What Are The Benefits Of Bone Broth For Dogs
One of the greatest reasons to consider adding bone broth to your dog’s diet is because it’s very good for them. It’s beneficial for various bodily functions and is packed with nutrients that help your dog live his or her happiest, healthiest life.
Here are some of the top benefits of bone broth for dogs:
Commercial Vs Homemade Bone Broths For Pets
If you do not want to spend hours waiting for your bone broth to be ready, you can get a commercial variety.
However, if you go down this route, we suggest that you do a bit of research and find out as much as you can about that products ingredients.
Some bone broths, especially those made for people, can contain potentially dangerous ingredients for pets.
In that case, youd have to give your cat an even lower amount than the one recommended on the label or just steer clear of that brand altogether, especially if it contains a lot of sodium.
Homemade bone broths are always the best that you can give your feline companion, although it is true that they take several good hours to be ready.
Besides, theyre very cheap to make, too.
If youve bought a whole chicken, you can just debone it and use the bones for making broth you do not need anything other than patience besides this ingredient.
Easy Homemade Cat Gravy
Once youve mastered our base recipe, you can start experimenting! If you are looking for something a bit more delectable for your sweet kitty, learn how to make cat gravy with these 6 nutritional recipes!
Once you have prepared the base recipe, please resist the temptation of giving the cat any bone. Please never give your cat a cooked bone!
Recommended Reading: Cats To Human Years
Euphoria Bliss Beef Bone Broth Powder
- THE MOST VERSATILE PROTEIN ON THE MARKET We cook meaty bone broth the authentic way the very same way you do it at home. So you will be confident to know that you are getting the best premium gold standard quality of homemade bone broth protein in a convenient, easy-to-mix powder form.
This is another good option that you might want to try, especially if you want to use the same product for yourself and your cat.
The reason were noting this here is that while the Euphoria Bliss bone broth powder is primarily made for humans, it doesnt contain any bad ingredients for pets.
So, while other products out there might contain garlic or onion powder, this one does not.
Moreover, its composition is clean as it basically has just two ingredients the beef broth powder and some sunflower lecithin as a binder.
If you are concerned about whether its good for cats to have lecithin, well put your mind at ease by telling you that it has multiple benefits.
For example, it stimulates memory and learning, making it great for geriatric cats. It also prevents cell oxidation, so it slows down ageing.
Finally, its also worth adding that this product is grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and it contains no allergens, preservatives, or any other nasty chemicals.
Bone Broth Superfood For Pets
Bone broth is a nutrient-dense superfood that pets love. We feed it to our pets when they are unwell* and little else is tolerated. And we feed it as a regular, nutritious treat to healthy cats and dogs, too. Our broth is made with high quality bones, filtered water, apple cider vinegar and nothing else!
High in protein and rich in minerals, it’s a natural healer, aiding digestion and allowing pets to absorb the nutrients they need to recover from a range of inflammatory conditions. It also aids recovery from wounds, injuries and post-surgical trauma. Check out our range of bone broth for cats and dogs below!
*Remember, always call your vet if your cat or dog is unwell!
Also Check: Sifting Litter Box For Pine Pellets
What Is Bone Broth Can My Pet Take Bone Broth
Bone broth is a nutrient-dense stock that is made from simmered stock over a period of one to two days using animal parts like bones and marrow, skin and feet, tendons and ligaments plus an acid , herbs and vegetables. The animal parts used to make traditional broth usually come from beef/cattle, chickens, pig and fish. This slow simmering causes the bones and other parts to release a number of healing compounds, like collagen, amino acids , glucosamine, trace minerals and more.
All bone broths beef, chicken, fish, lamb and more have been staples in traditional diets of just about every culture living around the world for thousands of years. Why? Because bone broths are nutrient-dense, easy to digest, rich in flavor, inexpensive to make, and a great use of animal parts that are mostly considered inedible and otherwise usually discarded. Especially because of its rich supply of collagen and gelatin , bone broth is considered one of the oldest functional foods to be used in traditional systems of medicine.
What are the benefits of bone brothfor dogs and other pets? Whether were talking about bone broth for humans or pets, benefits associated with bone broth include helping to treat leaky gut syndrome and digestive issues, help with overcoming food intolerances and allergies, reducing joint pain, boosting the immune system, promoting probiotic balance and growth, and providing bone-building minerals in an easily absorbable form.
Where To Find And How To Use Bone Broth For Dogs And Pets
Its important to point out that the majority of store-bought stocks and broths are not real, traditional bone broths. Food manufacturers now use lab-produced meat flavors in bouillon cubes, soup and sauce mixes, marketing them as bone broth, but they hardly have the same benefits as real, homemade broth or stock. Many store-bought broths are made with lots of sodium, additives and ingredients like monosodium glutamate , which is recognized as a meat flavor but can have negative health effects.
The very best bone broths are those made yourself at home, however bone broth can be time-consuming to make . This is why a good alternative is bone broth powder thats made for dogs or humans. There isnt really much of a difference between bone broth thats suitable for humans and pets, which means if youre comfortable with it, you can give your pets some of the same bone broth you have.
What are some ideas for using liquid bone broth in your dog food?
Dogs Naturally Magazine recommends adding some to dried or moist food to add more moisture and nutrients, or adding some broth to the water bowl. If your dog seems to be dehydrated or is sick , this is a great time to give it chilled broth to keep your pet hydrated. To make it easy to regularly give your dog bone broth, try freezing prepared broth in small containers or ice cube trays so its ready to go anytime.
Read Also: How Much Food To Feed A 4 Month Old Kitten
Freeze It For Convenient Use
Freezing bone broth means that you can keep it fresh for up to 12 months. I recommend you prepare it first, then pour it into ice cube trays to freeze.
Once frozen, you can pop the cubes into a ziploc bag for single use. When you’re ready to serve, simply grab a broth cube and add it to your pets water dish and let it melt.
What Kind Of Bone Broth Is Best For Dogs
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links..
The best kind of bone broth for dogs is, in my opinion, homemade, with fresh ingredients and using proteins your dog can tolerate.
Yes, there are some good store-bought bone broth products that are okay to use in a pinch or if you really cant make your own, and well cover my top picks for those in just a little bit.
But making your own bone broth is best, because you know exactly what youre feeding and the ingredients are fresh and natural.
Yes, adding bone broth to your dogs diet is great on so many levels. Here are a few of the health benefits:
- Improves joint health
- Boost your dogs immune system
- Soothes an upset stomach and digestive distress
- Improves gut health
- Improves skin and coat health
- Supports sick and recovering dogs
- Encourages picky eaters
- Encourages good hydration
But the quality of the bone broth is vital in how much itll help your dog.
Take a look at my easy bone broth recipe for dogs and have a go at making your own!
Hint: Its good for cats and humans, too!
Read Also: How Do Cat Ages Work
Is Bone Broth Safe For Cats
Bone broth is safe for cats because it provides animal protein rich in amino acids like glycine, proline, glutamine and glucosamine. These powerful proteins are safe and can’t be overdosed on.
That being said, there are a lot of subpar quality products on the market that are not real bone broth.
Cats should not eat products that have harmful ingredients like ‘natural flavors,’ yeast extracts, added sodium, fillers or preservatives.
The other thing to think about is that bone broth is a tasty treat and can lead to overeating.
Cats are more susceptible to the issue of overeating, so make sure you keep your feline friend’s intake in check!
It is always a good idea to monitor your cat’s response while introducing it into their diet.
Do you have another pet? Learn about bone broth for dogs.
Mix It In With Food Or Water
One of my favorite ways to serve my cat Debbie some bone broth is with her water. She doesnt actually like wet food which means Im always worried about her hydration. By adding some bone broth to her water, it can encourage her to drink a little bit extra.
But you can also add bone broth to food as a special treat. This works with just about any food but its especially powerful when you combine it with quality freeze-dried food like Feline Natural .
Don’t Miss: Clean Cat Pee From Hardwood Floors
How To Make Bone Broth: Photo Tutorial
If youve just made the Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe, then place the bones, skin, cartilage, and other bits from the chicken along with any innards that may have come with your chicken into the Instant Pot. You should still have a few cups of cooking liquid and herbs left in the pot from cooking the chicken.
If you havent made the Instant Pot Whole Chicken and youre just starting with bones , place those in the bottom of the Instant Pot. No need to thaw them, just put them in there.
To the pot, add the vegetables, aromatics , bay leaf, any herbs you want to use we use sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley if we have it on hand then a glug of apple cider vinegar and a few peppercorns.
Dont worry, theres a full recipe coming so youll know exactly how much we add of each thing. Though you can totally wing it and use what you have and it will still be fabulous.
Then cover everything with water , lock the lid in place, and cook for 120 minutes on high pressure.
Once the timer sounds, allow 20-30 minutes for the pressure inside the pot to naturally release before flipping the vent valve to Venting to release any residual pressure.
Tips For Choosing A Good Product
Choosing the right bone broth starts with paying attention to the broths ingredients.
The quality of your bone broth is equivalent to the quality of the ingredients. If youre considering bone broth as a means of supplementing your cats diet, go the extra mile to choose a high-quality product.
Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for bone broth:
- Make sure its made from real food ingredients like free-range chicken or grass-fed beef.
- Check the cooking time bone broth must be simmered longer than regular broth or stock to extract the nutrients from the bone marrow.
- Avoid human bone broth recipes that might contain onion, garlic, and added salt.
- Choose a product that doesnt contain artificial additives like flavors, colors, or preservatives.
- Look for bone broth rich in gelatin to ensure high protein content.
- Check for other beneficial nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Look for bone broth products with a short list of ingredients. What you really want is the collagen-rich broth, not a bunch of unnecessary additives or flavoring agents.
As an alternative to purchasing bone broth, you can always make your own.
Simply fill a stockpot with an assortment of meaty bones and cover with water. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice per gallon of water to help break down the bones and simmer on low heat until the meat falls off the bone.
Our Recommendation: Open Farm Bone Broth
Lets take a closer look at this product.
90.45%9.55%
Don’t Miss: How Much Should A 4 Month Old Cat Eat
How Do You Add Bone Broth Into Your Cats Diet
Now that youre sold on the wonderful benefits of bone broth, youre ready to start incorporating it into your cats diet.
But start slow!
As a general guideline, you can add bone broth to your cats diet by giving approximately 1 teaspoon of bone broth twice daily.
However, the bigger the cat, the more broth they can enjoy!
If you have other pets, you can make enough broth to share.
Here are some basic feeding instructions for your four-legged friends to get you started:
If your cat enjoys it on its own, just let them drink a small amount of it daily or every other day.
A good measurement would be 1/4 to 1/2 of a cup.
Depending on the ingredients, it can have a lot of salt so the more salt there is, the more it should be limited.
The bigger your cat, the more they can enjoy.
Do not feed to kittens until they are 6 months old as the gelatin can cause diarrhea.
You can feed broth during regular feedings or at non-meal times. Another smart tip is to feed bone broth about 30 minutes prior to a meal to aid with digestion.
If you decide to add broth directly on top of the cat food, use caution!
Dont add bone broth to LARGE portions of dry pet food.
The dry food soaks up the flavor, and your cat will find it irresistible cats love it so much they will gobble down too much food .
Keep this in mind to avoid puking.
One important note: if your cat has a history of pancreatitis or other serious medical condition, consult your veterinarian before changing its diet.
Honorable Mention: The Honest Kitchen Daily Boosts: Instant Turkey Bone Broth
- Human-grade ingredients based on FDA standards
- Powdered form makes for easy preparation
- Features turkey-based ingredient which can add a little variety
Cons:
- Additional ingredients like pumpkin and parsley will be a pro for some folks and a con for other
While this powdered bone broth from The Honest Kitchen doesnt have a perfect place on this list, its still certainly worth mentioning. The Honest Kitchen uses high-quality ingredients with everything made in the United States. It also features turkey as the primary ingredient which can give cats a nice break from the ever-present chicken.
But the reason Ive put them as an honorable mention is that many of the things that make this product unique will be a pro to some folks and a con or just a point of indifference to others.
For starters, theyve added dehydrated pumpkin and dried parsley to the mix. Many cat parents and even veterinarians swear by pumpkin but there isnt much in the way of studies to support the power of pumpkin. Still, that certainly doesnt make it bad!
Parsely falls into the same category for the most part with some folks claiming that its a powerful source of vitamins and minerals for your cat while others are indifferent.
Their company is also founded on Ayurveda philosophies. The Honest Kitchen describes this as a 5,000-year-old holistic healing system and the sister science to yoga and meditation.
You can learn more about the turkey bone broth flavor and .
Also Check: Equine Pine Pellets For Cat Litter
How Can This Benefit My Cat
The benefits of eating or drinking the broth for us humans is very similar to feeding it to your cat. Because this food is rich in minerals, it is especially good for older cats as it not only supports healthy joint tissue but keeps their immune system strong. Here are some of the best benefits bone broth can give to your cat:
- Joint Health
Bone broth is abundant with glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin. These three key nutrients help mend, repair, and keep joints healthy. Older cats will benefit from this because it lowers the risk of bone fractures, arthritis, and sprains.
- Digestive Health
Gelatin is another nutrient found in bone broth that will repair leaky gut, control bacteria, coat the walls of the digestive tract, and keep things moving. This is good news for cats of all ages as it will keep the digestive tract healthy and happy without the need of having to find specific foods or vitamins for them to supplement their daily diet.
- Liver Health
Glycine is known for aiding the liver to self-detox and when low in the body, it enables the liver to fully flush itself. Bone broth is loaded with glycine which will help keep your cats liver functioning properly to fight off the ill effects of stress, toxins, parasites, antibiotics, vaccines, and so much more.
Other benefits include:
- shinier, thicker, and healthier fur
- smooth skin
- healthier vision and teeth
- fewer colds, bugs, and flues
- eases or eliminates allergies