How to make bone broth for dogs Bone broth is a nutritious and flavorful addition to your dog’s diet, and it’s easy and cost-effective to make at home. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of making homemade bone broth for your furry friend, along with some tips and tricks to ensure it turns out paw-some every time.

Let’s wag our tails and bark our way into the kitchen to unleash the power of bone broth! Get ready to tantalize your pup’s taste buds and nourish their body with this wholesome treat.

Doggone Crazy About Bone Broth

Bone broth is a nourishing liquid crafted by simmering raw animal bones along with herbs, vegetables, and other flavorful ingredients. It’s a process that draws out essential minerals and nutrients from the bones, resulting in a hearty, edible broth.

For optimal bone broth, it’s best to use bones that still have ligaments, cartilage, marrow, and tendons attached. Marrow bones, feet, or necks are common choices. Through a slow, prolonged heating process, the bones release their nutrients into the broth, creating a flavorful and nutritious liquid.

Both dogs and humans can enjoy bone broth; however, when making it for dogs, it’s essential to omit ingredients like salt and onions, which can be harmful to them.

You might be curious about the distinction between bone broth and bone stock. While they’re made from the same ingredients, broth typically undergoes a longer cooking process than stock. Broth simmers for anywhere from 12 to 48 hours, while stock only cooks for a few hours. This extended simmering time results in a richer, heartier, and more flavorful liquid, making bone broth a nutritious treat for both dogs and humans.

Doggone Crazy About Bone Broth

If I had to pick just one thing to make for our beloved pups, it would undoubtedly be bone broth. Among all the treats, homemade meals, toys, and accessories I craft for them, bone broth stands out as a favorite. Our boys absolutely adore it, and it’s not hard to see why. Bone broth offers a plethora of health benefits, it’s budget-friendly, simple to prepare, and incredibly versatile.

Over the years, I’ve dabbled with various techniques for making dog-friendly bone broth. Some experiments were successful, while others fell short. But no matter the outcome, our dogs always seemed pleased with the results! Through these trials and errors, I’ve honed my bone broth-making skills to perfection. Now, whenever I whip up a batch, I know it’ll be a hit with our furry companions.

Whether I’m serving bone broth straight from the freezer as a refreshing pupsicle, defrosting it to use as a delectable food topper, or mixing it with water to create nutritious gummies, bone broth is a staple in our household. And as I update this post for our new website, I’m thrilled to share my tried-and-true bone broth recipe with fellow pet parents. May it bring as much joy and nourishment to your furry friends as it does to ours. Happy brothing, furfriends—or humans, if you’d like to join in the wholesome goodness!

Benefits of Bone Broth for Dogs (and People)

Bone broth is essentially a stock crafted by simmering bones, drawing out their rich nutrients and flavors. When I first started making bone broth as a supplement for Oli, I was primarily drawn to its collagen and gelatin content, derived from the bones and connective tissue. But the benefits of bone broth extend far beyond just these components. Through slow simmering, bone broth becomes a powerhouse of essential nutrients, making it a valuable addition to any dog’s diet.

Despite its humble origins, bone broth is incredibly cost-effective to make. However, I’ll be the first to admit that the process can seem a bit unappealing—after all, it involves simmering bones for hours on end. But to our dogs, it’s nothing short of a culinary delight. The aroma alone is enough to send them into a drooling frenzy, much like the cartoon dog featured in the Dogs Naturally article on bone broth benefits. It’s a scene straight out of a comedy!

Fortunately, adapting a human bone broth recipe for our furry friends is a breeze. Simply adjust the seasonings to suit their tastes, or stick to a basic bones-only broth for simplicity and versatility. For me, there’s nothing quite like the pure and wholesome goodness of homemade bone broth.

My Method for Making Bone Broth for Dogs

Before delving into the nitty-gritty of making bone broth for dogs, let’s take a moment to rewind and revisit how this journey began. The method I currently use didn’t materialize overnight—it evolved gradually over time, through a process of experimentation and learning from experience. So, before we dive into the kitchen, let’s take a brief look back at how it all started.

If you’re eager to get started right away, feel free to skip ahead to the next section, where I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of making bone broth in your trusty crock pot.

Experiments in Bone Broth Making

When it comes to making bone broth, I’ve found that the slow cooker (affiliate link) reigns supreme in terms of convenience, size, safety, and ease of cleanup. In the early days, I used to prepare batches of bone broth on the stovetop, and while they turned out well, the long, slow simmer posed some challenges. Leaving a pot simmering unattended on the stove isn’t the safest option, especially if you’re not home or awake throughout the entire process. Plus, crafting a truly excellent bone broth requires ample time.

Moreover, I faced size limitations with the pots I had available. In an attempt to address this, my thoughtful Dogdad purchased a larger stock pot for me. However, it turned out that it wasn’t compatible with our induction stovetop—despite his good intentions! We even experimented with alternative methods, like using the burner on the barbecue to take the simmering process outdoors. While this approach was functional, the high minimum temperature and constant supervision it required made it less than ideal.

That’s why, after much trial and error, I’ve settled on the slow cooker (crock pot) as my go-to method for making bone broth. It offers the perfect combination of convenience, safety, and efficiency, allowing me to craft delicious and nutritious bone broth with minimal hassle.

Dog-Friendly Bone Broth Ingredients

When whipping up bone broth for our furry companions, I stick to a simple recipe consisting of bones, water, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. This vinegar plays a crucial role in extracting additional goodness from the bones during the simmering process. While I typically keep the broth plain at this stage to maintain versatility for various uses, there’s plenty of room for customization if you’re feeling adventurous. Below, you’ll find a list of alternative ingredients to consider for crafting your own unique bone broth blend.

Types and Sources of Bones for Broth

In New Zealand, we’re fortunate to have access to locally produced meat and bones of high quality, often sourced from free-range or pasture-fed animals. This makes it easier to find bones that are ideal for making bone broth.

In our household, we utilize both leftover bones from meals and purchased bones for our broth. Since there aren’t usually many leftover bones from cooking (especially considering I’m a vegetarian), we save bones from meals prepared by other family members or guests. These bones are stored in the freezer until we accumulate enough for a batch of broth, or we purchase additional bones to supplement what we have.

When it comes to making bone broth, I typically use a variety of bones, ranging from clean bones to semi-meaty ones obtained from the butcher. Mixing different types of bones not only adds variety in terms of flavor but also brings a diverse range of nutrients to the broth. Butchers or farmers may even provide extra cuts of bones, which is greatly appreciated.

When purchasing bones, smaller pieces are preferred as they are easier to fit into the pot and allow for faster extraction of nutrients. While some may choose to cut larger bones at home, I prefer to keep things simple and avoid the mess by purchasing bones that are already appropriately sized. Special thanks to our local butchers for their assistance in this process!

Making Bone Broth for Dogs

Dog-Friendly Bone Broth Ingredients

• For our bone broth recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
• Bones (aim for ones with plenty of joints and cartilage for maximum nutrient extraction)
• Water
• Apple cider vinegar (optional, but can aid in extracting additional nutrients from the bones)
• Check out the alternative preparation methods and additional ingredient options below for more customization ideas!

Slow Cooking Bones into Bone Broth

• Here’s how to make bone broth in your slow cooker:
• Place your bones in the slow cooker, arranging them so they’re mostly submerged in the water. You may need to adjust them as they soften during cooking.
• Add enough water to cover the bones adequately.
• Optionally, add a splash of apple cider vinegar to help extract additional nutrients from the bones.
• Set the slow cooker to high heat until the liquid reaches a gentle boiling temperature, then reduce the heat to low to simmer.
• Let the broth simmer on low heat for at least a day, preferably two if possible. Check occasionally and adjust the bones if needed.
• Optionally, you can top up the water periodically during cooking if you prefer a thinner broth.
• Skimming the surface periodically may be necessary to remove any foam or impurities, although this is less common with high-quality bones. Skim any excess fat from the surface after cooling.
• Once the broth is ready, strain it to remove any bone fragments or other solids before allowing it to cool completely.
• Once cooled, store the bone broth in suitable containers for future use.
• Enjoy your homemade bone broth, packed with nutrients for your furry friend’s health and happiness!

Bonus Bone Broth Making Tip

I prefer to prepare bone broth a couple of days prior to our scheduled rubbish collection. This timing allows the broth to finish just before the trash is collected, minimizing the storage time for the packaging, bones, and fat. This approach reduces any potential unpleasant odors and decreases the risk of the bags being accessed by roaming cats or wildlife.

Alternative Bone Broth Cooking Methods

Pre-roasting the bones : While blanching (and subsequent roasting) is often recommended for human bone broth, I’ve found it to be a messy and bothersome step. While it can enhance the flavor and color of the broth for human consumption, dogs are perfectly content with a broth that retains a meatier aroma and taste. Therefore, I typically skip this step when making bone broth for our furry friends. It’s simpler, less time-consuming, and less cleanup for both me and them.

Heat and time : The essential components for crafting a quality bone broth are the bones themselves, water, and, optionally, apple cider vinegar. While there are numerous methods to create bone broth, I’ve found the slow cooker to be most suitable for our needs. Although a pressurized option such as an InstaPot could expedite the process, it’s not a tool I currently possess. Even if I did, the size constraints might still pose challenges compared to the ample capacity of a slow cooker for preparing large batches.

Alternative Bone Broth Ingredients

Adding veggies, herbs, and other seasonings : Just like when crafting a soup stock, you have the option to include additional ingredients along with the bones. If you’re inclined, feel free to do so, especially if you plan on sharing the broth. However, ensure that any additions are safe and suitable for dogs. You can blend them into the finished broth before cooling, set them aside separately for use with meals or treats, or discard them. But why waste healthy, dog-friendly, bone broth-infused veggies? Personally, I typically stick to using only bones for two main reasons. First, I want to maximize the space in my crock pot for bones. Second, I appreciate the versatility of having plain broth to use in various ways later on. It’s all a matter of personal preference.

The controversial subject of garlic : While we intentionally avoid giving our dogs onion or garlic to err on the side of caution, opinions vary regarding garlic and dogs. If you’re a fan of garlic, it can indeed be a flavorful seasoning option for your broth. Ultimately, it’s essential to consider your dog’s specific dietary needs and any potential sensitivities before adding ingredients like garlic to their food.

Troubleshooting Your Bone Broth

Cloudy Bone Broth

Broth prepared at higher temperatures, such as my experiment with the outdoor barbecue burner, tends to be cloudier compared to slow-cooked bone broth. However, rest assured, it will still be delicious to your furry friends. Just be aware that it may be less likely to gel depending on the temperature used during preparation.

Bone Broth Doesn’t Gel

Yes, it happens sometimes. The consistency of bone broth can vary depending on factors like cooking time, the type or quantity of bones used, and the temperature. But don’t worry! Liquid broth still contains plenty of goodness and can be frozen and used just like gelatinous broth. If you’re set on achieving that jiggly consistency, you can add gelatin to firm it up or get creative and make bone broth and gelatin gummies. Personally, I’ve shifted from aiming for a firm set broth to freezing it in cubes if it doesn’t quite reach the desired consistency. Check out my methods for storing homemade bone broth below, along with some of our favorite ways to use it.