Homemade Chicken Bone Broth for Dogs

As pet owners, we always want what’s best for our furry friends. One way to help support their overall health is by incorporating homemade chicken broth into their diet. Chicken bone broth is packed with essential nutrients, amino acids, and health benefits that can aid in easing an upset stomach, soothing a leaky gut, and improving overall nutrition.

Homemade chicken bone broth for dogs is fun to make, and rather easy. You know what’s in the broth — there are no preservatives and other additives like in the store-bought chicken broths, plus you can create a signature delicious broth with organic ingredients that is truly made from your heart.

Homemade chicken broth is the foundation of any delicious treat made in your kitchen. What’s more, a chicken bone broth know-how adds to your cooking experience.

This cooking tutorial of a dog-safe broth will show you how to make a basic chicken broth for your dog. Almost any kind of herb and root vegetable can be used as key ingredient. Once you’ve learned the techniques, you can then add other ingredients to the recipe, such as vegetables, herbs and seasonings to build your own. Save money by making your own bone broth at home.

Please note: if your dog shows sensitivity or an allergy to chicken, DO NOT feed this recipe to your dog. Also, while some vegetables can promote good health, other vegetables are toxic to dogs. These include onions, garlic and broccoli, as well as fruits like grapes and tomatoes. Avoid using any of these ingredients in your broth.

Instructions For This Simple Bone Broth Recipe

Gather and prepare these items for the homemade chicken broth recipe:

 Your choice of 6 pounds hen (whole or cut up), chicken parts [e.g. leftover from cooking/scrap or meal, (or liver, gizzard, heart),… etc.], or meaty bones (i.e. backbones, neck, ribs)

Some stores sell chicken feet, any kind of bones, backs and necks in package that can be used in such recipe. Ask the butcher if you are desperate and don’t have bones needed to make a chicken broth. Sometimes these bones packed with important nutrients are given out free of charge.

Ingredients

Water, enough to cover chicken by at least 2″ in pot

1 sprig fresh thyme

4 parsley stems

6 whole peppercorns

 1 celery stalk with leaves, coarsely chopped

 1 large carrot, peeled, roots removed, and sliced into large pieces

Salt, to taste but a small amount

 How to make chicken bone broth for dogs

1. Put chicken (parts) in a large pot and cover with water by at least 2″. Add more water, if desired.
2. Bring the water to boil over medium heat; slow boil. Skim and discard any foam/scum that rises to the surface when water is boiling.
3. Turn heat down to simmer. Cover, and simmer chicken for at least 2 hours or until no more foam is present. Skim foam time to time during the 2 hour simmering process.
4. Add the remaining ingredients. Cover, simmer for 60 minutes; 90 minutes for a full flavor. Let broth cool to room temperature.
5. Strain chicken broth through a sieve over another pot or large bowl. Discard the flavoring ingredients.
6. Use chicken broth within one week. Else, freeze in ice cube tray or freezer-proof container. Frozen broth is good up to one year; remember to label it so you know when to finish before it expire.

Tips

Try using an older hen (5 to 7 pounds) for the broth recipe. An older bird has had time to develop that ‘chicken’ flavor.

Once your homemade chicken bone broth is ready, it’s time to portion it out. Pour the broth made with chicken bones into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.

These frozen cubes of homemade bone broth can be added to your dog’s meals, or given as a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. They’re also a great way to keep the broth fresh for longer as you can defrost only the amount you need.

Benefits Of Bone Broth

The health benefits of homemade bone broth are significant. It is an excellent source of amino acids, which are essential building blocks of proteins and play a vital role in supporting your dog’s overall health. Chicken bone broth also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are beneficial in supporting your dogís joints.

Another incredible health benefit of chicken bone broth is its ability to support a healthy gut. The broth’s gelatin content aids in restoring the gut lining and can help alleviate symptoms of leaky gut syndrome. The nutrients in the broth can also help soothe an upset stomach.

Incorporating homemade chicken bone broth into your pet’s diet is a great idea for several reasons. Unlike store-bought chicken stock that often contains additives and preservatives, homemade bone broth is natural and free from any harmful ingredients. You have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring that your dog gets the best possible nutrition.

Homemade chicken bone broth is a simple yet effective way to improve your pet’s overall health. With the help of a slow cooker and a few ingredients, you can create a nutrient-rich elixir that can aid in improving your dog’s digestion, joint health, and overall nutrition. By adding homemade bone broth to your dog’s food, you’re taking a proactive approach to their health and giving them the best chance at a happy and healthy life.

What Vegetables Can I Put In A Homemade Chicken Broth For Dogs?

Homemade chicken broth can make a wonderful treat for dogs, but if you want to add vegetables to the mix, you will need to use some caution. Some vegetables can make excellent additions to the canine diet, but others can become toxic in a dog’s digestive tract. Make sure to add the right vegetables from your local grocery store before feeding the broth to your beloved dog.

Leafy Greens Are A Good Option

Leafy greens like cabbage, lettuce, collard greens and spinach are safe for dogs as well as nutritionally beneficial. They contain essential vitamins, protein, calcium, fiber and antioxidants. Chop up leafy greens before placing them in a chicken broth, so that the dog can easily consume, swallow and digest the pieces. As the vegetables dissolve, they will also enhance the flavor of the broth.

Peas Also A Great Option

Peas make another safe and healthy addition to the broth. Veterinarian David McCluggage recommends adding peas to a dog’s diet as a way of promoting a healthy lifestyle. You can use fresh or frozen peas, but use them sparingly. Giving your dog too large a serving of vegetables (even healthy vegetables) may result in diarrhea.

Carrots Are A Good Addition

Veterinarians like James Glover of Pet People’s Place and David McCluggage of WellVet encourage the occasional addition of carrots into a dog’s diet. As with any vegetable, you should feed them to your dog in moderation, but a diced carrot can make an excellent addition to the broth, particularly when added with peas. In addition to the nutritional benefits, carrots promote strong teeth and digestive problems in dogs.

Sweet Potatoes Are The Better Option

Sweet potatoes can complement the broth as well, but you must cook them first and include only a small serving at a time. Sweet potatoes contain complex carbohydrates, beta carotene, vitamins and protein, and present absolutely no health risks to dogs when served in moderation.

Vegetables To Avoid

While some vegetables can promote good health, other vegetables are toxic to dogs. These include onions, garlic and broccoli, as well as fruits like grapes and tomatoes. Avoid using any of these ingredients in your broth.