Why Toppers Are Often the Right Answer
If your dog is a picky eater or a senior who's lost interest in meals, a full switch to fresh food is expensive and slow. A quality topper costs $30 to $70 a month, takes one minute to add, and often solves the problem without a full diet change.
The Farmer's Dog (used as a topper)
Technically a full fresh food, but many pet parents use a half portion as a topper on kibble. This is the approach we recommend for most picky eaters: best of both worlds, roughly half the cost of a full fresh subscription. Our full Farmer's Dog review walks through the specifics.
See the Farmer's Dog TrialStella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixers
Widely available, strong palatability, shelf stable. You crumble a small amount over kibble, add a bit of warm water, and it rehydrates. Got the bowl cleaned on all three of our test dogs.
See on ChewyBone Broth (Plain, Unsalted)
A spoonful of plain unsalted bone broth warmed over kibble is one of the most effective toppers we've ever used, and it costs pennies per meal. Look for "pet-safe" or "unsalted" brands with no added onion or garlic.
Plain Greek Yogurt (1 tbsp)
Full-fat, unflavored Greek yogurt adds palatability and provides probiotics. One tablespoon per meal is plenty for a medium dog. Avoid anything flavored or sweetened.
The Honest Kitchen Meal Boosters
Dehydrated meat and vegetable toppers, just add water. Shelf stable, human-grade, travels well. Palatability was strong on two of our three test dogs.
Plain Cooked Pumpkin (not pie filling)
Plain canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, not pie filling) helps with both palatability and digestion. Especially good for dogs with occasional stool issues. A tablespoon per meal.
Just want the highest-odds fix?
Half a portion of Farmer's Dog on top of your current kibble is what most of our test households ended up using long-term. Starts with the 50% off trial.
See the TrialWhat We'd Skip
- Flavored broths with added salt, onion, or garlic. Check the label.
- Human baby food. Often contains onion powder, which is toxic to dogs.
- Cheese as a daily topper. Fine occasionally, too fatty for daily use.
- Any topper with a "proprietary blend" and no ingredient list. Skip it.
How to Use a Topper
- Start with a small amount (1 to 2 tbsp for a medium dog)
- Warm slightly if possible, not hot
- Mix into the kibble rather than stacking on top, otherwise the dog picks off the topper
- Watch for stomach upset in the first 3 days, most common with high-fat toppers