12 Feb 7 Delicious Homemade Healthy Toppers for Your Dog’s Meals
Want to jazz up your pup’s regular kibble and add some extra nutrition into their diet? Homemade toppers are a great way to do so. You can control the ingredients to suit your dog’s needs, and your pooch will love the variety. Here are 7 tasty and nutritious homemade topper ideas to sprinkle onto your dog’s meals.
Sweet Potato and Egg for Dogs with Allergies
If your pup suffers from grain or chicken sensitivities, this simple combo avoids common allergens. Sweet potato provides vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and fibre. Eggs are full of protein and biotin for healthy skin and coat. The limited ingredients mean less risk of reactions while still being tasty and nourishing.
Bone Broth and Oily Fish to Boost Joints and Skin
Joint problems are common in ageing dogs. Skin and coat condition also often deteriorates over time. Give your mature mutt some nutritional support by topping their meals with bone broth and oily fish. The gelatin in bone broth cushions joints and keeps connective tissues flexible. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish like salmon and sardines reduce inflammation while making their coat shiny and healthy.
Green Beans and Carrots for Weight Loss/Maintenance
Lots of dogs struggle to self-regulate food intake, leading to obesity and related health issues. Help your hound maintain better body condition with this low calorie topper. Chopped green beans and carrots provide vitamins, minerals and fibre to satisfy hunger, without excessive calories. This allows them to fill up without overeating and gaining extra weight.
Yoghurt and Berries for Digestive Health
Yoghurt contains live active cultures including probiotics that are beneficial for digestive health. The good bacteria help encourage healthy gut flora, which aids food digestion and nutrient absorption. Berries like blueberries or strawberries provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. These help reduce gut inflammation and reinforce the protective mucosal lining.
Pumpkin Purée and Peanut Butter for Overall Health
Pumpkin is a superfood for dogs. The high fibre keeps digestion regular while vitamins A, C and E support immune health. Peanut butter is also packed with vitamins, minerals and protein for bodily maintenance. Combined, this combo makes a tasty, nutritious additive your dog will love.
Banana and Almond Butter for Antioxidants
Bananas contain antioxidants like vitamin C and E along with manganese and vitamin B6 to support cell health. Almond butter provides vitamin E, magnesium and selenium – also antioxidants. Combining these makes a tasty topper high in free radical-fighting nutrients to combat disease.
Lean Diced Meat and Veggies for Protein
Diced lean meat like chicken, turkey or beef provides quality complete proteins for maintaining muscle mass. Paired with vegetables like carrots, broccoli or sweet potato, it makes a nutritious additive high in vitamins and minerals too. Adjust veggies depending on what your dog will eat or needs more of.
Making homemade healthy dog food toppers allows you to supplement components missing from commercial dog foods. You can easily add in proteins or nutrients tailored to your pup’s requirements. Sprinkle a nutritious meat/veggie mix onto their regular kibble for well-balanced meals and variety.
Consult Your Vet Too
Adding homemade healthy toppers to your dog’s meals provides extra nutrients and variety they’ll enjoy. You can tailor ingredients to their specific needs like food sensitivities, joint health or weight control. Just remember commercial dog foods are formulated to be complete, so use toppers for supplemental variety rather than fully replacing meals without vet advice.
An article on providing dogs supplements wisely states that substantial diet changes can impact health, so a vet’s guidance is key. Consult yours before switching up your pup’s meals significantly. But using tasty homemade toppers for extra nutrition is typically beneficial.