Can Dogs Have Beef Broth?

You may have heard that chicken broth is good for dogs, but you may be wondering – can dogs have beef broth too?

The good news is that they can when the broth is prepared without potentially harmful or toxic ingredients to canines.

Even better, bone-based beef broth can have multiple benefits for the health and well-being of your pup.

Continue reading to learn more about the potential health benefits for dogs from eating beef broth. Also, how to prepare it to be safe and healthy for your pet, and more tips for adding nutritious beef broth to your furbaby’s diet.

So, Can My Dog Eat Beef Broth?

Yes, your pup can eat beef broth if it is not allergic or sensitive to beef.

Adding some beef broth to your dog’s diet can have multiple benefits for it.

But to give the broth to your beloved pet, you need to ensure that it is prepared correctly and without any ingredients that can harm it. Some ingredients to avoid include garlic, onions, leeks, and all other Allium family members. These are toxic to canines.

Ensure the broth is not too salty or has added spices and seasoning, which can cause digestive upsets and other health issues in dogs.

When prepared safely, beef broth is an excellent addition to your dog’s diet. Plus, it is easy to make, inexpensive, and contains some very healthy and beneficial nutrients. You can also find it commercially available in some pet or organic stores in the form of liquid, powder, or treats. Just make sure to check the list of ingredients for onions, garlic, and other potentially dangerous ones for pups.

What Is The Safe Amount Of Beef Broth For My Dog?

The serving size of beef broth depends on your furry companion’s weight, age, activity level, and health.

An average adult healthy dog can safely eat an ounce of broth per every 20 lbs. of its body weight. You can add the recommended amount to your pup’s regular wet food or kibble or add it to a homemade dog treat recipe.

In some cases, when dogs are recovering from an illness or injury, veterinarians recommend feeding them with beef broth to help speed up the process.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Feeding My Dog Beef Broth?

Adding beef bone broth to your pup’s diet has multiple benefits, including aiding digestion, a healthy gut, boosting the appetite, hydration, strengthening the immune system, improving the bone and joint health, and the quality and health of the dog’s skin and coat.

The benefits are a result of the process of preparing the broth, during which the cartilage and collagen of the beef bones are broken down into glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, which are anti-inflammatory nutrients, as well as proline, arginine, and glycine, which are healthy amino acids.

It Helps Improve Digestion And Gut Health

This is among the leading benefits, which is why veterinarians and animal nutrition experts recommend adding beef bone broth to the dog’s diet.

Since the broth is rich in glycine, which helps improve the pup’s metabolism, it is often prescribed to dogs suffering from digestive upsets, such as discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, the broth can also help improve gut health and thus boost the immune system of your furbaby.

The bone broth can provide essential nutrients for the dog while keeping it hydrated until it gets better.

It Can Boost Bone And Joint Health

The broth is made by slowly simmering the beef bones, which are rich in collagen and cartilage, and bone marrow. As a result, various anti-inflammatory nutrients are produced to help improve the health of the pup’s joints and bones. These include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, glycine, arginine, proline, and collagen.

They can help strengthen the bones and improve the health and mobility of the pup’s joints.

It Will Boost The Appetite And Keep The Pup Hydrated

If your furbaby is a picky eater or has a health problem that has lowered its appetite, then beef bone broth is a great way to feed it with the essential nutrients it needs and, at the same time, boost its appetite and keep it hydrated.

You can add the broth as a topper to the dog’s regular dog food or even soak its kibble in it to make the food more flavorful for your pup.

When dogs are sick, have digestive upsets, or are recovering from injuries or surgery, it is crucial to keep them hydrated. Offering your pup some delicious and nutritious beef broth is a great way to make it want to drink water and thus stay hydrated during its recovery.

It Can Improve The Health And Quality Of The Skin And Coat

The vitamins like B2, B6, B12, and C contained in beef broth are antioxidants and are known to improve the health of the dog. These vitamins, along with the collagen and gelatin contained in slowly cooked beef bone broth, are known to promote healthy skin and fur growth, as well as shinier coats.

It Can Boost The Immune System

The beef broth contains various anti-inflammatory nutrients and substances, which can help improve gut health and, thus, your dog’s overall health. A healthy gut is essential for a strong immune system. So, feeding your pup the recommended amount of Beef bone broth can help boost its immune system and thus keep it healthy.

What Is The Best Way To Prepare Beef Broth For Dogs?

Beef bone broth is relatively inexpensive, easy to prepare, and can be a healthy part of your dog’s diet.

But you will need to ensure that you prepare it safely and properly to make it suitable for your pet.

Here is how to make dog-friendly and healthy beef broth:

Either buy 1-2 lbs. of beef bones, or use the bones from your own meals, but make sure they are from a trusted and good quality source, butcher shop, or farmer.

You can also add other bones with more cartilage, such as the pig’s feet, chicken legs, and others, for a richer broth.

Fill your stockpot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker with water covering the bones, and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon. Vinegar or lemon is needed to help extract the marrow from the bone during the cooking.

If you want to add even more healthy nutrients to the broth, you can add some safe veggies for dogs, such as carrots.

Do not add salt, onions, garlic, oil, or seasoning and spices, which can harm your pet!

Turn the heat and wait until the broth starts boiling. Once it does, lower the heat, and let the broth simmer for at least 6 hours. During the boiling, make sure to remove any scum which is produced on top of the broth.

After that, allow the broth to cook at low heat for 12 to 24 hours, depending on what type of cooker you use.

In the end, remove any scum from the top of the broth, and proceed to serve the beef broth or store it.

Remove all bones from the broth and discard them. Please do not feed your dog with cooked bones because there is a risk of them splintering and damaging or puncturing your pup’s mouth, throat and intestines.

You can store the broth in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze it for months. You can use an ice cube tray to freeze small portions of the broth, which you can give to your pup over time in the future.

If you want to save time and energy, purchase ready-made beef broth from the store. But make sure it is dog-friendly and doesn’t contain sodium, onions, garlic, or other harmful and toxic ingredients.

Choose a reputable organic or pet store when buying beef broth for your furry companion.

Using Beef Broth For Making Dog-Friendly Treats

There are various recopies for dog treats made with beef broth that you can use to prepare healthy homemade snacks and rewards for your four-legged friend.

Some ideas include beef broth biscuits, frozen beef bone, and peanut butter treats.