What is bone broth for dogs?

Have you heard of bone broth? It’s all the rage in human wellness and nutrition, praised for its list of health benefits, including skin-plumping, joint-strengthening and gut-healing properties. 

As it’s essentially a ‘bone soup’, it sounds right up a dog’s street - but can dogs safely have bone broth, like we do? Does it have similar positive effects on their health? If you’re wondering about these things, read on for everything you need to know about bone broth and including it in your dog’s diet.

What is bone broth? 

Bone broth often has a simple composition. Its production involves steadily boiling animal bones in water for several hours until the goodness from the bones - namely collagen, chondroitin, glucosamine and more - has infused into the water and created a meaty broth, full of nutrients. 

Humans consume bone broth either just as is, or with added herbs, spices or veggies for a nutritious brothy soup/drink. It’s very similar to stock, which we use as a base for soup, gravy or other dishes, but at its healthiest, it’s a very simplified version without added salt or seasoning. And this is what we're looking for for our pooches!

Is bone broth good for dogs?

As bone broth can be so simple and natural, vets and pet nutritionists see no harm in dogs reaping the benefits.  Plus, including a dog-friendly bone broth in their diet can help them keep hydrated, keep them engaged with their food, and easily add functional nutrients into their diet to help target problem areas.

When talking about bone broth, our resident Vet Linda says:

What are the health benefits of bone broth for your dog? 

• It can help strengthen joints and boost mobility. Rich in collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin, bone broth supports healthy joints and helps keep your dog moving with ease. It’s especially beneficial for seniors, dogs with mobility issues, or active dogs who need a little extra cushion in their step.
  
  
• Good for gut support. Gelatine, glycine and proline in bone broth can soothe the digestive tract and promote a healthy gut lining. It can be a gentle, healing food for dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, or who are recovering from illness.
  
  
• Boosts hydration. As previously mentioned, bone broth is a great way to increase a dog’s water intake. You could serve it warm as an enticing, meaty drink or even freeze it into cubes for a hydrating and enriching treat on a hot day.
  
  
• It can help improve skin and coat health. Just as bone broth supposedly improves our skin, it can contribute to a dog’s healthy skin and coat. Thanks to collagen and amino acids, bone broth can help reduce dryness, itchiness and flakiness and promote a shinier, healthier coat - great for dogs with skin sensitivities.
  
  
• Adds a range of nutrients to their diet. Bone broth is a natural source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and other essential minerals that support overall health. These nutrients play a key role in everything from bone strength to nerve function.
  
  
• Makes food more engaging. For picky eaters, those who have lost their appetite or are bored with their regular food, adding a splash of bone broth can make meals juicier, more aromatic and overall more enticing.

Can my dog safely have bone broth?

There isn’t any reason why your dog can’t drink bone broth that has been deemed dog-friendly. The flavour profiles (meat and bones) are definitely to a dog’s liking! 

However, you should always serve it warm or cold - never hot; and it should not have any added ingredients like salt, seasonings or flavourings. If your pooch usually eats regular dog food, it’s perfect as a healthy and nutritious topper. 

If you’re looking to safely add bone broth to your dog’s diet, look no further than Pooch & Mutt! With two delicious flavours made specifically for pooches in mind, you can add all those tasty benefits of bone broth to your dog’s everyday diet.

Our Health & Digestion Bone Broth is made up of 97% Beef Bone Broth and is packed with prebiotics to help maintain a healthy digestive system. Not only that, added glucosamine and chondroitin help support joint health, plus naturally occurring collagen helps maintain healthy skin, coat and connective tissue.

Health & Digestion Bone Broth

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Our Calm & Relaxed Bone Broth is made up of 97% Chicken Bone Broth, with added hemp oil to aid hydration and help soothe nervous and anxious pooches. As well as calming hemp and chamomile, it includes L-Tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid from chicken that helps nourish the nervous system. And just like Health & Digestion, it also contains glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen.

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Can I feed my dog bone broth for humans?

Bone broth made for humans should be fine for dogs to eat, but only if it’s homemade and without any salt, flavourings or seasonings to the broth. 

It’s best to avoid bone broth made for humans as it often has extra ingredients that aren’t beneficial or safe for a dog. To safely serve your dog bone broth, it's best to opt for bone broth specially formulated for dogs. 

Always remember to remove all the bones and fat from the surface, and cool it down before serving. 

Are there any risks of feeding bone broth to my dog? 

Bone broth that has been made for dogs in mind,  without any added salt or seasoning, should be 100% safe. 

However, risks can arise if you’re tempted to make bone broth at home. You should always consider the following:

• Toxic ingredients to dogs, like extra salt, spices, seasonings, artificial preservatives or additives, but also veggies dogs can’t eat, such as garlic, onions or chives.
  
  
• Leftover bone pieces or sharp parts of the carcass could cause a choking hazard. Be sure that the broth is well-strained before serving.
  
  
• Too much fat. Boiling bones releases all the goodness but also produces a layer of fat globules on the surface. Be sure to scoop all this off before serving, as it’s too much for a dog’s sensitive gut to process.
  
  
• Scolding temperatures. Broth can be very hot. Always leave it to cool before serving - your dog won’t mind if it’s colder than you would personally eat it.
  
  

To avoid any dangerous risks or harm, be sure to shop bone broth made for dogs!

What are other healthy meal toppers for dogs?

Bone broth is just one way to supercharge your dog’s meals with juicy, gut-friendly nutrition.

For other dog meal supplements, you could opt for:

• Our Joint Care Supplements for dogs strengthen your dog’s joints and bones.
  
  
• Our Bionic Biotic topper to help perfect dodgy guts and poos.
  
  
• Our Salmon Oil for Dogs, packed with omega-3 and other essential nutrients to boost your pooch’s overall health and wellbeing. 

FAQs

To safely add bone broth into your dog’s diet, look no further than Pooch & Mutt! With two tasty flavours to choose from, you can opt for Health & Digestion Beef Bone Broth for healthy guts, or our Calm & Relaxed Chicken Bone Broth to help chill out excitable pooches.  For other ways to infuse your dog’s diet with gut-boosting, bone-strengthening nutrition, try our entire range of healthy dog supplements.