Can Dogs Drink Bone Broth? Is Bone Broth Good For Dogs?

You’ve probably heard of, or tried bone broth if you’re into fitness and healthy eating. Long revered among Paleo and holistic eaters, bone broth is now officially mainstream for humans and dogs. Yes, there’s a thing like dog broth.

So, can dogs drink bone broth? Yes, they can. Tasty, warm, nutritious, and flavorful – bone broth is a healthy food that you and your furry friend can enjoy together.

The delicious topper provides a cocktail of nutrients to optimize your dog’s health and happiness, no matter their breed or size.

Get the full scoop on bone broth for your dog here!

What Is Bone Broth?

Bone Broth is a soup made from meat, including beef, chicken, turkey, fish, and pork. The meat, including the extra pieces like bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, marrow, and feet, simmer for hours before straining and serving. Depending on your preference, you can use bones from one animal or a mixture of animals.

The time-intensive simmering process (10 hours to 72 hours) allows the heat to break down cartilage to release collagen and gelatin, two essential nutrients we don’t get in our diet. You can add various vegetables and fruits to this dog-friendly ancient superfood.

Bone broth is a nutritious supplement to your pup’s diet and adds a little extra flavor. If you have a picky eater, you can add some to their kibble for that extra kick. But if your furry friend is prone to allergies, you can use lamb, fish, duck, or bison bones.

Is Bone Broth Good For Dogs?

Bone broth provides plenty of nutrients for your doggo. Even though it’s not a cure-it-all, it’s rich in medicinal and therapeutic properties. There are many reasons to incorporate bone broth into your dog’s diet. Here’s why bone broth is good for your dog and their gut!

1. Immune boosting – amino acids are released during the simmering process, essential for enhancing immune function. These essential nutrients promote the immune system’s ability to fight pathogens for good health. Bone broth also supports detoxification and helps your pup get rid of toxins and pollutants that can cause illness.
2. Digestion aiding & Gut health – The intestines lining has millions of tiny pores that act as entryways for nutrients. A poor diet causes these pores to expand, allowing all the pesky toxins to flow into body tissues causing food sensitivities and allergies. The gelatin in bone broth naturally seals the large pores and restores the gut lining to prevent a leaky gut and improve digestion.
3. Protein-packed – Bone broth is an excellent source of collagen, a protein from meaty bones. When collagen simmers, it forms gelatin. Collagen is an essential component of tissues such as ligaments, cartilage, bones, tendons, and skin.
4. Joint healing – Collagen comes from a large family of biomolecules. The family also includes glycosaminoglycans, which are excellent for healthy joints. The chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine in bone broth support joint integrity and health. They help build bone and joint tissues and tendons, ligaments, and joints.
5. Skin and coat health – an occasional bowl or two of bone broth can leave your dog’s skin and coat shiny since collagen and bone broth is excellent for skin and hair health. Collagen helps build new connective tissue around your canine’s skin and fur for enhanced skin elasticity and hydration.
6. Detoxify liver – the glycine in bone broth helps detoxify the liver and remove toxins that may have built up in your dog’s liver, giving them a fresh, clean slate and protecting them from unwanted toxins.

So, you can see why adding bone broth to your dog’s diet is a good idea, especially for breeds that suffer from joint issues due to old age like Labradors or if Chewy has a joint injury. Bone broth also has amino acids like glycine, proline, and arginine, providing full-body anti-inflammatory effects.

Dogs are curious explorers and tend to munch on almost everything. They are inevitably going to chow down something toxic. The liver is responsible for filtering out toxins to prevent your dog from becoming sick. But if harmful toxins constantly bombard the liver, it can be challenging to keep up.

When Is Bone Broth Bad For Dogs?

Although bone broth is safe for dogs, there is a slight chance your pet might experience adverse effects from certain ingredients used in bone broth recipes. Choose organic if possible. Look out for ingredients such as garlic, onion, spices, sodium, and seasoning that are toxic to your dog when buying processed bone broth.

These ingredients can upset your dog’s tummy, especially if they have a sensitive stomach or pancreatitis history. Buy a bone broth specifically made for dogs since the safety of the ingredients used is guaranteed.

Can I Make My Own Bone Broth?

Yes, you can. Preparing homemade bone broth for your dog gives you control over the ingredients, ensuring they are 100% safe. There are several variations of bone broth.

Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:

1. Add water to a pot over medium heat.
2. Add beef bones and veggies like celery, carrots, apples, and rosemary.
3. Boil the ingredients, then lower the heat and let the broth simmer
4. Allow the soup to simmer for 10 hours while keeping the lid on. It will turn gold with a thick consistency.
5. Scoop out the bone marrow from the bones and mix it into the broth, then strain off the liquid for serving.
6. Serve at room temperature and refrigerate whatever remains.

Do note:

• The secret to a tasty bone broth lies in the duration of the simmering process. Simmer for at least 10 hours. You can even cook the broth for 72 hours. The longer the duration, the richer the flavor and nutrients.
• Avoid boiling the broth during the entire cook time but instead, let it simmer. Boiling the broth will evaporate the liquid. But slow cooking draws out the flavors and nutrients from the marrow. Add Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to release more flavors and nutrients from the bones.
• Cool the broth at room temperature, then refrigerate it for about 2 hours. A solid layer of fat will form at the top, scoop this out. Underneath, you’ll have a jelly-like substance to feed your dog.
• Fish broth? Choose wild-caught fish to avoid mercury or lead poisoning. Also, free-range or organic-fed animal bones are excellent choices as the toxins in the soil or grass can seep into the animal’s bones.

How Much Bone Broth Is Enough For My Dog?

Like other dog treats, the Bone broth should be given as supplemental food and not as a primary source of nutrients. Use it as an occasional meal topper, treat, or mixer in Fido’s diet. Be mindful of the portion sizes to avoid overfeeding your dog with excessive amounts of one nutrient.

So, how much bone broth should dogs drink? Ideally, your canine companion should take one ounce of bone broth per 20 pounds. Let’s say you have an 80-pound Labrador, you can feed it up to 4 ounces of soup in a day.

A fun way to serve bone broth is by freezing it as “broth cubes,” perfect for hot summer to cool down your dog and keep them hydrated.

Can My Dog Drink Store-Bought Bone Broth?

Preparing bone broth can be time and labor-intensive. Nonetheless, if you’re not ready to burn precious hours simmering bones, no problem. You can purchase pouches or cartons of bone broth. They are convenient and easy to pour for your pup.

When shopping for bone broth, pay close attention to the list of ingredients. If you’re not buying bone broth made for dogs, ensure it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients like garlic, pepper, and onions. Although flavorful to humans, these ingredients are not safe for dogs.

Also, take into consideration your furry friend’s food sensitivities and allergies. Bone broth is rich in proteins from meaty bones, which could trigger allergies. If your pup is allergic to beef, choose turkey bones or chicken bone broth.

Related: Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones? Here is What you Should Know

Make sure to use the bone broth within five days of defrosting. Here are some of the top bone broth brands for dogs:

1. Castor & Pollux Pristine Beef Broth
2. Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Booster
3. Solid Gold Chicken Broth Dog Food Topper
4. Merrick Grain-free Chicken Broth Topper
5. Nature’s Logic Dehydrated Beef Broth

Wrapping Up

Bone broth is undoubtedly a canine superfood with lots of raving reviews from dog parents. Your dog can drink bone broth, depending on the ingredients. Avoid seasonings such as onion, garlic, and pepper since they are toxic to your furry friend. Moreover, never feed your dog cooked bones since they could choke.

Bone broth is perfect for dogs with sore joints, digestive issues, or unhealthy hair coats. Its nutrients also help with immune function, gut health, and digestion.

So, next time you’re having a cup, you can give your dog a few sips for a happy, healthy, and hydrated Fido. But, remember to consult your vet before introducing new food to your pup’s diet. If your dog has any health issues, your vet can recommend the best product to support their needs.

Further Reading:

• Can Dogs Eat Bones? Which Ones They Can and Can’t
• Why Do Dogs Like Bones?
• Can Dogs Eat Pork Bones?
• Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet?
• Is Raw Meat Good Or Bad For Dogs?
• Can Dogs Have Beef Broth?