What Is a Topper? A Spoonful Added to Your Dog's Meal

Adding something on top of your dog's usual food is a small thing to do, but it can change how they eat. Their nose starts working before the bowl's even down.

Our dog, Umi, is one of them. She does the perfect sit and waits, eyes locked on our hands, until her meal is served.

In the US and UK, this practice of adding to a dog's base food has a name: a topper. It can come as freeze-dried meat, a gravy, a powdered mix, or something you've cooked yourself.

A topper doesn't replace the regular meal; it's a little something added to it. The idea is to bring some variety in aroma, flavour and texture, so everyday meals become a bit more enjoyable.

An old habit with a new name

The name "topper" may sound new, but the idea behind it isn't.

In Japan, too, softening dry kibble with a splash of warm bone broth, or spooning over a little home-cooked food, is something many households have done for a long time.

The word "topper" arrived from elsewhere, but the habit itself has been here all along.

Topper or treat?

The two words sometimes get used interchangeably, though they mean slightly different things.

A treat is something you give between meals, often as a reward or during training.

A topper, on the other hand, is served at mealtime, either stirred through the regular food or spooned over the top. Some can also be enjoyed on their own as a treat, but a topper's main role is to make the usual meal a little tastier and more enjoyable.

The important thing is that a topper doesn't replace a meal; it's meant to be enjoyed alongside your dog's main food.

Why dogs respond to toppers

Smell, texture and taste all play a part in whether a dog enjoys its food.

A 2024 review in the Journal of Food Science suggests smell is what matters first, often before your dog has taken a single bite, and that it plays a big part in appetite and palatability (Calderón, White & Seo, 2024).

However, not every dog wants the same thing. A 2018 University of Bern study gave sixteen dogs a repeated choice between their usual food and a varied one. Six went for the variety, six stuck with the consistency of what they knew, and four showed no clear preference either way (Bremhorst et al., 2018).

So, like humans, dogs have their individual preferences.

A topper isn't so much a whole new meal as a small change to a familiar one, and that change can make everyday meals a little more enjoyable for your dog.

Which dogs are toppers suited to?

Every dog is different. If you have any concerns about your dog's health, it's a good idea to talk to your veterinarian before introducing a topper.

With that in mind, a topper can be a way for many different dogs to enjoy their meals a little more.

For older dogs whose appetite has dropped off, or for picky eaters, a topper can sometimes help spark interest in mealtimes. It may also help a dog settle in gradually when you're switching from one type of base food to another.

Other owners add a topper simply because they'd like their dog to enjoy mealtimes even more.

Like for humans, food can provide dogs with la joie de vivre, and a topper is simply a way to add a little variety to that everyday pleasure.

Examples of toppers

Toppers come in many different forms, from store-bought to home-cooked, so you can choose what suits your dog.

Store-bought

Retort-pouch mixes
Freeze-dried meat or organ pieces
Gravies and broths
Powdered mixes you rehydrate with water

Home-cooked

Boiled or steamed vegetables
Small pieces of plain cooked meat
Bone broth, cooled and strained

Whichever you choose, look for a topper with clearly listed ingredients, made from ingredients that are as simple as possible. Because a topper is a small amount added to everyday meals, the quality and aroma of the ingredients make a big difference to your dog's mealtime.

Aromatic ingredients such as organs, and the natural sweetness of vegetables and fruit, are things many dogs take an interest in. Ingredients grown in nature bring a richness of aroma and flavour that adds a small pleasure to your dog's everyday meals.

How to serve a topper: amount and temperature

A topper is always an addition to your dog's usual meal. Keep the balance with their main food in mind, and start with a small amount suited to your dog's size and how much they eat.

As a guide, start with about a spoonful and adjust as you see how your dog gets on. Think of it as an addition, not a second meal: a spoonful that makes everyday food a little more special.

Temperature matters more than you'd expect. A topper straight from the fridge can lose some of the aroma that draws your dog to it; letting it come to room temperature, or warming it slightly, can help bring that aroma out. Just avoid serving it too hot, and give it at a temperature your dog can eat comfortably.

What matters isn't the amount, but adding a small change that helps your dog enjoy their meal.

Introducing a topper for the first time

If you're trying a topper for the first time, it is recommended to introduce it gradually over several meals rather than adding a full portion straight away.

Start with a small amount alongside your dog's usual meal and watch how they respond over the first few days. If you notice any changes in how they eat or in their general condition that concern you, it's a good idea to talk to your veterinarian.

Once opened, store the topper as directed on the packaging and use it up as soon as you can. If unopened, use it within the date shown.

A topper isn't anything special, just a small pleasure added to your dog's everyday meals. Take it slowly and let your dog set the pace.

Building a topper into your routine

Many owners find it easiest to add a topper at the same point each day, so it becomes part of an existing routine rather than a new decision every time.

You might add it to breakfast only, dinner only, or a little to every meal, whatever suits your dog's routine.

Umi's everyday meals

We add a topper to every meal for our dog, Umi, too.

She eats freeze-dried food as her base, and we add our own homemade wet mix: wild venison meat, heart and liver, Shinshu apple, carrots, sweet potato and broccoli, made to let the flavour of each ingredient come through.

Once we've stirred it through, the liquid from the topper helps soften her freeze-dried food and brings out more of the aroma.

Umi is always sitting and impatiently waiting for her food by the time we are mixing the topper in. When we put it down, she enthusiastically eats it and then licks the bowl clean.

She even comes back to the empty bowl two or three times.

We've heard the same from other owners who have tried Karuizawa Harvest so far.

"Finishes every meal now, when they used to leave food behind."
"The bowl is licked clean."
"Keeps coming back to check the bowl, even after the meal is over."

Comments like these always make us happy.

There is a small but real pleasure as an owner in watching your dog eat something they enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

Can a topper replace a meal?

No. A topper is designed as an addition to a complete, balanced meal, not a substitute for one. Think of it as a little extra that makes everyday meals more enjoyable.

How often can you use a topper?

You can use one every day, to suit your dog's routine. Add it to breakfast only, dinner only, or a little to every meal, whichever works best for your household.

Does a topper need to be refrigerated?

It depends on the product. Once opened, store it as directed on the packaging and use it within the stated period. Even when unopened, check the product's label.

Is more topper better?

Not necessarily. Adding a pleasant change to your dog's usual meal matters more than adding a lot. Watch how your dog gets on and stick to a sensible amount.

At Karuizawa Harvest, we're not just trying to change what's in the bowl. What we're building, together with you, is that same enjoyment: the pleasure of watching your dog eat something they love.

Venison from Nagano's forests.
Shinshu apples.
And vegetables from around Japan.

Ingredients that make careful use of what nature provides, for your dog's everyday meals.
By adding a small change to the usual meal, we hope mealtimes become a precious moment you share with your dog.

We give our dogs' food the same care we give our own. Respecting the flavour and story behind every ingredient is at the heart of how Karuizawa Harvest makes its food.

Sources

Calderón, N., White, B. L., & Seo, H.-S. (2024). Measuring palatability of pet food products. Journal of Food Science.

Bremhorst, A., Bütler, S., Würbel, H., & Riemer, S. (2018). Incentive motivation in pet dogs – preference for constant vs varied food rewards. Scientific Reports, 8, 9756.