Turkey Weekend Is Over and Now Your Dog Won't Eat Their Food? Try a Meal Topper

If your dog spent Thanksgiving weekend hovering under the table and collecting little bits of turkey from soft-hearted relatives, you might be seeing the aftermath this week. The kibble goes down in the bowl, they give it a sniff, and then they look at you like you've made a terrible mistake.

It happens in our house too. And honestly, it's not just holidays. Cooler weather, getting older, or plain old boredom can all make a dog or cat lose interest in the same food they've eaten every day for months.

This is exactly what our meal toppers are for.

What a meal topper actually is

Our toppers are single-ingredient meat, air-dried and broken down into small granules you can sprinkle right over your pet's regular food. One protein. Nothing else. No gravy, no flavour enhancers, no fillers to bulk up the bag.

That matters, because a lot of "toppers" on the market are basically sauces and powders built around salt, starch and flavouring. They make the bowl smell exciting, but they're adding a lot of things your pet doesn't need. Ours just adds more of the one thing dogs and cats are built to want: real meat.

Why it works on picky eaters

Dogs and cats decide whether they're interested in food mostly with their nose. A light sprinkle of real, single-ingredient meat on top of their usual meal gives them that smell they're looking for, without changing the food underneath.

So instead of switching foods every time your pet gets fussy, which can upset a sensitive stomach, you're keeping their regular diet the same and just making it more interesting.

How I use them

• Start small. A light sprinkle is usually enough. You're adding interest, not a second meal. Check the bag for guidance, and if your pet is watching their weight, count it as part of their treats for the day.
• Mix it in a little. Some dogs will lick the topper off and leave the kibble. Stirring it through the top layer helps.
• Add a splash of warm water. This brings out the smell even more, which is great for older pets whose sense of smell isn't what it used to be.
• Rotate proteins. Switching between a couple of proteins keeps things interesting and adds variety to their diet. If you're not sure where to begin, my guide to choosing the right protein walks through each one.

Toppers for cats

Cats are where toppers really shine. Some cats won't touch a treat that's a new shape or texture, but a sprinkle over food they already eat gets past that completely. Our Rabbit Topper is usually the first thing I suggest for a cat who turns their nose up at everything. I wrote more about this in what your cat actually wants from a treat.

Toppers for senior pets

Older dogs and cats often lose a bit of appetite, and it can be worrying to watch. A topper is an easy, gentle way to make the bowl more appealing without adding anything complicated. It's also soft enough to be comfortable for pets with dental changes. There's more on this in our post on treats for senior dogs and cats.

If your pet's appetite has dropped suddenly or they've stopped eating altogether, please check in with your vet first. A topper is great for a fussy eater, but a sudden change can be a sign of something else.

Our five toppers

Every one is a single ingredient, for dogs and cats, made at our facility using federally inspected meat.

Never run out

Once a picky eater gets used to their topper, running out is not a fun morning. If you go through a bag regularly, Subscribe & Save on our site means it shows up on schedule and you don't have to remember to reorder.

And with the holidays coming, a topper is also an easy little gift to tuck in with something else for the pet lover on your list.

Give dinner a little help this week. Shop all five toppers at indigenoustreats.ca. Free shipping on orders over $100.