If you want to give your pup a boost of extra nutrition in addition to their regular meals, then consider adding bone broth into their diet.
Bones are like a superfood for dogs, but most of those essential nutrients are locked inside the bone where they can’t reach it.
Feeding bone broth as a supplement is a great way to unlock all the nutritional benefits found in bones that are essential for canine nutrition. It’s packed with essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids like magnesium and calcium. These support the body’s nervous system, heart health and muscles, along with aiding their sleep and hydration. It’s also a natural source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients that can help to keep them healthy and strong.
Bone broth is extremely tasty for dogs, so not only will they benefit nutritionally from a delicious treat, but they’ll appreciate the extra love too!
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a liquid stock made from slowly cooking animal bones at low heat for over 8 hours to extract the nutrients. You’ll usually find bone broth available either as a liquid, or dehydrated to a powder.
When you’re choosing a bone broth for your dog, make sure you check the ingredients. It’s important to look for those that are natural and dog-friendly. Human bone broths probably won’t be suitable for your pooch as they include a range of preservatives, or extra flavour enhancers like salt or garlic. Even some bone broths formulated for dogs can contain similar additives, so make sure to always read the label.
What are the Health Benefits?
All pet parents want our dogs to be as healthy as possible, and bone broth is the perfect supplement to help keep them in top condition. It’s beneficial for a whole range of bodily functions that help your dog live their happiest, healthiest life.
Why do we love bone broth for dogs so much? Here are some of the top benefits for your canine companion:
1. It’s a Mighty Boost for their Immune System
A strong immune system helps your dog to ward off illness, and the vitamins in bone broth provide them with an ideal source of support for their immune health. It can also help to aid their recovery from illness. Mixing a powdered bone broth with water is a beneficial option for dogs experiencing stomach upset or diarrhea who need a break from solid food, while helping them to stay hydrated.
2. It Helps Strengthen and Repair Joints
Bone broth for dogs is packed with a range of minerals that are well known for supporting joint health and fighting inflammation throughout the canine body (for example, conditions such as arthritis and heart disease). Glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen all occur naturally in bones, and are one of the things we love most about bone broth for our dogs. These nutrients work together to protect, strengthen and repair joints, and also to stimulate natural collagen production in the joints, tendons, ligaments and arteries.
Starting your dog on regular bone broth treats when they’re young can help avoid inflammation and joint issues as they age. Remember though that bone broth is a supplement to other treatments, and you should always consult your vet if your dog is experiencing joint problems.
3. It’s a Detox for Their Liver
Is your dog a 4-legged waste disposal unit?! Dogs are scavengers naturally, and will often eat anything they find – even household items and toxic substances. Just like in humans, a dog’s liver is responsible for breaking down these toxins to keep the dog healthy and avoid gut problems. Bone broth can support liver health by providing amino acids like glycine that help remove toxins from the body.
4. It Helps Maintain a Healthy Gut
More and more research is emerging around the amino acids in bone broth and their benefits for dogs – and for us humans too! If your dog suffers with digestive issues (such as leaky gut syndrome) or food allergies, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause, especially if ‘science diets’ don’t appear to help them. Bone broth has an anti-inflammatory effect which may help soothe an irritated gut or upset stomach, and promote healing in a damaged intestinal lining.
5. It Delivers Collagen for Healthy Skin and Coat
Just like our skin and hair, your dogs skin and coat contain collagen – but as they age, their body’s ability to produce it is reduced. Collagen is one of the key proteins found in bones. Adding bone broth into your dog’s diet gives them a collagen boost that helps to preserve the condition of their skin, and improves their coat health, keeping coats glossy and healthy.
Our Favourite Ideas for Serving Bone Broth
Bone broth is a treat for all seasons! We especially love serving it up in summer as a frozen snack to beat the heat.
Here are some ideas for serving bone broth to your 4-legged friend…
– Make it into a broth with warm water (make sure it’s not hot when you dish it up!).
– Use your broth to rehydrate a small handful of air dried raw food and serve like a soft food.
– Freeze the broth in ice-block molds, an ice cube tray, or silicone molds. Dish the icy treats up on a hot day and let them lick away to cool down.
– Mix some bone broth powder into their regular food to give it a nutrient boost, or sprinkle it on as a meal topper.
– Add a little bone broth powder to their drinking water, especially if they’ve been unwell and need to stay hydrated.
Remember: Although raw bones are nutritious for dogs, it’s important to avoid giving your precious pup cooked bones. These splinter easily and pose a risk of throat blockage. Using a broth is a perfect and safe solution which is easy to add to a balanced diet in it’s powdered form. Use bone broth for dogs as a supplement to a balanced regular diet, not a replacement for other foods.