Nov 205 min read

Bone Broth for Dogs

Bone broth can be a nourishing addition to your dog or cats diet. although there are many commercial options available, making your own can be a great option if you have an allergic dog and have to manage the type of proteins they are ingesting.

Bone broth is such a wonderful food. I make this regularly to add to my dogs foods, and I also make this as a stock base for soups and stews for the human foods.

I do make the human batch and the dog batch separately, as I leave the onion out for the dogs.

This wonder food has been used for centuries, but has recently regained popularity. The process of long, slow simmering in water, with an acid such as lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar helps to draw the nutrients out of the bone and cartilage.

The cartilage in the joints and connective tissues dissolve into the liquid, In warm liquid this will be thick and sticky. When the liquid is cooled you will find the liquid solidifies into a jelly. This is due to the gelatine.

In this processed form, the nutrients are readily absorbed and utilised when ingested.

A chopping board with raw meaty beef bones — Beef bones and joints for good quality broth

Bone broth is a powerhouse of nutrients

Bone broth is one of the most healing and nourishing foods around. It is full of glucosamine, chondroitin and minerals such calcium, magnesium, phosphorus. It is healing to the bowel lining and also for the synthesis of collagen throughout the body.

Healthy dogs and cats, that have meaty bones and bone rich in joints- such as chicken necks, brisket and knuckles will be ingesting this in a raw form. Especially if your pet has a good strong set of teeth.

However some animal really do better with a prepared bone broth, rather than eating the cartilage raw.

Animals that can benefit from a bone broth

A convalescing dog after illness, or after surgery.
Pets with low vitality, and poor appetite
Poor dental health- especially those with missing or loose teeth
Fussy dogs and cats
Dogs that don't do well on raw
Elderly pets
When a light meal is required, such as during fasting.

The types of bones that can be used to make a broth are limited only by availability, and can be easily adjusted to the any requirements your pet has.

Commercial bone broths are usually made on chicken or beef. If you have your pet on a single protein type, the recipe can be made with the protein type most suited.

Generally softer, and smaller bones will be cooked for 12 hours. Such as chicken, duck, turkey and rabbit.

Larger, more dense bones will be cooked for 24-48 hours. These are bones like beef, lamb, roo.

Chicken wings are a good source of collagen, however they are slaughtered at a very young age, making the bones and joints immature, with lower quality cartilage and connective tissue and less mineralised bones. If you can source older chicken bones, or using the chicken feet, this can help to boost the collagen content.

Making up a big batch of bone broth, and freezing in lots, and pulling out of the freezer for each meal. Some dogs might even like them like a bone broth icy pole on a hot day.

Tissue repair after surgery requires a lot of tissue regeneration. This tissue requires minerals and building blocks to reform. Bone broth is a great source.

Ingredients for Bone Broth for Dogs

2kg Free range chicken carcass or grass fed beef bones.
3 stalks Celery, including leaves
3 Carrot
Handful of Parsley
2Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Step 1: Let’s Get Started

A saucepan of chicken and vegetables, and smaller bowl of broth — Chicken and vegetable broth

Cooking bone broth is all about low and slow.

Add all the raw ingredients to a suitable sized pot, or slow cooker. Because of the extended cook time, a set and forget slow cooker is ideal.

Step 2: Add the water

I always prefer to use filtered or rain water. Add in enough water to cover the ingredients.

Step 3: Set on low and go go go

You can leave the slow cooker simmering away on its own. Check it occasionally for any water loss, and top up if required. This is usually only an issue if the lid is not well fitted.

Chicken, or other poultry has softer bones, and will be ready in 12 hours.

Beef bones usually needs longer, and best cooked for 24-48 hours.

Step 4: Allow to cool and strain

Turn off the stove, or slow cooker, and allow to cool enough to handle.

Once sufficiently cool, you need to strain out the vegetable matter and the bones.

I use a large metal colander, and place over a large saucepan. Then pour the broth in. I allow this to strain for a little while, and move the bones and vegetables around to move any pockets that can trap the broth.

Once the straining is complete, discard the bones and vegetables.

Step 5: Allow to settle, then remove the fat layer.

There will be a layer of fat that settles on the top of the broth. The amount of fat will vary depending on the type of bones used, and how fatty these were.

This can be removed from the top of the warm broth by spooning out with a large ladle, or using a gravy jug.

If you leave to chill, the broth will generally turn into a jelly. The fat will congeal on the top.

Chicken and other poultry fat is generally very soft fat, which doesn't solidify completely when cold. It will be on the top of the broth, but will be the consistency of a paste. This can be scraped off.

Beef, lamb or pork will generally have fat that solidifies into a hard layer. This can be more easily pulled off as a solid layer.

Step 5: Storage

There are many ways that you can store the broth. If you have large dogs, and use the broth up quickly, it will last in the fridge for 4-5 days. This can be scooped out into their meals, or used in recipes.

For smaller dogs, or very big batches, I recommend freezing.

Broth can be frozen in small containers that will be used in a couple of days, or in ice cube trays, or jelly moulds.

These can be popped out, and allowed to thaw and popped in the meal. Some dogs don't even mind this frozen.

A bowl of cooked bones next to a saucepan of broth — Broth can be made from all types of bones

How do I use Bone Broth

Bone broth is a nourishing food, which can be used in the daily diet. I also like to use it as a base for licky mats, or kongs that are frozen, or for flavouring in other jelly treats.

I also use this hot, and make a tea, from my tea with my dog range directly in the broth. Allow to infuse until cool, and feed as usual.

How do you like to use broth with your dogs?

Comment below to let me know!

Give your dog a pat for me

Kerrie x