Product Review: Primal Fresh Pet Food Toppers
Pet Food Toppers
What Are They?
In general, pet food toppers are things that go on top of your pet’s regular food. Some are intended to entice picky eaters to the bowl while other pet food toppers also offer additional health benefits. Think Superfoods for pets. In this product review, we will be sharing our findings on Primal Pet Food’s “Fresh Toppers”.
Three New Pet Food Toppers
Primal’s Fresh Toppers qualify as superfoods for both dogs and cats. Superfoods are edibles that deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with minimum amount of calories. They have a high content of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and/or omega-3 fatty acids. These products come frozen solid in a tub with a lid (much like a quart of ice cream). The pet food toppers must be thawed prior to using and refrigerated after de-thawing. Once de-thawed, the pet food toppers look very much like a very thick smoothie. These pureed superfoods are suitable for both dogs and cats and can be added to any meal or served alone. Each is available in an 16 ounce or 32 ounce container. Fresh Toppers are best if used within 7 days of thawing.
Omega Mussels Pet Food Topper
- Mussel meat has unique properties that support joint health with a boost of Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, & chondroitin
- Collagen-rich Pork Bone Broth provides additional glucosamine & chondroitin
- Organic turmeric and organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar help support a healthy skeletal system
- 28 calories per ounce
Ingredients:
Steamed Chilean Mussels, Pork Bone Broth (Filtered Water, Pork Bones, Organic Carrots, Organic Butternut Squash, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Celery, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Cilantro, Organic Parsley, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric), Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Parsley, Organic Cilantro, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric.
Power Greens Pet Food Topper
- Organic power greens, like kale and parsley, provide antioxidants
- A powerful blend of seven organic medicinal mushrooms add immune-boosting goodness
- Organic chia seeds, coconut oil, and sardine oil provide a blend of omega fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides (MCTs)
- 12 calories per ounce
Ingredients:
Organic Kale, Pork Bone Broth (Filtered Water, Pork Bones, Organic Carrots, Organic Butternut Squash, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Celery, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Cilantro, Organic Parsley, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric), Organic Celery, Organic Chia Seeds, Sardine Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Parsley, Organic Cilantro, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric, Organic Mushrooms (Dried Shiitake, Dried Maitake), Dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
Awesome Squash Pet Food Topper
- Organic butternut squash provides prebiotic fiber to nourish the gut and feed your pet’s microbiome
- Powerful probiotics support a healthy GI tract
- Raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar provides enzymes, acid balance, & probiotics
- 12 calories per ounce
Ingredients:
Organic Butternut Squash, Pork Bone Broth (Filtered Water, Pork Bones, Organic Carrots, Organic Butternut Squash, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Celery, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Cilantro, Organic Parsley, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric), Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cilantro, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric, Organic Cinnamon, Dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
Our Review
All three pet food toppers from the Primal Fresh product lineup were evaluated. The observations detailed below are based upon our own experience as well as customer feedback. As with any holistic solution, the benefits come over a period of time. This evaluation is based upon approximately two weeks of use.
Power Greens
The Power Greens is quite effective for pets that chronically eat grass but do not throw-up. Also, the most popular with cats. Given the immune boosting quality of this formulation, it is great for any pet in a weakened state due to surgery, disease, stress or any other factor. The organic power greens, like kale and parsley, provide antioxidants. Organic chia seeds, coconut oil, and sardine oil provide a blend of omega fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) A blend of seven organic medicinal mushrooms boosts the immune system. Kale is rich in iron and calcium and a fantastic source of vitamins A,C, E and K. Kale also offers a large amount of antioxidants which help cleanse your pet’s digestive system and shield his/her body from potential damage caused by free radicals. In human language, this means kale possesses many vitamins your body can’t make on its own and also boasts anti-inflammatory properties. The concentration of antioxidants also helps the liver detoxify the body and helps support cardiovascular health.
Awesome Squash
The Awesome Squash is very aromatic, reminiscent of pumpkin pie. It is the most liquidy of all three and also provides the most moisture. The Awesome Squash can be effective for weight management as all the fiber and moisture will make your pet feel full. Keeping it on hand is a good solution for incidents of digestive upset. Organic butternut squash provides prebiotic fiber to nourish the gut and feed your pet’s micro biome. Raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar provides enzymes, acid balance and probiotics which support a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory superfood that helps aid in digestion.
Omega Mussels
Senior pets appeared much more peppy on the Omega Mussels. For those sensitive to strong fish odor, there is none present in this product. Mussels and chia seeds help build the connective tissue between joints and are a natural way to add glucosamine and chondroitin to your pets diet. Organic turmeric and organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar further support a healthy skeletal system. The nutritional benefits of chia seeds include fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants and even protein. Chia seeds are highly absorbent, therefore they can help hydrate the body. Chia has been known to help alleviate arthritis pain. To receive the full joint support benefits, it must be used as a daily supplement, not served periodically.
All Three Formulations
The first noticeable change we saw was in the bowel movements. The stools were more formed, smaller and more moist without being soft. The superfoods in these pet food toppers help the body absorb more of the nutrients and antioxidants resulting in less waste. None of the products cause stool discoloration! There was no need to reduce normal feeding portions because all three varieties are low in calories. Each contain a high percentage of moisture, which is always important but particularly in the summer months and in hotter climates. There was no report of additional urination. Due to the superfood quality of these products, any of the formulations are a better choice for hydrating freeze dried food as compared to straight water. Further, any one can be used as a topper to raw, canned or dry food and can also be used in combinations and simultaneously.
Pork bone broth and organic apple cider vinegar are present in all three formulations. Bone broth is a highly absorbable, packed with protein, calcium and fiber and can help manage gastrointestinal issues. Organic apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties and pH balancing acidity. It is soothing, relaxing and effective against infections and even bad breath! Organic extra virgin olive oil and/or organic coconut oil are added to the all formulations adding good fatty acids. Healthy fats, scientifically called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) make up 60 % of coconut oil. Ninety percent of the fat in coconut oil is healthy saturated fat. Your pet’s liver can break these molecules down very easily. Healthy saturated fat is used as fuel rather than stored as body fat. Coconut oil has a number of benefits including improved skin and coat, better digestion, increased energy and infection prevention. Also present in all formulations is cur-cumin, the active compound found in turmeric which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The thawing time is long. 24-48 hours in the refrigerator or about 8 hours on the counter. Place the tub in a cool bath of water in the kitchen sink to get it to thaw more quickly. For more tips on thawing frozen pet food, click here . The official recommendation from Primal is “Best to use within 7 days of thawing”. We found the product was still fine after two weeks. The serving size suggestion is a bit vague “A dollop or two”. This is really relative to the size of the pet. A tablespoon for around 10 pounds, up to a half a cup for a large breed. Once the tub is opened and stored in the refrigerator, there may be moisture separation. A good stir will ensure you are getting the complete product served to your pet.
Conclusion
We are impressed with the quality, benefits and ease of use of Primal’s Fresh Toppers and will be recommending them to our customers, as appropriate, on a case by case basis. These pet food toppers provide a great way to boost the nutritional content in the bowl.
Providing an in-depth review and description of this new product lineup is a service we happily provide to our customers. We hope you found it to be informative and helpful. Remember, it does not matter what kind of food you are currently feeding whether it be raw, dry kibble, freeze dried or canned, pet food toppers are an excellent way to add superfoods to your pet’s diet! Stop in to get some for your pets to boost and enhance their diet. We have over 30 years combined pet nutrition experience and are here to help you and your pet.
Goodness for Pets is an all-natural pet supply store and boutique catering to animals and those who love them. Since 2004, we have been providing unparalleled service to our community in Naples, FL. Our goal is to be a valuable and dependable resource for our customers, offering products and services that are distinguished by quality, safety, excellence, and creativity. We specialize in holistic solutions with an emphasis on nutrition while acknowledging that each pet and pet owner has unique needs and requirements.