Bone Broth for dogs

by Jamie Shanks | Apr 17, 2016 | Dog Food Recipes | 40 comments

“A Pennyworth of broth is better than a pound of meat.”

– Old English proverb

“Good broth will resurrect the dead

– Old South American proverb

Bone broth is a immune boosting super food and ideal for getting sick pets back on their feet and for maintaining the health of an active dog.  Even sick dogs that are not eating will enjoy a bowl of broth and you can add it to their food to help them eat.

Bone broth for dogs is great as it’s packed with minerals like like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium in forms that are easily absorbed by your dog .  Rich in amino acids like glycine and proline they help maintain a healthy digestion and keeping your dog calm.  The collagen in the bones protects and heals the mucosal lining of the digestive tract aiding in the digestion of nutrients and the gelatin supports fur, skin and nail growth while helping joint pain and inflammation.  Marrow helps provide the body with materials needed for healthy blood cells and immune development. It’s perfect for flu season for dogs AND people.

It’s very cheap to make since all you need is some good marrow bones but you can also buy it, pet-ready here.

Apple Cider Vinegar

You need apple cider vinegar to help break the bones down and leach all the goodness out.  Apple cider vinegar is also great for deterring parasites, is antibacterial and antifungal, improves and conditions the coat, relieves arthritis and improves digestion.

Organic bones

You can use chicken, pork or beef bones but if possible get organic bones and with beef bones try to get grass fed.  Grass fed is higher in Omega 3’s.  It’s also higher in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic.  Grass fed is also higher in vitamin E, vitamin A, glutathione and antioxidants.  Pigs raised outdoors have a better Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio and more mono-unsaturated fat which is more resistant to high heat.

 

frozen beef bones

I bought my Instant Pot for £120 in 2016… now selling for £75 in 2025!

Click image to see it on Amazon.  Make bone broth in 4 hours rather than 24!

Cooking methods

You can really improve the health of your dog by learning how to make dog food that’s delicious, simple and healthy and bone broth is as easy as it gets.  You’ll know when the broth is ready when the bones start to soften and get crumbly/chalky.  In a pressure cooker it takes about 4 hours but you can also do it in a pot or slow cooker which will require between 8-24 hours of simmering.  Once cooked discard the bones, it’s just the broth you want. Dogs should never be fed cooked bones.

Shelf life

Broth just lasts a few days even in the fridge regardless if it’s for humans or dogs… the general rule is freeze it until it’s needed.

INGREDIENTS

1kg of bones, 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1-2 cloves of garlic (optional) But isn’t garlic bad for dogs?

METHOD

frozen beef bones

I have a kilo bag of frozen organic grass fed beef bones

 
organic beeg bones

I don’t need to thaw, I’m just gonna chuck ’em in the pot.

 
bones in pot

So add the bones to your pot or pressure cooker

 
cup of apple cider vinegar

Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to pot

 
bones in pot with water

Then fill pot to just cover the bones, I used about 3 litres

 
pressure cooker

I’m using my pressure cooker. It doesnt set to 4 hours so I will do it for 2 hours twice over. If using the stove or slow cooker then simmer between 8-24 hours – topping up with water when needed.

 
cooked bone broth

4 hours later and it’s done. Smells amazing! My dogs know something smells good!

 
sitting dog

“oh jeez… that smells so good, can I get some? I’m sitting ever so nice, I am”

 
bowl of fresh bone broth

Yummy, I add the fresh broth to a bowl and leave to cool. You can fridge it for a few days or just chuck in a freezer for whenever!

 
dog drinking bone broth

OK Flo you can have some since you’re such a good girl, yes you are!

 

How to store

Baked treats
As a general guide if meat protein is present in recipe then it will last around 3 to 5 days stored in a cool place.  If it has second class protein in it eg. cheese, lentils, eggs, etc, then they will store for about 10 days in a cool place. You can use cake tins lined with baking paper – greaseproof. If there is no meat or second class proteins present then it will last around 3 weeks before they go soft like human biscuits.

Dehydrated treats
Store treats in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark place to keep them fresh for 3-6 months. For maximum safety, I recommend freezing them, which can extend shelf life to 1-2 years – they thaw super quickly because of the low moisture. Check for mould, off smells, or slimy textures before feeding, especially with fatty meats like salmon or pork. Vacuum-sealing or popping them in the freezer is the best way to ensure they stay safe and tasty!

Buy the book!

These dog treat recipes are now available to buy in book on Amazon.   An ideal gift!
dog treat recipe book
raw pig ears

By Jamie Shanks

BDWS is owned and run by me, Jamie Shanks. I’ve been a professional dog walker since 2010. When I’m not walking dogs, I’m usually at home entertaining my three dogs and attending to five hens and my vegetable garden. 

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6 Comments

  1. Victoria

    Thanks, these are great! I was wondering if freezing raw chicken or raw salmon (I heard there is a bacteria in it that is deadly to dogs) is not dangerous?

    Reply
  2. Paul Basford

    I tried this recipe with 800grams of liver. Took ages longer to dry (fair buff there was more of it).
    BUT it totally crumbles t after it’s been in my treat bag for 5 minutes, making it useless.
    Did I do something wrong?

    Reply
  3. Peaches

    I have always been told by vets that garlic should never be given to dogs. So is there something better to substitute?

    Reply
    • Jamie Shanks

      just dont add it if you dont want it, doesnt need a substitute.

    • Annie Alexander

      Oh, wow, this is an amazing article!

      My dog loves dried fruit – banana, apple, and a bit of apricot, pineapple – and is obsessed with dried sweet potato, but they are all becoming very expensive in the UK. Do you have recommendations for how long to dehydrate these non-meat products?

      My dog really loves dried banana that is still a bit chewy. Only one place sells it and it is £4.20 or so for 100g. I’ve never tried dehydrating anything but would it be easy to get the banana to that chewy stage rather than becoming the hard, brittle, banana chip that is usually what goes for dried banana?

      Any tips for dehydrating sweet potato?

      I only have the dehydration function on an air fryer, and an air fryer oven: do you have any tips on ensuring fruit and veg doesn’t stick to the tray (or is this not an issue with dehydration?).

      Do you recommend specific cuts of beef? I don’t eat beef myself so I’m clueless on what the different ones are.

      Thanks for the ideas. Everything is getting ludicrously expensive and I would rather work out how to give my pup her favourites with dehydrating fruit, veg, and meat, than having to cut back. I came here looking for a biltong recipe and found so many other ideas!

  4. susan anita kirk

    What is the quantity of couscous in your fish recipe please anita

    Reply

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