Your four-legged friend can’t partake in every new diet you try. For example, giving your dog green juices or keto protein smoothies probably isn’t the best idea.
However, one ultra-nutritious snack that is equally beneficial for you and your dog is bone broth. Bone broth can provide many of the same benefits for dogs as it does for humans and make a great addition to your dog’s diet.
Read on for more information on bone broth for dogs, its benefits, recipes, and where to buy it.
What is bone broth?
Bone broth is a nutrient-packed superfood that has been around for centuries [*], and it’s just the liquid leftover after you simmer animal bones in water. Simmering the bones makes all the delicious marrow and nutrients seep into the water and create a delicious broth for your dog. This process usually takes around 16-24 hours, but the wait is well worth it.
Different vegetables and herbs are sometimes added to bone broth for flavor and additional minerals and vitamins, too. Just like making stock or soup, bone broth is easy to customize.
Considering how rich in flavor, easy to digest, and simple to make bone broth is, it’s easy to see why it’s been popular for a long time — for both humans and dogs!
Benefits of bone broth for dogs
Bone broth is full of amazing health benefits for your dog. The slow simmering of bones, skin, and cartilage helps release nutrients like collagen, amino acids, glucosamine, and trace minerals [*].
These can do some pretty awesome things for your dog — check it out:
1. Improves gut health
Intestinal permeability (or leaky gut syndrome) can negatively affect nutrient absorption and allow harmful toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Additionally, poor gut health could be associated with food allergies, fatigue, and even depression [*]. That is why it is so essential to maintain a healthy gut, and that goes for your dog, too!
Bone broth contains gelatin, which can help reduce gut inflammation and heal the intestinal lining [*]. Bone broth also contains amino acids like glycine and proline, which can help restore the gut lining and alleviate food sensitivities [*].
2. Helps with liver detoxification
The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body. Unfortunately, dogs can be prone to consuming a lot of toxic substances. Seemingly harmless things like licking the pavement or sniffing a recently cleaned floor can make your dog’s liver work overtime. Bone broth helps combat this by supplying the liver with an amino acid called glycine that has been shown to improve its function [*].
3. Provides joint support
Joint health is essential for all dogs but is particularly important for senior dogs. Joints and joint cartilage go through wear and tear and require additional support in a dog’s older age. It’s also important for dogs who have experienced injuries and/or dogs that belong to breeds prone to joint issues.
Collagen and gelatin present in bone broth help improve joint health by building connective tissues. Bone broth for dogs is also a great source of a joint-protecting compound called glucosamine. Glucosamine promotes strength, flexibility, and elasticity in joints [*].
4. Offers healthy minerals
If your dog mostly eats packaged or dried foods, it is possible they aren’t getting enough minerals for optimal health. Bone broth is full of nutrients and minerals in a form that is easy for your dog to digest.
By feeding your dog bone broth, you can ensure they get proper amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur in their diets. These minerals are essential for nerve health, heart health, hydration, sleep, and muscle contractions [*].
5. Supports their immune system
As mentioned above, bone broth is excellent for maintaining a healthy gut lining. When leaky gut syndrome is kept at bay, your dog’s immune system can do its best work by keeping harmful particles and pathogens from moving through the rest of their body. Bone broth could also help reduce inflammation and support the immune system in fighting allergies, asthma, and arthritis [*].
Bone broth is also great for those times when your dog is feeling under the weather. Adding a bit of bone broth to their drinking water can ensure they drink an adequate amount of liquids and stay hydrated. When your dog loses its appetite due to illness, bone broth can provide the necessary nourishment and nutrients until they get better.
Recipes and cooking suggestions
Okay. Now, let’s take a look at how to actually make bone broth for dogs.
While the basics are similar, there are specific differences between bone broth ingredients for humans and dogs. Onions and black pepper, for example, could be potentially toxic to your canine friend, but beef bone broth and chicken bone broth made without these ingredients are considered generally safe.
Here are a few canine-safe recipes for you to try:
1. Plain homemade bone broth for dogs
Plain bone broth is one of the simplest bone broths to make and is suited for beginners and pros alike. It contains both chicken feet and beef bones [*].
And if you’re wondering whether chicken broth is good for dogs, of course! Chicken (specifically chicken feet) has ligaments, skin, and bones — all of which provide essential gelatin and collagen. Beef bone marrow, on the other hand, supplies many nutrients and minerals.
Chicken broth and beef broth combined create the ultimate dog bone broth. But an important thing to remember is that soup bones for dogs are a huge NO. They can cause choking and risk intestinal damage. Always strain and get rid of those before serving the broth to your dog.
Ingredients:
- 3 to 4 lbs of chicken and beef bones
- ¼ cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
- 6 quarts of water
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker.
- Cook on low heat for 12 to 24 hours.
- Allow to cool and strain to remove the bones.
- Place broth in the refrigerator and allow the fat to form a layer on top and solidify. Separate and discard the fat layer.
Note: Bone broth can be refrigerated for up to a week or placed in an airtight container and frozen for future use.
2. Mushroom bone broth for dogs
This bone broth contains mushrooms, ginger, parsley, and other suitable vegetables for dogs in addition to the regular base. This is a good way to get even more nutrition into the broth.
Mushrooms provide antioxidants, additional nutrients, and support liver and kidney function [*]. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to soothe nausea and indigestion. Celery is rich in vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains minerals like potassium and folate, and parsley is rich in antioxidants and can help maintain bone health [*].
Ingredients:
- 3 to 4 lbs of chicken and beef bones
- ¼ cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
- 4 ounces mushrooms (shitake, porcini, cremini, portobello)
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 ounces parsley, chopped
- 3 inches ginger root
- 6 quarts of water
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker
- Cook on low heat for 12 to 24 hours
- Allow to cool and remove bones and vegetables
- Place broth in the refrigerator and allow the fat to form a layer on top and solidify. Separate and discard the fat layer.
Other ingredients that can be added to bone broth for dogs are kelp, turmeric, garlic, carrots, sage, rosemary, oregano, basil, and fennel seed.
3. Dog-approved bone broth treats
Receiving a treat doesn’t just have to be a joyous occasion for your dog; it can also be a nutritious one. Making healthy dog treats at home is easier than you think and can provide another way to add nutrients and minerals to your dog’s diet [*].
Ingredients:
- ½ cup bone broth
- ⅓ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- Peanut butter to spread
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit
- Combine bone broth and vegetable shortening in a bowl and heat until combined
- Add pumpkin puree and stir, then add flour and stir until mixed. Knead the dough together with your hands
- Roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness, then cut into treats.
- Bake for 40 minutes at 375°
- Spread peanut butter on top of the treats while they are still warm. Cool completely before serving to your dog.
Where to buy bone broth for dogs
Sometimes making bone broth at home isn’t possible. In those instances, there are many options for store-bought bone broth products. Here is a list of the most popular and puppy-approved products.
Brutus Bone Healthy Broth
Brutus Bone Healthy Broth contains a large amount of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are good for your dog’s joints. It also contains turmeric, carrots, and sweet potatoes for an additional punch of nutrients.
Solid Gold Human-Grade Bone Broth for Dogs
As the name suggests, this broth is made of human-grade ingredients, which are considered the best option for your dog. It’s more expensive but definitely worth it! The bones are organically sourced, and the broth contains turmeric to fight inflammation.
Native Pet Bone Broth for Dogs
This product can be used as a topper for your pet’s regular food and is grain and gluten-free. It also contains a savory chicken flavor, which is best for picky eaters. All you have to do is keep a box near their bowl and toss a bit in whenever you fill it up.
The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth Pullovers
Honest Kitchen bone broth is another pour-over option, but they make theirs more like a stew that you can use to mix in with their regular food. This bone broth comes in a variety pack, so your dog can pick their favorite flavor.
The bottom line
Bone broth is definitely a healthy food to add to your dog’s diet. As long as you avoid toxic and harmful ingredients like onions and peppers, your dog will thank you!
Most store-bought and homemade bone broth products are considered safe for your dog, but it is always a good idea to consult your veterinarian before adding a new food into your dog’s diet.
Make the best bone broth for your dog with 100% grass-fed beef marrow bones
We make meat like it should be made: natural, grass-fed, and grass-finished. While our bone broth products contain ingredients not suitable for dogs, we sell delicious bones that you can use to make your own.
Check out our bone marrow bones that are perfect for making bone broth.
Nathan Phelps
Nathan Phelps is a writer, ethical foodie, and outdoors-aficionado hailing from Nashville, TN. He splits his time between helping sustainable businesses find new customers and managing his ever-increasing list of hobbies, which include playing guitar, baking bread, and creating board games.
