Hey everyone, so, I’ve been messing around with a little project lately that I think some of you with furry friends might find interesting. It’s all about spicing up our dogs’ meals with some homemade, functional toppers. You know, not just making their food tastier, but also throwing in some extra health benefits. I mean, who doesn’t want their pup to be as healthy and happy as possible, right?
So, I started by thinking about what my own dog, Max, really needs. He’s getting a bit older, and I’ve noticed he’s not as spry as he used to be. Plus, his coat’s been looking a little dull. That got me thinking about what I could add to his food that might help with his joints and give his coat a bit of a boost.
First thing I did was hit up the internet, just to see what was already out there. I found a bunch of store-bought options, some looked pretty good, to be honest. There’s this one brand, Instinct, that seems to be pretty popular, and another one, Stella & Chewy’s, that people say is a good bang for your buck. But I wanted to try making something myself. I figured, why not? It’s probably cheaper, and I can control exactly what goes into it.
I stumbled upon this interesting fact that way back in 1969, there was a family business in Quebec that started making food for small pets. They were the first in Quebec to do so! It’s amazing to see how far the pet food industry has come since then.
I also read that some folks like to use stuff like canned pumpkin, fresh veggies, sardines, and even raw eggs as toppers. Apparently, these things can add nutrients and help with hydration. Some dogs need a little extra something for their skin or their hips and joints, so these toppers can be a good way to sneak in some of that goodness.
- Canned pumpkin: easy to find, and apparently it’s good for digestion.
- Fresh veggies: I figured, why not? If it’s good for me, it’s probably good for Max.
- Sardines: now this one was new to me, but I read that they’re packed with omega-3s.
- Raw eggs: a bit controversial, but some people swear by them for a shiny coat.
- Bone broth: I found it has rich nutritions.
I decided to start simple. I cooked up some chicken, which I already feed Max sometimes, and mixed it with some steamed carrots and a bit of rice. I also found a recipe for bone broth online that seemed easy enough. After cooking all that, I blended the chicken, carrots, rice, and broth together to make a kind of puree. I wanted it to be smooth so Max wouldn’t have any trouble eating it, especially since he’s missing a few teeth.
The first time I gave it to him, he went nuts for it! I mixed a spoonful of the topper with his regular kibble, and he cleaned his bowl faster than I’ve ever seen him do it. It was pretty rewarding to see him enjoy it so much.
I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now, and I think I’m starting to see some improvements. Max seems to have a bit more pep in his step, and his coat is definitely looking shinier. It’s not a miracle cure or anything, but I think it’s making a difference. And I just enjoy that every meal time, he can enjoy such delicious food.
A Few Tips
- Start small: I just added a little bit of the topper to his food at first, just to make sure he didn’t have any weird reactions to it.
- Keep it simple: I didn’t want to go overboard with ingredients, especially at the beginning. Just a few things that I knew were safe for dogs.
- Watch for allergies: Just like people, dogs can have allergies, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any signs of a reaction.
So, that’s my little experiment with functional toppers for dogs. It’s been fun, and I think Max is pretty happy with it too. If any of you guys have tried something similar, I’d love to hear about it. Maybe we can swap some recipes!
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