Fresh-Food Topper Ideas

Simple, nutritious ways to add fresh foods to your pet's bowl.

Adding small amounts of fresh, whole foods to your pet's regular meals can be an easy, affordable way to bring variety to the bowl.

🥩 Protein Boosters

Small amounts of high-quality animal protein can add flavor, variety, and naturally occurring nutrients.

Cooked egg–scrambled or hard-boiled, plain
Cooked chicken or turkey–unseasoned, skinless, boneless
Lean beef–cooked and unseasoned
Sardines–packed in water with no added salt
Salmon–fully cooked, plain and boneless
Plain cooked white fish
Freeze-dried single–ingredient meat or organ treats– crumbled over the meal
Small amounts of cooked liver or other organ meat–nutrient-dense, so a little goes a long way

Important Notes

Animal-based foods are especially appropriate for cats because cats are obligate carnivores.

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🫐 Colorful Fruits & Veggies

These can add variety, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, particularly for dogs.

Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Apple-no seeds or core
Pumpkin–plain cooked or 100% canned pumpkin, not pie filling
Carrots–finely chopped, grated, steamed, or pureéd
Green beans
Broccoli
Zucchini
Cucumber
Spinach or other leafy greens–small amounts, preferable chopped or lighty cooked
Sweet potato–cooked, never raw

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🥥 Healthy Fats & Omega–3s

Small portions only. Fat calories add up quickly.

Sardines
Salmon
Fish oil formulated for pets
Small amounts of extra-virgin olive oil
Chia seeds
Ground flaxseed

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🦠 Gut–Friendly Additions

Plain pumpkin
Plain unsweetened kefir–if dairy is well tolerated
Plain unsweetened yogurt–if dairy is well toleratred
Small amounts of pet-safe fermented vegetables–no onion, garlic, excessive salt, or seasonings
Cooked and cooled sweet potato
Small amounts of appropriate fiber-rich vegetables
Pet–specific probiotic foods/products, when appropriate

Important notes

Pets with existing digestive problems may respond differently to fermented foods, dairy, fiber, etc., so introduce one new food at a time and start small.

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💧 Hydration Boosters

This one is especially nice for cats.

Warm Water added directy to the meal
Plain bone broth–with no onion, garlic, excessive sodium, or unsafe seasonings
Plain meat broth–same precautions
Water from unsalted sardines packed in water
Water from plain tuna packed in water–occasionally, rather than making tuna a daily topper
Goat milk formulated/sold for pets, if tolerated
Rehydrated freeze-dried foods/toppers

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⚠️ Foods to Avoid

Some human foods are NOT safe toppers.

Avoid:

Grapes and raisins
Onions, leeks, chives, and related alliums
Xylitol/birch sugar–containing fods
Chocolate/cocoa
Macadamia nuts
Alcohol
Caffeine
Cooked bones
Heavily seasoned, salty, or fatty table scraps

A Little Goes a Long Way

Fresh-food toppers are meant to complement your pet's regular meals, not necessarily replace a complete and balanced diet. Introduce new foods gradually, one at a time, and keep portions appropriate for your individual pet. If your pet has a medical condition, food sensitivities, or is on a therapeutic diet, check with your veterinarian before making dietary changes.