
If you've spent time researching nutritional supplements for your dog, chances are two names have come up more than others: Dinovite and Ruff Greens. Both offer meal toppers designed to complement your dog's existing diet, and each brand has built a loyal following of dog owners wanting to support skin, coat and digestive health for their furry companions.
However, Dinovite and Ruff Greens take different approaches to supporting dogs' wellness. It's important to break down the differences between the products to help you decide which might be the right fit for your dog.
What Is a Meal Topper for Dogs?
A meal topper is anything added directly to a dog's existing food to enhance its nutritional value. They're formulated to work alongside a dog's regular diet and are different from:
- Treats, which are typically given as rewards and eaten separately
- Table scraps, which can introduce harmful ingredients to your dog's diet
- Meal replacements, which are intended to fully substitute meals in your pup's diet
Meal toppers come in several forms, including powders, liquids and broths. They're designed to mix easily into kibble or wet food. Ingredients vary by product, but commonly include nutrients that may be diminished or lost during the high-heat processing used to manufacture most commercial dog foods.
Common meal topper ingredients include:
- Probiotics
- Digestive enzymes
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Vitamins
- Minerals
What's the Purpose of Nutritional Supplements for Dogs?
Nutritional supplements for dogs are designed to fill gaps left by commercial dog food. Even high-quality kibble can fall short on certain nutrients due to the manufacturing process, and supplements aim to round out a dog's daily intake in a targeted way.
Products like Dinovite and Ruff Greens are formulated to support specific wellness areas, such as digestive health, skin and coat, as part of a comprehensive nutrition plan. Nutritional supplements like these aren't medications; they're not intended to treat or cure medical conditions. As with any addition to your dog's diet, consulting your veterinarian is always a good first step before adding a meal topper to your pup's routine.
Dinovites Nutritional Support Offering
Dinovite for Dogs is a powdered nutritional supplement you can add to a dog's existing food daily. The product is built around probiotic and prebiotic support, with a formula aimed at promoting gut health, skin, coat and overall immune function.
Dinovite's Size-Specific Packaging
One of Dinovite's more notable features is that its powder is sold in size-specific packaging for small, medium, large and giant pups. Each package contains a 90-day supply to ensure the appropriate daily serving for the indicated weight range. This takes some of the guesswork off pet owners' shoulders; you can easily follow the dosing guidance and even use a subscription model to ensure a steady supply of the supplement.
Key Ingredients
Clinically validated ingredients in Dinovite include:
- Milled flaxseed
- Dried kelp
- Yeast culture
- Fructooligosaccharide (a prebiotic)
- Zinc methionine complex
- Alfalfa nutrient concentrate
- Multiple strains of probiotics
- Vitamin E and B vitamins
How to Use Dinovite
To use Dinovite, pet owners add one scoop to their dog's food daily. Dinovite recommends introducing the supplement gradually over the first 10 days and allowing a full 90 days to assess results. It's a timeline the company backs with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
New: Dinovite Dental Care
Dinovite recently launched a dental care line of products specifically designed to treat the underlying causes of canine dental issues instead of just covering them up. Free of artificial colors and flavors, these new vet-reviewed formulations work below the surface to promote a more balanced microbiome. They also help reduce bad breath, plaque and tatar through daily use.
Options to consider include:
- Dinovite Triple Action Dental Chews
- Dinovite Targeted Oral Care Powder
These are also available together as a Dental Duo bundle, adding to Dinovite's famous convenience factor.
Ruff Greens' Nutritional Support Offering
Ruff Greens VitaSmart is a powdered nutritional supplement designed to be sprinkled on a dog's existing food once daily. The product takes a broad-spectrum approach to canine nutrition, with a vegan, plant-based formula.
Ruff Greens Two-Tier Dosing System
Ruff Greens uses a two-tier dosing system based on weight:
- One tablespoon daily for dogs under 40 pounds
- Two tablespoons for dogs over 40 pounds.
Key Ingredients
Star ingredients in Ruff Greens include:
- Organic rice bran
- Wheatgrass
- Spirulina
- Flaxseed powder
- Barley grass
- Omega fatty acids (3, 6, and 9)
- Over 20 strains of digestive enzymes
- 15 strains of probiotics
- Vitamins and minerals from non-GMO, plant-based, whole foods
How to Use Ruff Greens
Ruff Greens recommends introducing the supplement gradually over 7 to 10 days, starting with about a quarter teaspoon and working up to a full dose. The brand also suggests allowing at least 90 days to evaluate results.
Quick Comparison: Dinovite vs. Ruff Greens
Dinovite and Ruff Greens are powdered meal toppers designed to complement a dog's existing diet, but they differ in their ingredient philosophy, dosing approach and how they're sold. Here's a side-by-side look at the key differences.
| Dinovite | Ruff Greens | |
| Product forms | Probiotic and prebiotic support for gut health, skin, coat and immune function | Broad-spectrum nutritional support |
| Key ingredients | Milled flaxseed, dried kelp, yeast culture, zinc methionine, alfalfa, multiple probiotic strains, vitamin E and B vitamins | Organic rice bran, wheatgrass, spirulina, blueberry juice powder, omega 3/6/9 fatty acids, 20+ digestive enzyme strains, 15 probiotic strains |
| Formula base | Plant-based with some yeast/fermentation elements (not 100% vegan) | 100% vegan, plant-based |
| Dosing/packaging | Size-specific packaging with a pre-measured 90-day supply | Two-tier dosing by weight (under or over 40 lbs) |
| Subscription model available? | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial? | Free trial pack available (auto-enrolls in subscription with this option) | Yes (trial bag available; auto-enrolls in subscription with this option) |
| Money-back guarantee | 90 days | 30 days |
| Price range (when purchased through brand website)* | $37 to $110 for a 90-day supply | $80 to $160 for a 90-day supply |
| Available at other retailers | Yes, including Chewy and Amazon | Yes, including Chewy and Amazon, though it may be more limited on third-party sites than Dinovite |
*Prices are for a one-time order of products. Both brands offer discounts when products are purchased via the automatic subscription. Prices are also subject to change. Always confirm current pricing before purchasing.
How to Choose Between Dinovite and Ruff Greens for Your Dog
Choosing between Dinovite and Ruff Greens depends on what you're looking for in a supplement.
If size-specific dosing matters to you, or if your priority is targeted support for your dog's gut health or skin, Dinovite may be worth exploring. Customer reviews of Dinovite repeatedly highlight support in these areas:
- "We have a 1-year-old black lab that has had digestion issues since he was born...switched to raw meat diet and Dinovite, and the improvement has been dramatic!"
- "I ordered the sample bag, and within a little over a week [my dog] stopped itching completely."
- "My fur kid has had such bad allergies, but since starting Dinovite, they have gotten so much better."
Ruff Greens may be a better fit if you're looking for a broad-spectrum formula that covers a wider range of nutrients in a single scoop or if a vegan, plant-based product is important to you. Reviews from Ruff Greens customers report overall wellness improvements, including comments like:
- "His movements improved, and he stopped chewing his skin."
- "Noticeable energy increase from my older pup."
- "Seems to help with hip pain." (for an older dog)
- "The dogs love Ruff Greens and seem to have more energy through the day."
Either way, it's always a good idea to consult your veterinarian before adding any new supplement to your dog's routine.