Everything You Need to Know About Bone Broth For Dogs

Have you heard the talk about bone broth for dogs?

It seems to be popping up everywhere lately, yet it’s been around forever.

From promoting healthy joints to improving digestion, bone broth can be a simple yet powerful addition to your dog’s diet.

Let’s explore how this age-old kitchen staple can boost your senior dog’s health and well-being.

Plus, I’ll explain how to prepare bone broth for dogs at home and share my go-to recipe.

Last Updated: May 30, 2024

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What is Bone Broth?

Before discussing the benefits of bone broth for pets, let’s start at the beginning.

What is bone broth, and where can you get it?

Bone broth is the liquid left over after simmering raw or cooked bones for several hours.

Yes, that’s it! It couldn’t be easier to make – you only need bones, water, and apple cider vinegar.

Don’t worry. The recipe is below.

What’s All the Fuss About?

How can something so simple help your dog?

It’s been called an immune-boosting superfood. It’s highly nutritious, easily digestible, and full of vitamins, minerals, and more.

It has been associated with many great health benefits as a supplement or food topper.

Can Dogs Have Bone Broth from the Grocery Store?

No, I’m afraid not. The stock sold for humans typically has added salt and onions, artificial flavors, and other ingredients your dog shouldn’t eat.

You also don’t know if it is made with the meat and bones of animals fed antibiotics.

Only by buying the bones can you know the quality of the finished product you feed your dog.

Also, grocery store stock is cooked at high temperatures for a short time, which cannot provide the same nutrition as a bone broth slow-cooked for several hours.

When is Bone Broth Helpful?

Bone broth is an excellent supplement for dogs of any age. However, there are some situations where it is incredibly beneficial.

This includes:

• Recovering from illness or surgery
• Gut irritation
• Hospice animals who refuse to or can no longer eat
• Picky or selective eaters
• Senior pets who aren’t eating as much as they should

How to Serve and Store Bone Broth

Feeding your dog bone broth is as easy as pouring a little over their regular food.

How much should you give, and how often? It varies depending on the circumstances, your dog’s size, and their medical history.

Some dog parents give it to their dogs every day, some twice a day, and others just as a boost when their dogs’ appetites are low.

I prefer to start small and see how things go. A good starting point would be one spoonful of broth on one meal.

Your dog bone broth can be kept in the fridge for a few days or frozen for up to 12 months.

What is it Not?

Bone broth is not a replacement for a nutritious, balanced diet.

However, it is an excellent boost when needed and a supplement that can be added to your dog’s regular diet.

Consult Your Veterinarian

As amazing as the many testimonials and experiences I have heard about bone broth are, it’s still a good idea to ask your vet if it’s suitable for your dog.

They are familiar with their lifestyle, health, and medical history.  

Benefits of Bone Broth for Dogs

Is bone broth good for dogs?

As our dogs get older, their needs change. Keeping them healthy and slowing the impact of aging becomes a top priority.

Bone broth is a natural and easily digestible supplement packed with many benefits specifically suited for their senior years.

Here are a few excellent reasons to include it in your dog’s diet:

Great for Joints

Bone broth is loaded with glucosamine, chondroitin, gelatine, and hyaluronic acid – all joint-protecting compounds.

Promotes a Healthy Gut

Have you heard of leaky gut? There’s a lot of talk about it in humans, but it can also affect dogs.

The lining of the intestines contains millions of tiny holes through which digested nutrients pass.

This condition occurs when factors like a poor diet, high stress, and too much bacteria make existing holes bigger or create new ones.

When things pass through the bigger holes that shouldn’t, the body sees them as foreign invaders and starts attacking them. This causes allergies and food sensitivities. 

Bone broth is loaded with gelatine, which plugs/narrows the holes, and glycine, which soothes the inflamed gut.

Healthy Way to Moisten Dry Food

If your dog isn’t always enthusiastic about eating their kibble, adding some bone broth to moisten it may interest them.

 It’s also an easy way to increase the nutrition content.

Nourish a Sick Dog

We all know how a sick dog can lose interest in eating or drinking. That can be very dangerous, especially for a senior dog.

Weight loss, especially if they are already underweight, and the possibility of dehydration are very worrying consequences.

Bone broth will provide much-needed nutrients until they are feeling better and keep them hydrated. 

Helps with Poor/No Appetite

If you’re dealing with a picky eater or a dog who’s having trouble eating, adding some bone broth to their diet may spark some interest.

You can also try microwaving the food for a few seconds to release the smells; it helps my dog eat.   

Immune Booster

Bone broth contains the vitamins and minerals the immune system uses to fight off infection.

Detox

The liver and kidneys can be overworked, processing the pollutants and chemicals your dog encounters daily.

The amino acid glycine found in bone broth helps detox those organs.  

Fur, Skin and Nail Growth

The benefits of bone broth are not restricted to the internal. It also helps keep your dog’s fur, skin, and nails in excellent condition.

How to Make Bone Broth for Dogs

While you can purchase premade bone broth formulated specifically for dogs, it’s easy (and cheaper) to make your own at home.

My research turned up many different recipes. I stopped counting at 9.

To be fair, each recipe for dog bone broth was pretty much the same, with slight variations. So, I combined them into one.

Here is my go-to recipe for easy slow cooker bone broth:

Ingredients

• Raw, fresh, frozen, or cooked bones from the butcher
• Raw apple cider vinegar (some people use regular vinegar or lemon juice)
• Water

I read about one dog parent who uses whole organic chicken instead of just bones.

She would allow it to simmer for a couple of hours, cut off the chicken meat to give to her dogs, then leave the carcass to simmer for the remainder of the time.

You can also add other ingredients to add other nutritional benefits. This is a great way to customize the bone broth to your dog’s needs.

Some of the extras people use include:

• Chicken feet, joints, and knuckles (joint bones have extra cartilage)
• Celery
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Kale
• Green beans
• Broccoli
• Parsley
• Kelp
• Zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Turmeric

Cooking Method

While the most common way to make bone broth is to use a slow cooker because of the number of hours it needs to simmer, you can also use a pot on the stove.

If you are using a pot, don’t leave it unattended. A slow cooker is the more convenient option for those with a busy schedule.

Instructions

Put all the bones into your slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the bones by about 2-3 inches.

Add 2-4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This helps pull the minerals and nutrients out of the bones and into the broth.

Turn your slow cooker on high for about an hour to get things started, then turn it to low and let it cook for 16-24 hours.

Keep an eye on it in case more water is needed to cover the bones.

Strain well because you only want the broth. The bones will be too soft, making them dangerous for your dog to eat.

Let it cool.

What Will Your Bone Broth Look Like

You should see a hard layer of fat on top when it comes out of the fridge. Just remove this layer and throw it away.

Underneath that layer, the broth should have the consistency of jelly.

Don’t worry if it doesn’t; it just means you didn’t add enough vinegar. Add a little more next time.

The bone broth will still be beneficial and packed full of goodness.

Storage

If kept in the fridge, it must be consumed within 3-4 days. Frozen, it can last up to one year.

If you do freeze it, pour it into ice cube trays for easy-to-use portion sizes and for a treat on a hot day.

You can also freeze some in a Kong to create a fun mental enrichment opportunity.

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Bone Broth?

I am often asked whether dog parents should be concerned about a bone broth allergy.

This is a safe supplement or food topper for most dogs.

However, there is a small risk that your dog will experience an allergic reaction to any of the items on the ingredient list.

Stop feeding the bone broth if you notice any side effects, such as diarrhea or skin irritation.

Final Thoughts: Bone Broth for Dogs

Bone broth offers many benefits for our senior dogs, from promoting healthy joints and digestion to encouraging picky eaters.

It’s an easy and natural way to support your senior dog’s health and well-being.

Share this article with other senior dog parents so they, too, can discover why bone broth is good for dogs!