Bone brothBone broth for dogs is a nutrient-rich liquid made by simmering animal bones, connective tissues, and sometimes vegetables and herbs in waterwater over an extended period. The slow simmering process extracts valuable nutrients from the bones and tissues, including minerals, amino acidsamino acids, gelatin, and collagen. This results in a flavorful and highly nutritious liquid that can provide various health benefits for dogs.
The nutrient content of bone broth can vary based on factors such as the type of bones used, cooking time, and additional ingredients. While bone broth can provide various health benefits, it's not a complete and balanced meal. It can be used as a supplement for your dog’s meals, especially during illness or stress.
Nutrient Content of Bone Broth
Bone broth is rich in nutrients that can provide various health benefits for dogs. The nutrients found in bone broth can vary based on the type of bones used and the ingredients added during preparation. Essential nutrients found in bone broth for dogs include:
- Minerals: Bone broth is a source of minerals such as calciumcalcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals are essential for your dog’s bone health, nerve function, and electrolyte balance.
- Vitamins: Depending on the ingredients used, bone broth can contain vitamins such as vitamin Avitamin Avitamin A, vitamin Kvitamin K, and various B vitamins that contribute to your dog’s overall health and well-being.
- Collagen: Collagen is a protein that supports the health of connective tissues, joints, skin, and coat. It provides structure and strength to various parts of your dog’s body.
- Gelatin: Gelatin is derived from collagen and formed during slow cooking. It can help soothe and support the digestive tract and aid gut health.
- Amino Acids: Bone broth contains various amino acids, including glycine, proline, and argininearginine. These amino acids are essential for overall health, immune function, and tissue repair.
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): GAGs, including glucosamineglucosamine and chondroitinchondroitin, are natural compounds that support joint health by maintaining cartilagecartilage and reducing inflammationinflammation.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is present in connective tissues and helps retain moisture, promoting joint lubrication and skin health.
- Protein: Bone broth contains protein from the bones and connective tissues. Protein is essential for muscle maintenance, immune function, and overall body processes.
The nutrient content of bone broth can vary based on factors such as the type of bones used, cooking time, and additional ingredients. Every bone type has a unique nutrient profile. Adding bones from various animals will expand the nutrient profile of the broth.
Benefits of Bone Broth
Because of its nutrient-rich composition, bone broth can offer many potential health benefits for dogs with cancer. While bone broth is not a cure for cancer, it can be a supportive addition to your dog's diet during treatment and recovery. Ways that bone broth can be beneficial for dogs with cancer include:
Bone broth is very nutrient-dense. Cancer and cancer treatments can impact your dog's appetite and nutrient absorption. Bone broth is rich in essential nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, that can help provide the necessary building blocks for overall health and immune function.
Maintaining proper hydration is vital for dogs with cancer. Bone broth has a high moisture content, which can contribute to your dog's hydration, especially if they are experiencing appetite changes.
Bone broth is supportive of the digestive system. Dogs undergoing cancer treatments may experience digestive distress. The gelatin in bone broth can help soothe and support the digestive tract, potentially alleviating symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Bone broth's amino acids and minerals can contribute to a healthy immune system. Supporting the immune system can be particularly important for dogs with cancer, as their immune response may be compromised.
Cancer and treatments like chemotherapy can affect your dog's sense of taste and appetite. The rich flavor of bone broth may encourage dogs to eat, ensuring they receive adequate nutrition during treatment.
Bone broth is also very supportive for your dog’s muscles and joints. Dogs with cancer may experience muscle loss and decreased mobility. Bone broth's collagen and amino acids can support joint health, muscle maintenance, and overall mobility.
After surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments, bone broth can provide a gentle and easily digestible source of nutrients supporting recovery. Serving it slightly warm will provide warmth and comfort for your dog’s achy body.
In addition to these advantages, bone broth has a delicious meaty flavor, and many "picky" dogs will eat their food with bone broth added. This can be particularly useful for your cancer dog to help with a lack of appetite commonly experienced in dogs with cancer.
Gathering Ingredients
You'll need a few simple ingredients to make bone broth for dogs. Bone broth is versatile, and you can customize it based on your dog's preferences and any dietary restrictions they may have. Here is a basic recipe for making homemade bone broth for dogs.
Ingredients
Ideally, When selecting bones, you want to use the highest quality bones from organically pasture-raised animals, such as poultry (chicken, duck, or turkey), beef, pork, venison, or fish. You can use raw or cooked bones, including joints, knuckles, and marrow bones. The best cuts are high in cartilage; pig and chicken feetchicken feet are the most popular as they are generally easy to access. Both are often the most popular choices for broths or soups made for humans. You can use as many bones as possible in your cooking vessel: slow or pressure cooker (i.e., InstaPot).
You can add some safe vegetables for dogs for additional nutrients and flavor. Safe options include carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens like kale or spinach. Onions are commonly added to bone broth for human consumption but must be omitted from broth made for dogs as they are toxic to dogs.
You must add enough water to cover the bones and vegetables. Filtered water is recommended, if your water source is municipal water.
A few optional additions that you can use in the bone broth for flavor and nutrient enhancement include:
- Herbs like parsley, thyme, and rosemary can add flavor and potential health benefits.
- GarlicGarlic can be used for flavoring and has numerous medicinal benefits.
- TurmericTurmeric, which contains curcumin, is a natural anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting compound. Read What Herbs Can I Give My Dog With Cancer for additional information.
- Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar: A small amount is added to help extract minerals from the bones.
Cooking Instructions
There are a lot of recipes for bone broth online. However, you must ensure you choose recipes designed for dogs, not humans, as the human variety will likely call for ingredients that could harm your dog.
Cooking the broth begins with placing the bones, water, and additional ingredients listed above in a large vessel such as a slow or pressure cooker. Apple cider vinegar is added to help extract the minerals from the bones. Follow these steps to prepare an amazing batch of broth that both you and your dog can enjoy!
Step 1: Adding the Chicken Feet/Pig Feet and Marrow Bones
- Fill your pot about three-quarters or until ½ inch below the fill line.
Step 2: Add the Filtered Water
- Add enough filtered water to cover the bones with an additional ½ inch of water above the bones.
Step 3: Make the Water Acidic
- To help remove the minerals from the bones, you must acidify the water by adding three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Mixing the acid in is unnecessary; simply pour it into the water.
Step 4: Start Cooking -
Pressure Cooker + Slow Cooker Method (2 batch yield)
- An electronic pressure cooker with a slow cooker function is ideal, but you can use a stovetop pressure cooker and an electric slow cooker.
- Turn on your pressure cooker for 2 hours. Wait 10–20 minutes to safely release the pressure before opening. Follow the steps below to make your first batch of broth.
- Using the same strained bones, return them to your electric pressure cooker or slow cooker, cover your bones with water, add more apple cider vinegar, and slow cook for 24 hours. Follow the steps below for your second batch of bone broth.
Slow Cooker Method (1 batch yield)
- Cook on low heat in your crockpot for 6 to 24 hours.
- The broth does not need to boil; instead, it should “brew.” The long, slow cooking time and low temperatures allow the chemicals to interact as required, extracting the nutrition from the bones.
- The longer you brew, the more beneficial the broth becomes. However, stick to shorter time frames if you are not using organicorganic bones.
- The thinner the bones, the less time the broth will take to cook. Keep the heat low enough for the broth to barely simmer.
Strain the Broth
After the broth has been brewed, remove the bones and meat from the broth. Tongs are typically the most effective tool, but don't be surprised if what was once a solid bone is now a spongy clump. Remove and discard as many solid objects as possible.
Allow the broth to cool for a few minutes before scooping the clear broth into containers with a ladle. Some people strain their broth via a cheesecloth-lined strainer before transferring it to a jar. Although this makes a clear broth, it is optional.
Allow your broth to cool for at least an hour before serving. Once it's cooled to a lower temperature, you'll notice a layer of fat on top of your broth. Removing this layer of fat is optional, but most people choose to do this, especially if they are drinking it themselves or their dog is sensitive to fat. It is easiest to skim off this layer of fat when the broth is cold and before storing it in the freezer.
The bone broth should resemble jelly in appearance. An ideal batch of broth will have a thick jelly layer as the gelatin from the bones and knuckles has made its way into the broth. The gelatin is an excellent supplement for your dog’s gut and joint health.
Do not despair if there is not a lot of gelatin in your batch. It will still be tasty and nutritious for your dog. You may need more cartilage bones or apple cider vinegar. Make adjustments when making your next batch!
Refrigerate your broth to keep it fresh for 3-4 days maximum. Store the bone broth in airtight containers to prevent oxidationoxidation of the fat. You can maintain the broth in the freezer for several months. Many people will freeze in small molds or ice cube trays to be thawed in individual portions as needed for their dogs.
Make Bone MealBone Meal From Those Bones
Despite the importance of raw meaty bones in a dog’s diet, not all dogs can consume them. There are various reasons, including the dog having few teeth and the owner's concerns about choking, broken teeth, bowel impactions, and bacterial contamination. Using the bones left from making bone broth can create a homemade bone meal that is an excellent alternative for bones and is a great calcium source.
After simmering the broth, remove the bones and boil them for several more hours until they are soft and malleable. The bone type and structure will determine the duration needed for cooking. Poultry bones require much less cooking time than beef or pork bones. Once cooled, crush or grind the bones and add to your dogs meal.
Takeaway Bites
- Bone broth is simple, albeit a bit time-consuming to make. The positive impact it will have on your dog is worth the time!
- Bone broth is a delicious, nutritious, immune-boosting supplement that will enhance your dog’s bowl, especially when the effects of cancer have diminished her appetite.
- Bone broth supports multiple body systems, including your dog’s gut, joints, and immune system.
References
- The amino acid composition of mammalian collagen and gelatin - PMC
- Efficacy and safety of glycosylated undenatured type-II collagen (UC-II) in therapy of arthritic dogs
- Therapeutic efficacy and safety of undenatured type-II collagen (UC-II) alone or in combination with (-)-hydroxycitric acid and chromemate in arthritic dogs
- Glycine ameliorates liver injury and vitamin Dvitamin D deficiency induced by bilebile duct ligation
- Quantifying dietary macronutrient sources of carbon for bone collagen biosynthesis using natural abundance stable carbon isotope analysis