Chicken Broth for Dogs (Ways to Use It)
For picky eaters or dogs who require more supplemental nutrition, chicken broth is a safe and delicious way to add some yumminess and nutrients to your dog’s diet. There are a lot of benefits of chicken broth for dogs, including joint health and protection, plus you can also consider homemade chicken broth over store-bought to be sure you know exactly what’s going into your dog’s bowl. We’ll start by learning about all the advantages chicken broth can bring and even dive into some recipes!
Benefits of Chicken Broth for Dogs
Both homemade chicken broth and store-bought options can bring certain health benefits. In this section, we’re going to take a closer look at what your fur baby can experience from this delicious natural supplement.
Joint Health and Protection
Firstly, chicken broth is a type of bone broth is made with both chicken bones and cartilage, which goes towards promoting joint protection. For larger dogs, this is a huge bonus. Joint health maintenance is also good for dogs that are very active and partake in a lot of jumping and climbing. You can also find amounts of gelatin and collagen inside bone broths, so ingesting chicken broth for dogs will reduce symptoms of hip dysplasia.
Even if your dog is already showing signs of ill joint health, starting to add different chicken broths to his diet can help relieve some of the pain. Two other important substances found in chicken broth are glucosamine and chondroitin. You may be familiar with these terms if you often buy joint supplements for your dog. They are crucial to the protection and lubrication of joints, which is why chicken bone broth is such a comprehensive additive for your dog’s diet.
Not to mention, creating homemade chicken broth can save you a lot of money you would otherwise spend on pricey supplements, vitamins and minerals. It also makes good use of extra chicken bone broth that is a result of preparing whole chicken meals.
It’s Packed with Minerals and Nutrients
From the health aspect, chicken broth is full of beneficial minerals that could cost a lot to buy from the shelf. You will find traces of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and other delicious and healthy contents depending on what you add.
Your dog, especially a puppy, can really obtain a ton of benefits from these minerals that may not be featured in their daily meals.
Good for Sensitive Stomachs
If your dog consistently suffers from tummy issues, has a more easily upset stomach, or is suffering from an upset stomach, then chicken broth for dogs can be the answer. Before you take a trip to the vet’s try chicken bone broth first. We would only suggest this if your dog has mild stomach issues. If he has had loose stools or diarrhea coupled with more serious symptoms like lethargy, a lack of appetite, or a fever, then definitely pay your vet a visit.
For dogs that don’t process grains well, have allergies or just have sensitive tummies, adding some chicken broth to their diet will help relieve the issues. Not only will it soothe the discomfort at hand, but it can also protect your dog from leaky gut syndrome and strengthen its bowels.
If you have any doubt about feeding your picky or sensitive puppy bone broth, then ask your vet first. They will understand your dog’s anatomy and dietary needs more specifically and will be able to give you a more accurate suggestion.
Overall Body Maintenance
Even your dog can use a good cleanse from time to time and chicken broth is a good option for organ maintenance. It contains the amino acid glycine, which can help protect and detox essential organs such as your dog’s liver and kidneys. With consistent feeding of chicken broth for dogs, you will notice a healthier dog with more vitality.
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X Ways to Use Chicken Broth in Your Dog’s Diet
How exactly do we incorporate chicken broth in a dog’s diet? Below are some of our top suggestions that puppies and dogs alike have loved.
Frozen Doggy Treats
Since bone broth is in liquid form, it gives you plenty of room to experiment and get creative. One way our experts have found to be very effective and popular among dogs is by freezing the chicken broth into frozen treats. It can be done with ice cube trays or popsicle molds. If you have ones on-hand with cute shapes then that’s even better!
You can simply take the chicken broth and freeze them alone or add some sort of puree to the mix to thicken up the consistency so that if the treats melt, they won’t create such a huge mess. Some puree ideas we have to include pumpkin puree, which can be homemade or available at the store, and you can even consider peanut butter, which is another versatile and healthy treat.
Homemade Doggy Snacks
The next option is to use the chicken broth as an ingredient in homemade dog treats. There are plenty of recipes available online or doggy snacks you can make with peanut butter and oats for example. By adding a few drops of chicken broth into the mix will really enhance the flavor.
Food Topper
Of course, there is also the simple way of adding the chicken broth to your dog’s regular kibble diet. If you don’t have the time to make homemade treats or to make homemade food recipes, then just pouring some chicken broth onto the dog food is a simple and elegant solution.
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Chicken Broth Recipe
For dog lovers that prefer to feed their dogs homemade recipes, we have a tried and true delicious chicken broth formula that your dog won’t be able to resist! You can choose to either use a whole chicken or just parts of the chicken such as the bones and chicken feet. We have highlighted the cooking process down below in a few simple steps.
Step 1
Find a large pot, large enough to house the whole chicken, or chicken meat and bones. You can even consider adding bone marrow bones, because who said bone broth has to be from chicken? Just make sure you use human-grade ingredients for the best results. The longer you cook it, preferably overnight, the more nutrients and minerals will you will coax out of the ingredients.
You can also consider adding some green beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin to the ingredients list that will only add more to a nutritious recipe. Just make sure you have enough room to accommodate everything and to cover everything with an extra 2-3 inches of water.
Step 2
After you have found the pot in step one, fill it with all the ingredients you have chosen and fill the pot with enough water. The next step is crucial to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals from the chosen ingredients. Add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, about 3-4 depending on the number of ingredients to your formula. Adding apple cider vinegar is the best way to extract all the good stuff.
Don’t add too much, you don’t want your dog to dislike the taste. Just a few tablespoons will be enough to bring out the benefits but not alter the taste.
Step 3
To get things going, turn the heat up high for anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half. The discrepancy depends on how much you added into the broth. broth with beef marrow bones could do with a longer cooking time. When your concoction has been boiling for about an hour or so, you can turn it down to low and simmer the brew for a day.
Remember we said the more you allow the mixture to settle and boil, the more nutrients you will get out of it to address your dog’s health issues. However, you don’t want to let it go for too long and overcook some of the nutrients.
Step 4
Now after the painstaking waiting process, dow owners can now extract the bones. Don’t play into the stereotype and feed your dog bones. Cooked bones are more brittle, and since they aren’t properly treated dog-safe options, and they can get lodged in your dog’s throat and even cause internal injuries if broken and ingested.
To make sure you get all the pieces out successfully, the best way is to use a strainer. Prepare a separate pot large enough to hold the liquid and strain the contents little by little. Make sure that all that is left is the chicken broth and nothing more.
Step 5
After you have successfully strained all the remnants of bone from the chicken broth, you can now add other beneficial ingredients to your mixture. Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and even some ground beef can be great supplements to the collagen and glycine from the bones. You can also take the chance to add some vegetables such as broccoli and celery.
Chicken meat such as skinless breasts can also be great if you want to create more of a meal with this recipe than a supplement.
Step 6
The last step pertains to the storage and re-serving of the leftover chicken broth. Before you feed your latest creation to your dog, you have to make sure the broth and the items it in are not scalding hot. After adding everything you want, allow it to cool until at least room temperature before giving it to your pup. If you don’t allow it to cool, it will be harder for your dog to enjoy it.
The cooling process will also separate the fat from the broth, which you can then eliminate more easily. Trace amounts of fat can be good for your dog and be a necessary part of most dog foods, but in large amounts, it will have adverse effects on your dog’s health.
To store it, find a reliably sealed Tupperware to house the leftovers. We would always suggest a sealed container to keep the freshness of the dog broth.
You should use all of the broth within 3 days to ensure freshness. If you know your dog won’t consume it all in a few short days, then store it in your freezer where it can be kept for months.
Store-Bought Chicken Broth
For dog owners who want to pick up chicken broth from the store, look for non GMO and hopefully organic recipes.
As long as it’s from a trusted grocery store, the brand doesn’t really matter. What matters is what’s inside. For example, don’t go for chicken broth recipes that are too high in sodium. Too much of anything can be bad for your dog, and sodium is something they shouldn’t have too much of. Organic, non-GMO products are best for your puppy and definitely steer clear of anything artificial and added preservatives.
Dogs shouldn’t have onions and garlic, which are ingredients often found in broths. Read the ingredients list carefully to make sure the one you choose is exempt from these ingredients. Look for broths at your local pet store for the best bet.
If you end up feeding your dog human chicken broth, there is more of a chance it will contain harmful ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chicken broth safe for dogs?
Yes, chicken broth is safe for dogs. Not only is it safe, but it also contains a ton of benefits such as amounts of glycine and collagen, and also glucosamine and chondroitin. All of these substances help maintain your dog’s joint health and overall organ protection.
How much chicken broth can a dog have?
How much chicken broth your dog can have will vary from dog to dog. Too much of a good thing can be bad, so check your dog’s weight first. In general, you should feed your dog 1 liquid ounce of chicken broth for every 10 pounds of body weight. A dog that is 50 pounds, for example, will do well with 5 ounces in its diet. This figure is for a single serving, and your dog can be allotted 2-3 servings a day.
How do I make chicken broth for my dog?
You can make chicken broth for your dog by using dog-safe human-grade ingredients such as chicken bones, a whole chicken, or even beef bones as the base. Once those have cooked through, you can add other beneficial ingredients to your dog’s health such as sweet potatoes and pumpkin to bolster the recipe. Allow the recipe to cool before feeding it to your dog and remove the fat and bone remnants thoroughly.
Is chicken broth good for sick dogs?
Yes, chicken broth is good for sick dogs if your dog suffers from some sort of bowel issue. The broth is a great alternative for dogs who have sensitive tummies and are picky eaters. Not only will it sit well in the belly, but the broth can also help prevent issues such as leaky gut syndrome. Just be sure you prepare the ingredients right and remove most of the fat and bones from the recipe before feeding.
Is chicken stock or broth better for dogs?
Chicken broth is the better option for its nutritional benefits, while chicken stock is better as a preferred flavor additive. If your dog is just a picky eater but doesn’t really require additional supplemental nutrition, then the chicken stock is a cost-saving solution. However, if you are looking to strengthen your dog’s overall health and look after his vital organs, then chicken broth is the way to go.
Conclusion
Who knew something as simple as a chicken broth would provide so many advantages for your dog? the broth not only solves the problem of picky-eating dogs, but it also provides extra health bonuses such as added amounts of collagen and glycine to your dog’s diet. The only thing to be aware of is to follow our recommended recipe to a T, and don’t skip out on any of the steps. Strain the concoction thoroughly to make sure you have removed all the harmful bits and pieces. Allowing the formula to cool to at least room temperature will also allow you to eliminate the fat the floats to the surface.
Did You Know?
Other than chicken broth, purees are also a great addition to your puppy dog’s food and can help with digestion and even firm up loose stools. All of the potential ingredients can be prepared right in your own home.
Expert Tip
Chicken broth is a great alternative to a costly vet visit if your dog suffers from an upset stomach. Natural remedies are often preferred rather than going the prescription route.
