Making bone broth is a simple way to add a nutritional boost to your dog's diet. Although it takes some time to properly prepare, the health benefits far outweigh this minor inconvenience. Learning how to make bone broth for dogs is easy, and it only requires a few ingredients.
What Is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a stock liquid from cooked or simmering raw bones. Other parts of an animal that can’t be eaten, like ligaments, marrow, tendons, skin and feet can also be added to the bone broth mix.
The key to making a good bone broth for dogs is to cook it for a long period of time at low heat. Curiously, when you cook it long enough (or longer), the broth will become packed with more nutrients, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.
Using bone broth is a very popular way to encourage dogs to drink when they refuse to, or encourage a dog to eat dry food by adding some into the bowl. Bone broth is also often recommended for dogs for a number of reasons, including:
- Digestive issues
- Liver detox
- Joint health
- Boosting the immune system
You can learn how to make bone broth for dogs yourself at home, or buy a commercial brand (such as Native Pet or NutraPet). Personally, I prefer to make homemade bone broth for dogs, because I can add some extra ingredients for a higher nutritional content.
How to Make Bone Broth for Dogs
I make homemade bone broth in my slow cooker, so I don't have to worry about simmering a pot on my stove over night. If you don't have a slow cooker, you can certainly make this bone broth recipe in a large stock pot.
First, add bones to your slow cooker (or pot) until it's about 3/4 full. You can add any type of bone, including chicken feet, lamb, duck or turkey necks, chicken frames, beef marrow bones, and so forth. You can use cooked bones, but raw bones are better because they still have all of the nutrients in them.
Next, cover the bones with water and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Cover the pot and cook on high for 1 hour. After an hour, turn the heat to low and simmer the bone broth for 24 hours.
Now, when it's finished cooking, strain the broth into a large container. Allow the broth to cool and then refrigerate it for at least 3 hours. A fat layer will congeal on the top of the broth. Scoop the fat and throw it out, and then you can pour some for your dog.
Store the broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can add a few tablespoons of broth to your pet's food daily, or feed 1/2 to 1 cup of broth 2-3 times per week (depending on your dog's size).
READ NEXT: Chicken Broth for Dogs – Benefits and How To Make It
Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products. Read more here and find full disclosure here.
