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Bone broth makes a wonderful addition to a dog’s diet for two reasons. First, most dogs love it. It’s an easy way to add savory, enticing flavor to food your dog may have grown used to. Second, it’s a simple and cheap way to introduce key nutrients to your dog’s diet, which could improve their overall health and vitality.
Making bone broth at home is not as difficult as it may seem, and it can result in a more nutrient-rich broth than store-bought versions. Although the process is straightforward, it requires time to fully extract the nutrients from the bones. Plan to prepare it a day or two in advance to ensure the broth has enough time to develop its rich nutrient content. If you’re making bone broth cubes, this extra time will also allow the gelatin to set properly.
In this guide:
Slow-Feeder & Water Bowl Set by The Dog Tale
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Benefits of bone broth for dogs
Bone broth seems to be grossly underrated. My own research has uncovered a variety of properties beneficial to the health of both dogs and their humans.
First, bone broth can help reduce inflammation. When broth is made from animal bones, the process releases chondroitin and glucosamine—important components of cartilage.
Additionally, bone broth is an amazing source of vital amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Studies suggest that the amino acids generated during its preparation can ease inflammation in the respiratory and digestive systems while also supporting joint health and skin elasticity through their role in collagen production.
Because of these joint health benefits, bone broth is particularly valuable for senior dogs. By providing collagen and essential nutrients, it helps preserve the cartilage cushioning between bones, alleviating arthritis-related discomfort and improving mobility as dogs age.
Soaking your senior dog’s kibble in bone broth can also soften the food, making it easier for dogs to chew and digest.
>> Learn more: The Best Soft Dog Food for Senior Dogs
Once you know how beneficial it is for your dog as well as how much your dog loves it, you may be making bone broth on a regular basis.
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How to make bone broth for dogs
The process of making bone broth involves simmering bones, vegetables, and herbs to extract beneficial nutrients from the ingredients, such as collagen and minerals.
Pro tip: Save dog-friendly veggie scraps like celery, squash, carrots, and bell pepper that you normally would discard. These scraps are perfect for making bone broth. Avoid onions and garlic, as they are toxic to dogs.
Homemade dog bone broth recipe
Materials needed:
- Stock pot or crock pot
- Strainer
- Ladle
- Glass jars or storage containers
Ingredients:
- 4 cups turkey bone leftovers (about 1 turkey). You may also use fresh, raw, or previously cooked bones from lamb, chicken, pork, or beef.
- ½ cup minced celery
- ½ cup carrots
- 1 heaping tablespoon fresh herbs (or 1 teaspoon of dried hers), such as American parsley, oregano, basil, rosemary, or coriander
Directions:
In a large stock pot or crockpot, combine the bones, vegetables, and herbs, then add enough water to fully cover the ingredients (about 7 to 8 cups, depending on the size of your pot). Cover and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Allow it to simmer for at least 1.5 hours. But for maximum nutrient extraction, allow the broth to simmer for 8 to 24 hours. Keep the heat low and steady—slow simmering is key to making high-quality bone broth.
Once finished, remove the pot from heat and let the broth cool slightly. Strain it to remove the bones and scraps, then pour the broth into glass jars or other storage containers. For convenient single servings, consider freezing the broth in ice cube trays.
The broth can be used as a topper (warmed or straight from the fridge) to make your dog’s kibble more enticing. Or, if frozen in an ice tray, you can serve them as treats.
How to make bone broth cubes
This homemade joint supplement recipe, created by Dr. Basko, is a fantastic way to use food as medicine to support your dog’s health. Dr. Basko’s approach focuses on using natural ingredients to prevent illness, relieve chronic pain, and promote overall well-being.
These enhanced bone broth cubes serve as a supplement and a home remedy for dog joint pain, helping to strengthen joint tissues while providing anti-inflammatory benefits often missing in store-bought options.
Gelatin is included not only to create a firmer texture but also because it is a valuable source of collagen. Collagen supports the health and strength of your dog’s bones, joints, cartilage, connective tissues, and blood vessels, helping to maintain joint flexibility and resilience.
Additionally, gelatin serves as a proactive way to address joint health, especially for aging dogs or larger breeds prone to joint issues. By supporting joint health early on, gelatin can help promote long-term mobility and comfort.
The result is a flavorful, gelatin-texture cube that your dog will love—much better than a pill or powder they might reject. You can offer it as a tasty treat or mix it into their regular meals for added nutrition and joint support.
Materials needed:
- Stock pot or crock pot
- Strainer
- Whisk
- Ladle
- Glass casserole dish or several ice cube trays
Ingredients:
- 4 cups turkey bone leftovers (about 1 turkey). You may also use fresh, raw, or previously cooked bones from lamb, chicken, pork, or beef.
- ½ cup minced celery
- ½ cup carrots
- 1 heaping tablespoon fresh herbs (or 1 teaspoon of dried hers), such as American parsley, oregano, basil, rosemary, or coriander
- 2 packets of Knox Gelatin
- 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (I like to substitute nutritional yeast)
Directions for gelatin cubes:
Prepare the bone broth and vegetables as described in the broth recipe, above. Once cooked, strain the broth into a glass casserole dish, ensuring to remove all bones and vegetables. While the broth is still warm, whisk in 2 packets of Knox Gelatin until fully dissolved.
If you are using ice cube trays, you will want to strain the broth into a large glass bowl first and then stir in the gelatin before pouring into the ice cube trays. For added flavor, sprinkle parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast evenly over the top.
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it overnight to set. Once firm, cut the gelatin into small rectangles, about 1 x 2 inches for medium-large dogs, or ½-inch x 1 inch for small dogs. Store a few days’ worth in the refrigerator and freeze the remaining pieces for long-term storage.
Suggested Amount:
Provide one piece (1″ x 2″) per 25 lbs. of body weight, once daily, as a snack or with meals.
Optional anti-inflammatory additions:
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Consider adding these superfood ingredients to the broth, especially if your dog is recovering from inflammation or a recent course of antibiotics. They can help reduce chronic inflammation, enhance blood circulation, combat the growth and spread of cancer cells, and eliminate parasites, giardia, and strains of E. coli—all while typically avoiding side effects. This highlights the incredible benefits of using food as medicine!
How to use bone broth
Most people stir bone broth into their dog’s kibble to make it more enticing. This works especially well if you warm up the broth first, but our dogs will eat it straight from the fridge. You can also give your dog bone broth on its own as a treat, either in a cup or as a gelatin cube.
Since our dogs like the broth so much and it provides valuable nutrients, we’ve included it in many of our recipes. Here are a few more to try:
