The benefits of safe toppings for dog food
If you already buy high-quality chow for your pet (which we’re sure you do!), you might be wondering if there’s any need to add extra ingredients. While they’re not strictly necessary, there are a few persuasive reasons to give safe toppings for dog food a try.
For example, sometimes pups can get bored of their food. Adding safe toppings for dog food to their bowl could be an effective way to mix things up. New elements bring a fresh taste, aroma, and texture to pet food, helping to keep meals interesting for your pooch. This is especially true if your canine friend normally eats dry kibble.
However, the really good things to add to dog food don’t just make your pet’s chow more appetising. They also offer potential health benefits. Safe toppings for dog food can help ensure that your pup gets all the vitamins and minerals they need in their diet. What’s more, some functional foods could assist with specific wellness issues like anxiety, digestive troubles, or skin conditions. All of which means it’s definitely worth considering mixing an extra ingredient or two into your pup’s meals.
What can I add to my dog’s food?
That covers the main reasons for adding safe toppings for dog food to your pet’s bowl. So now let’s get into the specific ingredients you might want to use. Whichever you choose, remember that they should only make up a small proportion of your pooch’s meals. And, depending on the topping, you may need to serve a slightly smaller portion of kibble or wet food. This is to compensate for the extra calories and ensure that your pup doesn’t gain weight.
Here are some of our favourite healthy things to add to dog food:
Fresh herbs and spices
Just as herbs make perfect finishing touches for our meals, they bring flavour and colour to your pup’s bowl too. Several varieties count as safe toppings for dog food, and a few also offer wellness benefits. For example, mint and curly parsley possess antibacterial properties and may help to freshen your pooch’s breath.(1) The same is true of cinnamon, which could additionally ease toothache thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects.(2)
If you’re wondering what to add to dog food to aid digestion, a couple of spices are worth considering. Both ginger and turmeric act as anti-inflammatories and could ease conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. As with humans, ginger can also alleviate nausea and vomiting in pups.(3) That might make it a good choice before a long car ride if your pet is susceptible to motion sickness. Turmeric additionally possesses antioxidant properties, meaning it may support your dog’s wellbeing by tackling oxidative stress.(4)
Ashwagandha powder
One of the less well-known inclusions on our list of safe toppings for dog food, ashwagandha offers many potential benefits. Most notably, it acts as an adaptogen. This means it helps improve your pet’s resistance to long- and short-term stress. Research shows the root can lower cortisol levels and significantly lessen symptoms of anxiety and stress responses.(5) That could be helpful if your pup struggles with separation anxiety or a fear of loud noises like fireworks.
This ingredient comes in powder form, so it’s best to mix it into your pooch’s wet food. As a guideline, we suggest ⅛-¼ of a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder per 10kg of your pet’s body weight. You can give them this once or twice a day. It’s a good idea to chat to your vet first, to ensure the root is suitable for your pup’s needs.
In addition to easing stress, ashwagandha may support your fluffy friend’s immune system, joints, and liver health.(6) So if you’re looking for healthy things to add to dog food, it’s a fantastic place to start.
Eggs
It’s not always easy to know which human foods make safe toppings for dog food. But eggs are one ingredient we can definitely share with our pups. Not only are they tasty treats, but they’re also rich in protein, linoleic acid, minerals, and vitamin A. As such, eating eggs may support the health of your pooch’s coat, skin, vision, immune system and muscles.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t give your pet raw eggs, as they can be a source of salmonella. Plus, don’t season them. Ingredients like salt and pepper are harmful to our canine friends. Instead, try boiling an egg and then cutting it up to add to your pup’s meals. Poached and scrambled eggs are fine too, just don’t include any other ingredients. Conversely, although your pooch can eat fried eggs, the extra oil means they’re less healthy. Eggs have about 60-70 calories each, so bear that in mind when using them as safe toppings for dog food.
Medicinal mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms can be a fantastic way to harness the power of functional foods to support your pet’s wellbeing. These potent fungi provide a range of benefits above and beyond their nutritional value. First, like ashwagandha, they act as adaptogens and help reduce the negative impacts of stress on the mind and body. Second, they’re rich in a type of fibre called beta-glucan that nourishes the good bacteria in your pooch’s gut. That’s beneficial for the immune system, digestive health, and even your pup’s mood and behaviour. Beta-glucan also supports the health of the heart.(7)
Each species of functional fungi offers its own unique advantages, helping you choose between them. For instance, cordyceps could support energy levels and stamina, while lion’s mane may have neuroprotective effects and support brain health.(8) Whichever you pick, you can simply add your chosen mushroom powder to your pet’s wet food.
Although medicinal mushrooms are safe toppings for dog food, it’s best to feed them to your furry friend in cycles. This prevents them from developing a tolerance to the ingredient or over-stimulating their immune system. We also recommend checking with a vet first, so they can confirm if these fungi are suitable for your pup.
Fresh berries
Another wholesome snack you and your canine companion can share is fresh berries. These are ideal safe toppings for dog food because they require minimal prep work and are bursting with benefits. Of course, you need to pick the right varieties. Types of berries that pups can eat include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries. Make sure you wash them first, and remove any stems, leaves or seeds. Depending on the size of your pet, you might also want to cut the berries up or mash them. This makes them easier to munch on. We don’t recommend allowing your dog to eat wild berries, because some species are toxic.
Berries are healthy things to add to dog food because they’re rich in many vitamins and antioxidants. As such, they may help to lessen the risk of chronic disease and support overall wellbeing. Bear in mind that some berries can be naturally high in sugar, so give them to your pet in moderation. If your pup has diabetes, sugary fruits might not be suitable for them – so check with your vet beforehand.
Sea buckthorn oil
Sea buckthorn oil comes from tiny, bright orange berries that are rich in several beneficial nutrients. These include omega-7 fatty acids, antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene (which the body converts to vitamin A). Because of this, the ingredient could help to support healthy vision and keep your pup’s eyes hydrated.(9)
Not only that, but sea buckthorn can also care for the condition of your pooch’s hair and skin. It contains linoleic acid, a lack of which might result in dry, dull fur and flaky or inflamed skin.(10) The oil may additionally ease conditions such as dry paw pads and itchiness.
To use oils like sea buckthorn as safe toppings for dog food, simply mix them into their bowl. One or two drops per 5kg of body weight a day is sufficient. You can also apply it topically by massaging a small amount of oil into your pup’s skin and fur.
Cooked meat and fish
This is perhaps one of the more obvious categories of safe toppings for dog food. However, there are a few pointers to remember when feeding these ingredients to your pup. For example, any meat you give your pooch must be unseasoned, free of bones, and properly cooked. In addition, you should avoid offering them too much processed meat (like bacon) as it’s high in fat and salt.
Although we think of fish as more of a treat for cats than dogs, pups can enjoy it too! For instance, cooked, deboned, and unseasoned salmon is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids. These help to keep your pet’s fur soft and shiny, plus support their cognitive health. However, it’s best to skip the smoked salmon as this has added salt.
Vegetables
If you’re wondering ‘what can I add to my dog’s kibble every day?’, fresh vegetables could be the answer. There are lots of veggies our pups can enjoy, so it’s an easy way to bring variety to meals. Not to mention wellness benefits! Vegetables that make safe toppings for dog food include:
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Carrots
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Sweet potatoes
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Pumpkin
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Broccoli
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Courgette
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Celery
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Peas
Whichever veggies you choose, it’s important to wash them thoroughly before feeding them to your pet. And, of course, don’t season them at all. Depending on the ingredient, you may also need to cut them up so there’s no risk of your pup choking.
Brown rice
You might have already spotted brown rice on the label of some of your pup’s foods. So it’s probably no surprise to see it included as one of our safe toppings for dog food. As with many ingredients on the list, the only caveat is to make sure it’s cooked and unseasoned.
Brown rice is a fabulous source of fibre, which helps to keep your pet’s digestive system healthy. Including enough fibre in their diet can reduce the risk of conditions like constipation and diarrhoea. And that’s not all. This wholesome ingredient is also rich in B vitamins, amino acids, and several minerals. These include magnesium, manganese, iron, selenium and phosphorus.
White rice is fine for pooches to eat too, although it has slightly less nutritional value. Because it’s relatively bland, your vet might recommend white rice when your fluffy friend has an upset tummy. However, it can raise your pet’s blood sugar levels. As such, if your pup has diabetes, we advise sticking to brown rice when choosing safe toppings for dog food.
Beans
The final ingredient on our list of safe toppings for dog food is beans. Similar to brown rice, beans are high in gut-friendly fibre. What’s more, they’re a great source of protein. From black beans and chickpeas to haricot beans and butter beans, your pup can tuck into many different varieties. However, you shouldn’t feed them refried beans, baked beans, or other types that have sauces or seasonings. And, just like us, our pets can’t consume uncooked beans.
Another factor to be aware of is that tinned beans are often high in sodium. Because of this, a healthier option is to buy dried beans. To prepare these, soak them in water overnight and then cook them thoroughly. Start by adding a few plain beans to your pup’s meals – too many could cause digestive issues. If they enjoy them, mix in a few more. The exact amount you can use as safe toppings for dog food will depend on the size of your pooch. It’s best to check with a vet if you’re unsure.
A wealth of healthy things to add to dog food
We hope this list of safe toppings for dog food has inspired you to get creative with your pup’s meals. Extra ingredients like these are a wonderful way to bring flavour, texture, and nutrition to your pet’s bowl. Quite the opposite of making a dog’s dinner of your dog’s dinner!
