Bone broth for your dog – why and how

Bone broth is incredibly nutricional and the gel-like liquid is packed with vitamins and minerals which contributes to the dogs bodily functions and health. It is easy to make bone broth for your dog, and it can be added to both kibble and raw food. The nutritional content can provide several benefits for the dogs immune system and body:

  • Help detox the liver and support the immune system.
  • Contributes to joint support
  • Easily digestive source of protein
  • Supports a healthy gut

Helps detox the liver

Bone broth contains a large amount of the amino acid called glycine, which helps the liver maintain its most important function: removing toxins from the dogs body. The liver’s ability to detox is limited by the access to glycine, and since bone broth contains large amounts of glycine bone broth contributes to the liver’s function.

Contributes to joint support

Collagen is important for your dogs joints. It is literally the “cushions” at the end of the bones, and what surrounds ligaments and tendons. When your dog loses some of the collagen, they can develop pain in the joints. Bone broth is packed with nutrition such as glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, which contributes to production of collagen.

Easily digestive source of protein

Because bone broth is liquid, it is a great way of giving your dog added nutrition and liquid. It is at the same time gentle for the stomach, and normally work well for dogs with a sensitive stomach, or after surgery. It works the same was as nutritional soup works for us when we are sick. Easy to eat and digest, but nutritional at the same time.

Bone broth supports healthy gut

Inside the dogs intestine system there are millions of microscopic holes that allows nutrition to pass through, so they can benefit the rest of the body. These holes can become enlarged due to either overflow of bacteria, a bad diet, stress and other health issues. When this happens, “leaky gut” occurs. Stuff that normally should not pass through the holes, such as toxins and undigested food passes through and can result in allergies or food sensitivity.

Bone broth contains gelatin (produced when you boil collagen) and can contribute to avoid or reverse “leaky gut” because gelatin literally plugs the larger holes in the intestine system, which allows only necessary nutrition to pass through.

How to make bone broth for your dog

You need:
A pot with a lid
Water
Marrow bones
Chicken feet (optional)
Hen/chicken (optional)
Apple cider vinegar

How to:

  1. Put marrow bones, chicken feet and hen in a pot with water covering the ingredients (1-3 cm over). If you are adding a hen/chicken, you should carved it open and break the bones to get the most nutrition from it.
  2. For every 1,5 liter water you add into the pot, add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
  3. Put the lid on, heat until boiling and turn down to low heat, and leave the pot for 12-24 hours.
  4. Strain away all the bone and meat into a new pot, and let it sit in fridge overnight.
  5. Remove the layer of fat and put the bone broth into glasses/jars for freezing. Make sure there are no bones left in the bone stock as cooked bones are dangerous for your dog.

The bone broth can be stored in the refrigerator 1-2 weeks.

How to serve bone broth

jars filled with bone broth

Start with small portions. Add 1-2 tablespoons bone broth to your dogs food, and if they like it (and their stomach is ok with it), you can increase the amount gradually. I give about 0,5 dl every day to my dogs which are about 17-19 kg each.

You can store the broth in closed containers/jars in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, and you can freeze it as long as you want. I prefer to freeze my bone broth in portions for 1 week so I can easily defrost 1 jar each week. If your dog does not like the bone broth cold, you can try heating it in the microwave. Just remember to check it is not to hot before serving it to your dog.

Would you like to learn more?

If you would like to learn more on different types of bone broth you can make for your dog, or other natural and healthy options to feed your dog, I can recommend reading or having a look at Om du har lyst til å lære mer om flere typer kraft du kan lage til hunden din, eller andre naturlig og sunne ting du trygt kan gi hunden din, anbefaler jeg å lese Forever dog og https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/ where you will find many great tips and recipies..