat each kibble like Cheeto dust, making Roo’s entire meal higher in value.

These toppers come in four main proteins and five health blends. We tried the Gut Health formula, which included dried pumpkin and probiotics to aid in digestion. If you’re looking for an even wider variety of protein options from a freeze-dried raw food brand that also uses HPP, Stella & Chewy offers enticing flavors like duck and pork.

Best wet

With a stronger flavor, wet food is often one of the best dog food toppers for picky eaters. Going beyond your typical canned options, Honest Kitchen Superfood Pour Overs has an interesting gravy texture with chunks of meat and veggies that look fresh and smell savory.

When developing recipes, Honest Kitchen collaborates with a team of veterinarians, which includes board-certified veterinary nutritionists and PhD food scientists. For these toppers, each flavor has a short list of ingredients that feature bone broths, whole meats, and vegetables.

Honest Kitchen Superfood Pour Overs were another topper that sent Roo into a frantic fervor as I prepped her meal. As soon as I opened the carton, she came running and followed me around until I set her bowl down.

Each recipe is free of salt and has a reasonable calorie count, ranging from 62 to 90 calories per carton. For Roo, an active, medium-sized dog, this meant we could use half a carton for meals, making it easier to calculate calories per serving. However, if you have a smaller dog, you’ll likely need a kitchen scale to figure things out at first.

Best limited ingredient

When looking at the ingredients in a topper, Freeman advises watching out for those your pet may be allergic to, with poultry proteins often the culprit. The best dog food toppers for food sensitivities will have a very short ingredient list, helping you eliminate the likelihood of coming across a food that doesn’t agree with your pup.

Open Farm Fish Toppers fit this bill to a tee. Each of its wet topper recipes has only two or three ingredients, with salmon, cod, or arctic char taking center stage. The downside, though, is that your dog will need to like fish, as it’s the only protein option, and you’ll have to be OK with the pungent smell. The packaging comes in a cute, compact fish tin that can be deceiving if members of your household don’t realize it’s meant for dogs, as my mother did while visiting us — at least it’s human-grade!

It’s pretty easy to portion and get a rough idea of calories, since it’s listed by tin. Open Farm recommends using one or two tablespoons for each meal, but to be precise, I divided sections of the tin by total calories. For instance, the salmon formula had 156 calories. When divided into four portions, each serving totaled around 40 calories — within Roo’s 10% limit of “unbalanced treats” to her daily diet, as recommended by veterinarians.

The wet, whipped texture also coats kibble nicely, so like many toppers on this list, a little goes a long way.

Best powder

Native Pet Powders pack a double punch as a topper. On the one hand, you can use the powder to coat each piece of your dog’s food, then serve it dry. Or, you can add a bit of water and turn it into a broth for extra hydration. Offering flavors like bone broth, pumpkin, or goat milk, the powders also feature blends for specific health needs, such as added probiotics or hip and joint care with undenatured type II collagen and green-lipped mussel.

Roo and I tried the pumpkin and goat milk flavors, which came in tins with scoops, making it easy to serve. The calories for each formula are calculated using the provided scoop, with each label recommending one scoop for every 25 pounds of body weight. This amount was entirely way too much when serving dry. When I used two scoops, as recommended for Roo’s 40-plus pounds, the amount of powder actually deterred her from eating the meal. When I used way less, about half of a scoop, she gobbled it down.

I appreciated that the flavors were enticing without being high in calories. I also loved the versatility of adding a bit of water to make a broth on the days Roo needed extra hydration — after a hike, on a warm day — without having to commit to a full carton that had to be used within the week. Instead, Native Pet says the best use date for its powders is between four and six months after opening.

Best broth

Bone broth is one of the best dog food toppers for pups who need extra moisture added to their meals. Think: dogs like Roo, who act like camels throughout the day and need the extra encouragement to hydrate. We’re also working on getting Roo’s weight down a few pounds per our vet’s guidance, so I appreciated that the recommended serving size of 2 tablespoons only came to about 10 calories.

However, in our testing, we found that clear broths weren’t as exciting as other toppers, especially the gravies with visible chunks of meat and veggies. Roo even refused to eat her meal when I added some of the other bone broth brands to her kibble. But among all the broths we tried, Roo was consistently more excited about mealtime when I added Solid Gold Bone Broth, which features extra herbs and ingredients for enhanced flavor. The beef includes turmeric, the chicken has lavender and chamomile, and the turkey features pumpkin and ginger. This extra oomph is what sets Solid Gold apart from the rest in our testing.

The 8-ounce pouch is good to use for up to a week after opening. If I had any broth left over as the week was coming to an end, I’d pour the liquid into molds and pop it in the freezer for fun frozen bites to add to meals or as a treat. If your dog prefers their meals warm, you can heat the broth as well.

Best crumble

One of the earliest forms of dog food toppers I ever used was saving Roo’s treat crumbs and sprinkling them over her meals. While effective in getting her to finish her dinner, they weren’t always the most balanced option.

Jinx Crumbles offers the same idea, but with more precise portioning. Beef, chicken, and salmon top the short ingredient list, and each recipe is slowly smoked and dehydrated for enhanced palatability. Rosemary extract adds even more flavor, while pumpkin or sweet potato provides additional fiber to help digestion.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that salt appears midway through the ingredient list. Hill says that while healthy dogs can tolerate the extra sodium and will simply pass it through their system, they’ll need access to more water, or they’ll become dehydrated. During testing, I found Roo was thirstier after eating this topper, but it wasn’t an issue for us since she is a younger, healthier adult dog.

Regarding palatability, I wasn’t expecting Roo to be as amped about these crumbles as she was, but the smoky smell and flavor definitely made her more excited to eat her kibble. The salmon flavor was her favorite for taste. It was also my top pick because it had the lowest calories.

When portioning, Jinx suggests adding ½ teaspoon to each meal. I used a teaspoon for Roo, but it still only came out to around 5 or 15 calories per serving, depending on the recipe.

What to look for in dog food toppers

The veterinarians I consulted outlined key things to consider when choosing a dog food topper. Keep in mind that toppers aren’t a necessary addition to your dog’s diet.

If you find your dog is consistently reluctant to eat their food, you should first consult your veterinarian, who can check to ensure there’s no underlying health issue affecting your dog’s appetite. Many picky eaters might do better with a different food, too, such as one of our picks for the best dog foods.

Once you’ve ruled out any health issues, the criteria below can help you choose the best topper for your dog’s food.

Nutritional content and calories: To evaluate the nutritional content of a dog food topper, Freeman recommends reviewing the ingredient list and looking for the AAAFO label on the package, which will provide the most helpful information. However, both vets I consulted say that as long as dogs are eating a nutritionally balanced diet, you don’t have to worry so much about the nutritional content of dog food toppers — provided the toppers don’t exceed 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Hill recommends aiming for 5% if you can. However, he acknowledges that sticking to the recommended 10% is often an achievement in itself, as many pet parents tend to feed calorie-dense dog treats that make up 25% to 35% of their dog’s calorie needs.

As someone who has spent a copious amount of time training a reactive dog, I know firsthand how these extra treat calories can sneak up on you. For help determining your dog’s calorie needs, Freeman advises consulting your vet, who can help you figure it out based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and activity level.

Ingredients: “Real meat, fruit, and vegetable proteins and fiber, omega-3 and flaxseed fats, and low levels of sodium are all important factors in producing a ‘high quality’ topper,” Freeman says. And of course, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any ingredients that give your dog trouble, like poultry proteins, which are common canine food allergens.

Sodium levels: Figuring out sodium levels can be tricky, as it’s not readily listed on dog food labels. One easy rule of thumb Hill recommends is to look at how early salt, sodium chloride, or sodium-containing chemicals appear on the ingredient list, if at all. If the topper also says it’s “complete and balanced,” it means it meets the AAFCO standards for a complete and balanced diet, which include an appropriate amount of sodium for adult dogs (maintenance) or both puppies and adult dogs (all life stages). You’re more likely to see this on food that can be served as a full meal or as a topper.

Don’t stress too much, though, if your dog is healthy and has access to plenty of water. They’ll likely drink and excrete any extra sodium through their urine. Just keep an eye out if your dog has heart, liver, or kidney diseases, as these are the pups who would most benefit from a low-sodium diet, Freeman says.

Processing: How ingredients are processed also determines the quality of a topper, Freeman says. He adds that fresh ingredients have the highest nutritional value but aren’t the easiest to use as a topper. Wet foods like broths and gravy tend to have lower nutritional value, but they add moisture and flavor to meals. “Frozen, freeze-dried, and dehydrated toppers retain the majority of their nutritional value, but have to be thawed before use, or may need water added to increase their desirability and palatability for the pet,” Freeman adds.

When choosing a freeze-dried raw topper, it’s especially crucial to ensure it has undergone a “killing step,” such as very high-pressure processing. According to Hill, foods that haven’t undergone this step likely contain pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant organisms that can make both pets and people sick. “This is of particular concern for animals and people who are very young, very old, pregnant, or immunocompromised,” he says.

Brand trustworthiness: Another key feature is whether the brand prioritizes post-production testing to ensure the final product reflects the information on the label and fulfills the labeled nutritional values, says Freeman says. Third-party testing can also add an extra layer of credibility.

Both vets also advise watching for misleading claims that the brand can’t back up. The ingredients should show which components make the product do what it claims to do. For instance, if a topper claims to support a dog’s joints, look for an ingredient like fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for joint health.

Recipes: Flavors, texture, and smells will all affect whether your dog finds the topper palatable. Choose options that you know will suit their preferences and needs. For instance, if you’re looking for a topper that adds more hydration to your dog’s day but you know they aren’t a fan of traditional clear broths, find a gravy-type texture with chunks of meat or a whipped wet food.

Ease of serving and storing: Consider how the type of topper you choose will also affect how easy it is to serve and store. While often more palatable, wet, fresh, and broth-type toppers need to be used fairly quickly after opening. They’re often also a bit messier to serve than dry toppers.

How we tested the best dog food toppers

While my dog, Roo, a healthy 5-year-old mixed breed, has outgrown many of her picky ways since adolescence, she’s still quite particular about flavors and textures. She also drinks very little water throughout the day, so I’m always looking for ways to encourage her to hydrate more. And because of her reactivity, she’s less likely to eat when experiencing high levels of arousal.

I also like to use mealtime for mental enrichment or training, but she’s never been a dog with a huge food drive, even though she’s a few pounds over our vet’s recommended weight.

With Roo’s eating habits in mind, here’s the evaluation method I put in place for each topper.

Effectiveness: To test effectiveness, I served each topper along with Roo’s usual food for two separate meals. I noted whether or not she was interested in the flavor, texture, and smell of each choice. I also documented her level of excitement for the meals with the addition of the topper. For instance, did Roo sniff the air, did she tippy-tap around me while I prepared her bowl, did she completely reject her food with the topper, or did she act as if she didn’t care if it was there?

Not only did I track if Roo finished her meal with the topper, but I also evaluated if it added more value to mealtime. I considered whether I could use the topper to turn Roo’s boring kibble into an elevated experience with puzzle toys or training, or get her to drink more water. And finally, I noted whether any toppers affected her digestion negatively.

Ingredients: For each topper, I checked whether real meat, fruit, and vegetables led the list of protein and fiber sources. If the topper contained sodium, I checked where it fell on the ingredient list. I also noted if there were any healthy extras, such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish or flaxseed. Upon opening the packaging, I examined the ingredients to see if they looked and smelled fresh. And finally, I considered the total calories per serving, noting whether it would be hard for dogs to stay under 10% of their caloric intake when eating the topper daily. When choosing toppers, I picked brands that offered a variety of flavors, especially ones that didn’t include poultry, since it’s a common protein allergy.

Brand review: I checked the marketing on the topper’s package and the brand’s website to ensure it wasn’t making any health claims that the ingredients couldn’t back up. I also researched what types of feeding trials and third-party testing the company conducted to ensure the nutritional value and safety of its toppers.

Ease of serving and storage: After opening the packaging, I noted which toppers were difficult to portion out, especially when calculating calories per serving. I also determined whether the package size was difficult to use up within the time allotted before it went bad.

Dog food toppers FAQs

What is the healthiest food topper for dogs?

The best dog food toppers for health will follow AAFCO labeling. Meat, plant proteins, fruits, and veggies will top the ingredient list — bonus points if the recipe includes healthy extras like omega-3 fatty acids from fish or flaxseed. The healthiest options will also cater to your dog’s specific needs. For instance, if you have a senior dog who needs to drink more water, you’ll want a liquid topper that adds hydration.

How often should you give your dog food toppers?

You can add dog food toppers to each of your pup’s meals as long as it doesn’t exceed 10% of their daily caloric intake. However, Hill recommends really getting to know your dog’s eating habits before deeming them picky and in need of extra encouragement. He says often when pet parents think their dog’s appetite is poor and the dog is at a good body condition, or overweight, they’re actually just trying to regulate their food intake, just like humans do. “Variation in food intake from day-to-day is normal for us and dogs,” he says.

What can I put on my dog’s food so they eat it?

Along with dog food toppers that you can buy in a package, you can also add a variety of foods straight from your pantry or fridge. Low-fat yogurt or cheese, cooked lean meats, and dog-safe fruit and vegetables are excellent options. The only downside is that it may be harder to track the added calories. Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, always consult your vet.

Are dog food toppers good for dogs?

Dog food toppers are a good way to get picky eaters and those with poor appetites to eat their meals. They’re also handy for adding moisture for dogs who need extra hydration. The downside is that if you’re not careful, you can overuse toppers, reducing your dog’s intake of a nutritionally balanced diet or inadvertently creating a dog that relies on them, Freeman says. “If used judiciously, these additives can have benefits for the pet, but we, as pet owners, are generally easily trained by our pets,” he adds. If your dog doesn’t eat their food immediately when it’s served to them without a topper, you may be more inclined to add one. However, your dog might happily eat that same food when they are hungry. In this way, using toppers can inadvertently create a picky eater, Freeman says.

How do I choose the right dog food topper?

To choose the right dog food topper, consider your dog’s eating habits, preferences, and needs. Some dogs will prefer a more liquid-based option, like a wet food or broth topper, while others will prefer the crunch of an air-dried topper. Fresh food options are typically a hit for a wide variety of dogs.

What are the most popular dog food toppers?

Popular dog food toppers include wet food, fresh food, and bone broth. These additions include flavorful recipes with real meats, veggies, and extras like fish oil. Air-dried food and freeze-dried raw dog food from brands like Ziwi Peak and Instinct are also top picks for toppers.