Bone Broth: Health Benefits For Dogs

Bone broth can offer several potential health benefits for dogs when incorporated into their raw food diet. Here are just some of the potential benefits of bone broth for dogs and don't miss our personal bone broth recipe for pets!

Before diving into the many benefits of bone broth, please note: use only homemade bone broth or high-quality commercial bone broth made specifically for dogs. Avoid bone broths made for human consumption, they all contain onion

1. Nutrient-Rich

Bone broth is typically made by simmering animal bones and connective tissues, which can release nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids into the liquid. This can make bone broth a source of essential nutrients for your dog.

2. Joint Health

Bone Broth is loaded with glycosaminoglycans (very special molecules that help keep our joints healthy) and you might even be familiar with one of them: glucosamine. Not only does bone broth contain super amazing amounts of glucosamine, it’s also packed with other joint protecting compounds like chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. Many dogs with joint pain from arthritis and other similar issues report positive benefits from bone broth regularly added to their meals. This makes sense because of the anti-inflammatory and lubricating properties of bone broth. Moreover, the glycosaminoglycans from bone broth are resistant to digestion and are absorbed in their intact form.

3. Digestive Health

The gelatin in bone broth can help soothe and protect the digestive tract, making it potentially useful for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. Regular intake of bone broth along with a raw food diet can also help heal your dog’s gut. It’s the gelatin from bone broth that elicits this response. Whether your pet experiences symptoms of digestive imbalance like constipation or loose stools, or a more severe condition like leaky gut syndrome ("sensitive stomach"), bone broth is a relatively cheap and easy addition to your daily animal wellness routine.

4. Hydration

Bone broth is liquid and can help keep your dog hydrated, especially if they are reluctant to drink water. This can be particularly beneficial during hot weather or if your dog is recovering from illness.

5. Appetite Stimulant

Some dogs find bone broth very palatable, so it can be used as an appetite stimulant or flavor enhancement if your dog is not eating well due to illness or loss of appetite.

6. Recovery After Illness Or Surgery

Bone broth can be a gentle and nourishing option for dogs recovering from surgery or illness. It provides essential nutrients and can be easier on the digestive system than solid food.

Did You Know Rancid Bone Broth is Common?

It is common to simply boil our bones for hours and hours in the process of making bone broth. I did it for years. I didn’t know that I was simmering fat, and creating a rancid product that 1) didn’t always taste good and 2) wasn’t healthy for me or my pets.

Actually, most recipes tell us to simply boil our bones for a long time — 24 to 48 hours, or 90 to 120 minutes in the Instant Pot. What was new to me was: the fat MUST be strained off the top after 2 to 3 hours (or 30 minutes in an IP), or the broth is no longer as healthy and beneficial.

This recipe isn’t the place to go into all of the reasons rancid fat is unhealthy or how rancid fat is created, but I do want to share the basics briefly:

• Rancid fat destroys vitamins, which can lead to deficiencies (source).

• Ironically, the intestinal tract and flora health are two main areas that suffer when exposed to rancid fat (source)

• Rancid fat can cause toxic symptoms in humans and pets, including a variety of symptoms that appear autoimmune in nature (source) , again ironic for anyone trying to heal from autoimmune conditions … that we can make ourselves sicker with rancid bone broth (source).

We need to prevent fats from oxidizing to protect our pet's health. Since heat and long-cooking can start the oxidative process, we need to be mindful about and practice conscientious cooking steps when making bone broth for us and our pets.

Turkey carcass bone broth is one of my absolute favorite recipes to make for my dogs. Besides, what else am I going to do with the carcass? It’s packed full of minerals and nutrients that not only taste great, it's easy to make and it also gets even more out of my Thanksgiving dinner!

And my dogs love it! Here is my favorite bone broth recipe for dogs!

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