Can I Feed My Dog Bone Broth?
When we’re sick, many humans turn to bone broth as a warming meal that settles the stomach and comforts our souls. So you might have wondered, ‘can dogs eat bone broth?’ when your pet has been unwell. And the simple answer is, yes.
It’s good for our stomachs because bone broth is mild and, as it’s liquid, it’s easy to digest. However, most dog owners know that cooked bones – especially chicken bones – should be avoided as they can cause choking hazards and don’t sit well in dog stomachs.
Here we’ll explain why bone broth is a healthy and nutritious treat for pups, especially if they’re struggling with their digestion or have a reduced appetite.
Bone broth is a very mild, liquid meal that sits easily in upset canine stomachs. It is also a nutritious and delicious way to add moisture and flavor to dry food and encourage dogs with reduced appetites to eat.
What Is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a simmered combination of the parts of an animal that we wouldn’t otherwise eat. Alongside bones, you’ll find skin, tendons, marrow, feet, and ligaments – which doesn’t sound so tasty but the result is delicious and surprisingly good for both humans and dogs.
You might even have heard bone broth referred to as a doggy superfood for all its nutritional benefits. It’s great as a hydrating snack, a meal for dogs struggling to eat, or as a way to soften or liquify dry foods.
You can use bone broth as a supplement for home-cooked meals, as a snack, or simply add to kibble.
Bone broth is increasingly considered a canine superfood, with plenty of pet parents singing its praises. Research is mixed as to its reported superpowers, but regardless, bone broth for dogs is a tasty addition to their diet. Read on for the full scoop (ladle?) on bone broth for your pet.
What Are The Benefits Of Bone Broth For Dogs?
As well as being tasty and easy to eat, bone broth is packed with benefits for your dog to reap. It’s believed to be a good source of nutrition for dogs in hospice care, and it’s also frequently used to help with GI issues, liver problems, and to improve joint, skin and coat health.
Bone Broth For Dog Nutrition
Bone broth is packed with vitamins and minerals, protein, collagen, glycine, and glucosamine. This healthy array of nutrients help nourish your dog’s whole body and boosts the immune system.
Bone Broth For Gut Health
Collagen is a protein that makes up the tissues of cartilage, tendons, bone, ligaments, and skin – and bone broth is packed with it. Boiling down bones releases collagen, and simmering forms gelatin. This has been shown to create a protective layer in the gut which helps to reduce inflammation, making it a great remedy for ‘leaky gut’.
Bone Broth For Sick Dogs
Bone broth is hydrating, and since it’s liquid it’s easy on the stomach and can deliver the nutrients your dog needs when they’re unable to digest their usual food. It’s especially great for dogs with bad stomachs or diarrhea. Even as you wean them back onto solids, you could help aid their digestion by adding it to their meals for some extra liquid.
Bone Broth For Dog Liver Health
Bone broth is full of glycine, the amino acid that helps the liver detoxify itself. The level to which a dog’s liver is able to detoxify is limited by the amount of glycine they have. So in turn, bone broth is believed to help increase liver function by boosting glycine levels.
Bone Broth For Dog Joint Health
We’ve already mentioned that bone broth is packed with collagen. This can be broken down into amino acids that will help in the development and regeneration of joint tissues.
How To Make Bone Broth For Dogs
You don’t have to be in the habit of cooking up gourmet meals for your dog to make them a delicious bone broth. It just takes six easy steps:
- Choose the kind of bone you want to use – beef marrow, or turkey and chicken which contain lots of joints are usually best
- Cover the bones in water
- Bring to a boil, over the pot, and simmer for 20-24 hours
- Allow the broth to cool for 2-3 hours in the fridge, during which time a hardened layer of fat will form on top – this is your broth
- To add to food, warm the jelly so it begins to regain a liquid consistency that can be lapped up or mixed into food but is still cool enough for your dog to eat safely
- Store in the fridge or freezer
Due to the length of time this process takes, a crock-pot is considered to be the best cooking method for home-made bone broth. And be careful to remove all fragments of bone from the pot before serving and freezing.
Of course, you can also opt for store bought broth that’s often packed with extra nutritious ingredients like vegetables. Be careful to avoid human broths which often contain sodium.
How To Feed Bone Broth To Dogs
Dogs only need one to two tablespoons of bone broth to reap the health benefits. For sick dogs that might be drinking this in place of solid food, offer small portions throughout the day.
Always check for bone fragments, which can cause a choking hazard. And be aware that your pet may need additional supplements to support their health. Front of the Pack’s The One supplement is an eight-in-one super booster for their health.
Each natural ingredient brings a different benefit – from relieving joint pain to reducing the symptoms of allergies, to cutting off anxiety at the source. And it comes in a powder form that’s easily stirred into your dog’s dinner (or broth) to give them the extra dose of health they need.