How to Make Bone Broth for Dogs: 5 Vet-Approved Recipes

Bone broth is quite a popular food topper for dogs. You can purchase it online from the biggest pet food businesses or small fresh food companies. However, making it yourself can be more cost-effective, and you can ensure that your dog only gets the best ingredients.

If you’re here because you want to learn how to make beef bone broth for dogs, you’ve come to the right place! We have five recipes here for bone broth from beef, chicken, or pork that are easy to make and will likely make your dog quite happy!

The 5 Homemade Bone Broth Recipes for Dogs

1. Bone Broth With ACV for the Slow Cooker

Bone broth with apple cider vinegar (ACV)

Bone broth with apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a fantastic way to prepare this nutritious topper. The addition of apple cider vinegar helps draw out those nutrients in the bone marrow, adding to the health benefits of bone broth. This recipe can be done in a slow cooker, so it will take a bit of time.

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Prep time

5 min

Cook time

24 hr

Total time

24 hr 5 min

Servings

4 meals

Equipment

• Crockpot or slow cooker
• Strainer
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1.5-2 pounds beef marrow bones
• 2 knuckle-bones
• 4 carrots (or 2 cups baby carrots)
• 1 cup roughly chopped parsley (optional)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• Water

Instructions

1. 1Place the bones and vegetables in the slow cooker.
2. 2Add water to the slow cooker, and cover the bones by about 1 inch.
3. 3Add the chopped carrots and parsley.
4. 4Add the apple cider vinegar.
5. 5Cover and set your slow cooker to low.
6. 6Cook for up to 24 hours at least. Some people prefer to cook for 72 hours.
7. 7While cooking, add water as needed to keep the bones covered.
8. 8Remove the bones and discard them (do not give your dogs the bones, as they will splinter and cause damage).
9. 9Strain the broth to catch the remainder of bone fragments.
10. 10Allow the broth to cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate it. Once the broth has chilled, skim off the fat and keep it refrigerated, or you can freeze it. This way, it will last up to a year. Serve as desired to your happy pup!

Notes

Image Credit: Alp Aksoy, Shutterstock

2. Bone Broth Recipe for Dogs With Turmeric

The broth can be refrigerated for up to 7 days or frozen for up to 6 months.

3. InstantPot or Slow Cooker Beef & Pork Bone Broth

This recipe has more steps than the others, but if you enjoy cooking, it's an excellent one! Just remember to use only curly parsley, as other varieties can be toxic to dogs.

4. Slow Cooker Bone Broth for Dogs

If you prefer, you can strain the bones and vegetables out of the broth instead of blending in the vegetables. The nutrients from the vegetables will have already been infused into the broth, but leaving them in can add extra flavor and texture.

5. Pet Bone Broth

Using leftover chicken carcasses from whole chickens or picking up those convenient rotisserie chickens from the deli in your supermarket are great ways to use those leftovers. Keep in mind that chicken bones are smaller than beef bones, so they do not need to cook as long.

Do You Need a Slow Cooker?

You can certainly use whatever you have in your household; an instant pot, pressure cooker, or stock pot are all great options. However, slow cookers tend to be particularly ideal for making bone broth. Broths need a long cooking time, and recipes require anywhere from 24 to 48 hours of cooking. A slow cooker is a convenient and safe option for keeping the broth cooking overnight, so it might be worth investing in one if you plan to make bone broth frequently.

Why Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar?

You may have noticed that most bone broth recipes call for apple cider vinegar, and there is a good reason for this. Apple cider vinegar aids in extracting collagen from connective tissues and all the beneficial minerals and nutrients from the bones. This is what gives the broth its gelatin texture. However, you should use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar that contains the "mother," which is a batch of live bacteria.

Serving Suggestions for Homemade Bone Broth for Dogs

For example, can you put beef broth in dog food? Yes! Many dog parents make bone broth specifically for this purpose. You can also:

• Freeze the broth in ice cube trays, which is perfect for hot summer days.
• Give your dog a small amount of broth in a bowl.
• Put kibble and bone broth inside a chew toy like Kong and freeze it.
• Add a dash of broth to your dog’s water to encourage more water drinking.
• Warm the broth, and serve it over your dog’s food at mealtime.
• Serve it straight from the fridge in its jellied form on a spoon.
• Use the broth in dog treat recipes in place of water—this should make them extra tasty!

Extra Notes

• Bone broth is meant as a treat and not a meal replacement.
• Only simmer the broth, which helps draw out the essential nutrients. Boiling will only burn off the liquid.
• If you can’t find any in the freezer section of your grocery store, ask the butcher for bones to make broth.
• If you plan to use leftover bones, ensure that they do not contain any seasonings or sauces that might contain toxic ingredients.
• Don’t add ingredients like garlic or onions to your broth, which are highly toxic to dogs. A small amount of garlic may have a few health benefits, but it’s not worth the risk.
• Salt is another dangerous ingredient for canines if they consume too much. Dogs don’t need seasonings that the way that we do.
• Remember to throw the bones away once you’re done with the broth. They are too soft and will splinter if your dog chews them, which can cause gastrointestinal blockage or punctures in the digestive tract and mouth.
• You can roast the bones before cooking, but this merely enhances the flavor and adds no nutritional value.

Final Thoughts

Making homemade bone broth for your dog can be a simple and rewarding activity. When you prepare broth at home, you have complete control over the ingredients that go into it, ensuring that your dog consumes only healthy and safe ingredients. Your dog is sure to enjoy your homemade broth while also benefiting from the hydration that it provides in a natural and nutritious way.

Featured Image Credit: Civil, Shutterstock