With recent increased awareness and concern for the welfare of the pets, there has been encouraging demand for raw dog food toppers. These toppers are expected to be given alongside or alongside with the normal meals that are given to the dogs so as to provide the extra nutrition, flavor and the variety. But first, let’s break down what raw dog food toppers are and why more and more people are starting to use them. Here, we will go over all that you should be aware about raw dog food topper and how to get the right one for your pet.
What is the Meaning of Raw Dog Food Toppers?
Raw dog food toppers are feed supplements to the general diet of a dog and the mostly made from raw and uncooked parts. These toppers are meals that are taken and mixed with the primary meals and can be raw meats, some organs, bones, fruits and vegetables. It is also important to note that compared to cooked or processed toppers, raw dog food toppers do not undergo any loss of nutrients, enzymes and flavor as found in the ingredients.
Why Raw Dog Food Toppers?
Nutritional Boost: Raw toppers can be regarded as a nutritionally-packed addition to daily feed that will add value to a dog’s staple kibble or home-cooked food.
Palatability: It turns out that dogs prefer raw food because it is easier for them to chew and taste.
Variety: Adding raw food toppers can make meal time exciting adding to the variation of what a dog eats.
The Benefits of Raw Dog Food Toppers
Raw dog food toppers provide a range of benefits that can significantly improve a dog’s health and well-being. Here are some given below:
Enhanced Nutrition
The toppers own natural uncooked nutrients that may be reduced or even eliminated when preparing the actual commercial dog food. If you supplement your dog with raw meats, organs, vegetables you are able to feed them a healthier, richer meal. These toppers are especially useful in supplying the necessary vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes important in the functions of the body such as the digestive system, immune response, and skin health.
Improved Digestion
Topper for raw dog foods are less processed as compared to the commercialized dog foods that are available in the market today. The enzymes that are inherent in raw foods can help in the digestion of nutrients to thus be absorbed in the body easily. Also, if the toppers are raw it may make it easier for digestion because they enrich the gut microflora.
Better Hydration
Do raw food as they contain high moisture percentage as compared to dry kibble food. You can use raw dog food toppers to provide your dog with more water as they enjoy the topper meal as it also has a water content for the dog who rarely drinks water.
Weight Management
Raw dog food toppers can come in handy for those dogs that require to either gain or lose some weight. It is found that they contain less carbohydrate content and more proteins; thus enable the dog to complete his/her stomach with fewer calories. This can be very important when controlling the diet in order to control the weight, but still provide your dog with all the essential nutrients that it requires.
Healthy skin and a shiny coat
Meat-based toppers for raw dog food contain the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are useful in developing the skin and the coat of the dog. Feeding raw toppers to your dog on a regular basis will pay off since you will notice positive changes in your dog’s coat and skin.
Kinds of Raw Dog Food Toppers
I would also like to mention that there are many types of toppers that can be served as a raw dog food and each of them has its benefits in particular situation.
Raw Meat Toppers
When purchasing raw dog food toppers; raw meat toppers are among the most commonly used. These toppers normally contain beef, chicken, lamb or fish in its raw form. It is a rich source of energy and protein and a certain amount of amino acid and fatty acid that is necessary for muscle building and other body functions.
Benefits:
- Source of excellent protein and contains natural nutrients.
- Benefits include muscle development as well as the retention of muscles.
- This makes oat a natural source of essential fatty acids to the body.
Popular Choices:
- Ground beef or lamb
- Raw chicken wings or thighs
- Raw fish like salmon or sardines
Organ Meat Toppers
Offal meat is very nutritious, and it is also very healthy for your dog, popular raw dog foods toppers are liver, heart, and kidney. These organs supply vitamins A, B, D, and E; also, the organisms need for iron and zinc are availing from it. They are also good sources of natural taurine which is essential nutrients to the heart.
Benefits:
- Improved in that they are nutrient concentrate, which means that they supply the main vitamins and minerals.
- improves the state of cardiovascular system and boosts energy levels
- Very tasty and recognized by all dogs as food for consumption
Popular Choices:
- Beef liver
- Chicken hearts
- Lamb kidneys
Bone Toppers
There is an option to add raw bones, such as chicken or turkey necks, or beef knuckles, which besides the bones supply the dog with calcium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals. Bones also play a role in dental hygiene where it can help clean a dog’s teeth and even keep the gums healthy given the fact that they are a form of chewing exercise.
Benefits:
- It contains great amounts of calcium and many other important minerals.
- Ensures dental health since the product encourages chewing of food products.
- It helps in keeping teeth clean and making the gum strong.
Popular Choices:
- Chicken wings or chicken necks, fresh
- Beef marrow bones
- Turkey necks
Vegetable and Fruit Toppers
Including unprocessed vegetables and fruits on the top you may add more vitamins, fibers, and antioxidants into your dog’s diet. These can include plant based toppings which promotes digestion and strengthens the immune system among other benefits Of course, it also gives a different texture to the meals.
Benefits:
- High fiber, vitamin, and antioxidant food.
- Dietary fiber promotes the digestive system health and ease of bowel movements.
- In a patient with obesity and in a patient wanting to lose some weight, this diet will be of considerable benefit to them providing calorie count that is usually low.
Popular Choices:
- Carrots and spinach
- Banking on green vegetables and other colorful organic coloured fruits such as blue berries and apples with seeds removed.
- Pumpkin and zucchini
Supplement-Based Raw Toppers
Raw toppers from supplement base are complement, and some of these enhance are raw eggs, fish oil or ground flax seed. They can also increase your dog’s consumption of specific nutrients for instance; omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that may be lacking with your dog’s normal diet.
Benefits:
- Malnutrition therapy for a particular disease or condition
- It is convenient to add it in your daily meals.
- Improves the general composition of the nutrients that is fed to a dog.
Popular Choices:
- Raw eggs
- Fish oil
- Ground flaxseed
How Choose the Right Raw Dog Food Topper
Not all raw dog food topper is created the same which is why you have to take into account the needs, health, and preferences of your dog. Here are some tips which would help you in choosing the right one for yourself:
Assess Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs
To therefore ensure that you choose the right topper, you need to understand some of the nutritional requirements of your dog. For instance, if your dog lacks in protein then a meat or an organ meat topper would be appropriate. If your dog is suffering from some digestion problems then, it is desirable to feed your dog raw vegetables or probiotic toppers.
Evaluate Ingredient Quality
Always consider the quality of the raw dog food toppers: informants idealised human grade ingredients. Stay far products that contain artificials preservatives, colors or flavors. Avoid fillers such as grains and soy toppers as they do not have any reason to be included in the diet and are difficult for the dog’s digestive system to break down.
Consider Any Allergies or Sensitivities
Ensure that you avoid toppers that may contain substances that trigger allergic reactions in your dog if your dog has any food sensitivities. For instance, should your dog be sensitive to chicken, then go for the beef or lamb-based flavors. A variety of jerks are also available as limited-ingredient diets to help prevent potential allergy reactions.
Match the Topper to Your Dog’s Existing Diet
It is also important to contemplate how this raw dog food topper can blend with your dog’s current feeding regimen. If your dog’s regular diet is rich in protein, then you might go for vegetable or some supplement based topper. On the other hand, if the kibble is grain loaded, a meat based topper will supplement the protein and fats required in a pet’s diet.
Start with Small Portions
When commencing with a new raw dog food topper on a dog’s meal, portion it in limited quantity so that you can determine the reaction of the pooch. Start giving less of it at first and then gradually increase the portion in the course of some days or weeks depending on the response of the body if there are symptoms like upset tummy or signs of allergy. This way your dog’s digestive tract is gradually prepared for the change in the dog food that you are providing.
Top Raw Dog Food Toppers on the Market
Below is a list of some of the top rated raw dog food toppers we have found to contain high quality ingredients and offer the right nutrition for your dogs, as well as being endorsed by customers.
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Toppers
- Type: Freeze-Dried Raw Meat
- Key Ingredients: Organic chicken, natural and free-range feeds, natural range-fed beef and natural range-fed vegetables and fruits
- Benefits: It contains high protein, a source of omega fatty acids and it blends quickly with kibble.
- Customer Feedback: Some of the benefits that its users have found their pet dogs were better fur texture and surge in vitality.
Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets
- Type: Raw Meaty Bones & Organ Meat That are Freeze Dried
- Key Ingredients: Organic chicken, organs beef, organic vegetables
- Benefits: Tastes great, nutritionally complete and determined to meet all essential nutrient requirements based on AIN-93 nutrient specifications, The convenience of a freeze-dried product in resealable bags
- Customer Feedback: Being easily palatable and offering noticeable improvements in the health of dogs such as healthier coat and improved digestion.
Nature’s Logic Dehydrated Raw Beef Bone Broth
- Type: Bone Broth
- Key Ingredients: Beef bones; dried beef liver; vegetables
- Benefits: Moisturizer, cooks, joint helper, source of collagen and minerals
- Customer Feedback: Recommended for the maintenance of the joint as well as in mobility of dogs in their old age and for enlargement of the flavor of their normal feed.
Instinct Raw Boost Mixers
- Type: Freeze-Dried Raw Bites
- Key Ingredients: Poultry product that is cage-free chicken, turkey liver, chicken heart, apples, and carrots
- Benefits: Rich in protein, has natural Probiotics, good to the digestive system and increases the nutritional value.
- Customer Feedback: This is a firm favourite with owners as they are so easy to administer and can simply be sprinkled on kibble, owners have noticed an improvement in coat quality and digestion.
The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth POUR OVERS
- Type: Bone Broth-Based Topper
- Key Ingredients: Drinks: Chicken bone broth; Vegetables: Pumpkin; Herbs: Parsley; Spices: Turmeric
- Benefits: Offers customers with water and has positive effects on individuals’ digestive system since it is natural with no genetically modified ingredients.
- Customer Feedback: As a topper, it is widely used for dogs that hardly take their food; it enhances taste and Appeal for dry kibble.
Open Farm RawMix Homestead Turkey Recipe
- Type: Raw Meat & Organ Topper
- Key Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, duck, turkey liver, and chicken heart
- Benefits: Humanely raised meats, grain-free, includes superfoods like coconut oil and pumpkin seeds for added nutrition
- Customer Feedback: Pet owners report that their dogs eagerly eat their meals when this topper is added, and they notice improvements in energy levels and overall health.
DIY Raw Dog Food Toppers: Homemade Recipes for Your Dog
If you wish to know what your dog is consuming in his meals precisely, then the making of homemade raw dog food toppers will be perfect. Here are some recipes you may want to follow at home.
Chicken & Veggie Medley
Ingredients:
- 1 pound and one pound fresh chicken breast, cut it into small pieces.
- These are prepared using raw carrots which should be shredded to make 1 cup.
- 1 raw spinaches cup, chopped
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions:
- Take a bowl and mix the diced chicken breast, shredded carrot, chopped spinach in one bowl.
- Mix in the coconut oil.
- Dose a portion of it and feed it to the dog as a topping on his regular food and keep the rest in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Benefits: This recipe is a good balanced source of proteins, fiber, and fats thus, making it ideal for most dogs irrespective of their age.
Beef & Organ Mix
Ingredients:
- Raw beef liver half pound chopped in small pieces
- ½ a pound raw beef heart cut into cubes
- – 1/2 cup high raw green beans that are chopped
- 1 raw egg
Instructions:
- Next, put the diced beef liver and beef heart then add the chopped green beans into a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the raw egg over the mixture and mix it up so that it is well incorporated.
- Mix the above ingredients and stir; then put a spoonful of the mixture on your dog’s usual meal; the rest should be covered and put in a refrigerator and used up to 3 days.
Benefits: This topper is nutrient dense especially from the organ meats and vitamins/ minerals, the egg contributes to the protein and healthy fats.
Fish & Sweet Potato Delight
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound raw salmon – cut into small pieces
- Ingredients; 1/2 cup raw sweet potato peeled and grated
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
Instructions:
- Place the diced salmon into a bowl, add grated sweet potato into it.
- Next, add ground flaxseed and combine well.
- For instance, you can addition a portion on top of your dog’s everyday meal and then keep the remaining in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Benefits: It also contains healthy omega 3 fatty acids from the salmon and flax seeds making the skin of the dog shiny and a healthy coat. To it, the sweet potato brings fiber and vitamins.
Turkey & Blueberry Power Blend
- Ingredients:
- 1 pound raw ground turkey
- 1/2 cup raw blueberries
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- Instructions:
- Mix the ground turkey with the blueberries and parsley in a bowl.
- Serve as a topper over your dog’s regular meal, and refrigerate the remainder for up to 3 days.
Benefits: This topper is high in protein, antioxidants from the blueberries, and parsley for fresh breath and digestion.
How to add Raw Dog Food Toppers to your Pet’s Diet
While adding raw dog food toppers you need to do it slowly as your dog needs to get used to the new foods and this might cause some digestive issues in your dog.
Start with Small Amounts
Start by mixing a little amount of the raw topper into your dog’s normal diet then gradually increase the portion as the pet adapts to it. This helps your dogs’ digestive system to gradually adapt to new food ingredients in order not to cause any health complications.
Monitor Your Dog’s Reaction
Do monitor your dog’s behavior after using it to avoid any effects of the new topper. These include signs of digestive upsets, for instance, diarrhoea or vomiting, as well as any form of skin itching or swelling that may indicate allergic reactions. In the event you observe any side effects, then one should reduce the usage or eliminate the product until consulting a vet.
Gradually Increase the Amount
If the raw topper is well accepted by your dog then you should try to increase the quantity over the course of a week or two. It also allows the digestive system of your dog to acclimatize to the new addition that is slowly introduced into the diet plan.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
Make sure that the raw dog food topper enhance the diet of your dog. Toppers simply enhance nutrition but they can do so, they cannot substitute the basics of your dog’s meals. Lose sight of the daily, weekly, or monthly calorie consumption in order to prevent overfeeding the animals.
Blunders You’d Like To Avoid When Feeding Your Dog Raw Dog Food Toppers
Raw dog food toppers can be really helpful but there are typical mistakes that owners make that it is important to steer clear from for the sake of their dogs’ health.
Overfeeding
This is because it can be so simple to overfeed your dog and especially so if the topper is rich in calories. Remember about dividing the portions and, thus, avoid overfeeding your dog unless his or her main meal was somewhat less today.
Ignoring Nutritional Balance
Raw toppers should enhance your dog’s diet, not disrupt it. Make sure the topper you choose provides complementary nutrients rather than duplicating those already present in your dog’s food. For instance, if your dog’s kibble is already high in protein, balance it with a vegetable or fruit-based topper instead of more meat.
Choosing Low-Quality Ingredients
It is, however, important to note that not all raw materials are unsophisticated, or are they all gross. When choosing high-moisture protein sources to mix with your raw dog food toppers, ensure that you use human-grade edible ingredients. Respect ingredients your pet cannot have, like raw onions, grapes, or specific nuts.
Neglecting Food Safety
Raw foods act as carriers of germs such as Salmonella or E. coli that can be unsafe for consumption by dogs and humans alike. It is recommended to always observe proper food handling procedures especially when preparing the raw meats and when storing them properly and the cleaning of the surfaces and other kitchen utensils.
Ignoring Your Dogs’ Distinct Requirements
You can never get two dogs that are the same and they all have their own way of eating. Special features that are great for one breed may not be the same on other; this is true for each and every breed. Customer needs to bear in mind their dog’s specific diseases and illnesses, his or her age, and activity level when choosing a raw dog food topper.
The Use of Raw Dog Food Toppers in a Synergistic Diet
There is a special focus that has to be placed on the importance of using raw dog food toppers in ensuring that your dog’s nutritional needs are adequately met and that his diet is varied enough. Again, with raw toppers, you can introduce all the necessary nutrients, help your dog improve the taste and quality of the consumed feed, and take into account its individual features.
Complementing Commercial Dog Food
Specifically commercial dog food fed with kibble, introducing raw toppers can decrease the highly process quality of the food and introduce fresh ingredients full of nutrients. The two can be advantageous since or can offer a balanced diet on the nutrition of general health.
Enhancing Home-Cooked Meals
For people who feed their pets with homemade meals, topping it up with raw toppers comes in handy. This is very helpful especially for the purpose of checking whether homemade meals contain all the nutrients needed in human diet required vitamins and minerals.
Supporting Specific Health Goals
These raw dog food toppers can also be formulated for different health concerns such as joint health, immune support and weight management. The right ingredients mean that you will be easily able to come up with a diet that will fulfill your dog’s health needs.
Conclusion
Making use of raw dog food toppers is convenient and has its share of benefits on your pet’s health. Almost all of them have the capability to complement your dog’s diets, make them more appealing and include diverse textures and flavors in their meals. It is good to opt for the high-quality commercial raw toppers, then homemade recipes but should be in a way that it supplements the dog’s diet and health.
With the knowledge of various types of raw dog food toppers present in the market, how to choose and introduce this type of food properly, you can help your dog to have a more balanced and filling diet. Bear in mind, the reason behind feeding your dog raw dog food toppers is to enhance their well-being and quality of life.
