Bone broth is a great supplement to your dog’s diet. It contains a variety of amino acids which are the building blocks of protein, including arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline. It also boasts a variety of vitamins and minerals such as chondroitin, gelatin, glucosamine, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, iron, thiamine, potassium, calcium, hyaluronic acid and magnesium to name a few.
These nutrients help your dog’s body support key functions and improve his longevity, along with aiding in digestion, joint health, immune support, and add shine to their skin, coat and nails. Bone broth is particularly useful for dogs that have lost their appetite due to chemotherapy, radiation or illness. It’s high in protein, low in fat, and digests easily if mixed with a bland diet such as boiled rice.
I’m a St Bernard, so there’s no real recipe to my bone jello. Just dump the following ingredients into a big pot and boil until all the goodness comes out of the bones! Based on availability, you can make variations with chicken, pork, fish or beef. Organic bones are best!
BEEF VERSION:
5-10 lbs of beef bones (knuckles contain the most source of collagen).
Enough water to cover a big pot.
CHICKEN VERSION:
5-10 lbs of chicken backs, necks and feet.
Enough water the cover a big pot.
PORK VERSION:
5-10lbs of pork feet and pork bones.
Enough water to cover a big pot.
FISH VERSION:
3-7 lbs of fish heads and bones.
Enough water to cover a big pot.
- For all versions above, simply place the bones in a big pot and pour enough water to cover the bones.
- Let it come to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer for 3-5 hours at low heat.
- Periodically skim the fat.
- Once the liquid is milky white in color, remove all the bones. If you used fish, strain through a cheesecloth to remove any sharp bones.
- Let the liquid cool, and skim the fat off the surface. This is a very important step as excess fat can cause pancreatitis, weight gain or diarrhea.
- Place in quart or half quart size containers and refrigerate until it forms into a gel. If it didn’t form into a gel like consistency, too much water was added, but you can still feed it to your dog.
- Before feeding, remove the fat that has formed on the surface. Don’t feed the fat!
Provide the mixture to your dog as a supplement to their meal based on tolerance. As with all new food, introduce slowly in small quantities. This can be frozen for up to 6 weeks. Defrost in refrigerator, not at room temperature to prevent contamination.
General feeding guidelines:
Giant Breeds: 2-3 tablespoons per meal
Medium to Large Breeds: 1-2 tablespoons
Small to toy breeds: 1-2 teaspoons
