Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bone Broth? (Solved & Explained!)

When you’re sick, sometimes all you want is a warm bowl of chicken bone broth. For us, it can help soothe our stomachs and give us some nutrients when we can’t seem to eat anything else. Our pets get sick too, so you may wonder if dogs can have chicken bone broth.

Yes, dogs can have chicken bone broth, and it is recommended by some veterinarians for certain situations. However, not all bone broth is created equally, and you need to be aware of the ingredients in it before giving it to your pup. 

Together, we’ll explore the safe way to give your dog chicken bone broth and some of the benefits and drawbacks of adding it to their diet.

What is chicken bone broth?

Chicken bone broth is a simple soup that utilizes the bones from a chicken to add flavor to the water while it simmers. When the broth is done simmering, after an extended period of time, the bones are removed, and only the flavorful broth is left over.

Chicken bone broth can be made at home very easily, or you can find it in stores in liquid or powdered form. The nutrients derived from simmering the bones for hours are plentiful and are a great addition to your dog’s diet. 

When purchasing bone broth, you need to be careful to ensure it is safe for your dog to consume. We will explore more of the risks associated with bone broth a little later on. 

Benefits of Chicken Bone Broth

As stated before, there are numerous nutrients that come from chicken bones when boiled in water to make broth. The health benefits for your dog are endless and can help increase the longevity of your dog’s life. 

There are nutrients in bone broth that can help to support strong joints. They are Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Hyaluronic acid. This is helpful for all canines, but it is especially important for older dogs with deteriorating joints.  

Glycine, also found in bone broth, contains anti-inflammatory properties. This can be great for maintaining the gut health of your dog. It can help to repair damaged tissue in your dog’s digestive system. 

In addition to the vital nutrients mentioned above, bone broth contains collagen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, and other nutrients, all of which can help to support immune function, heart health, muscle viability, and more.  

Another great benefit of adding chicken bone broth to your dog’s meals is that it can help promote an appetite when your dog is not showing interest in his or her food. 

If your pet is lacking an appetite, many vets recommend adding a bit to the top of your dog’s food bowl at mealtime to encourage your dog to eat. Most dogs really love the smell and flavor of chicken, so they will likely finish their meal happily. 

Risks of Chicken Bone Broth

Although chicken bone broth is super flavorful and full of health benefits for your dog, there are a few risks associated with giving it to your pet. 

The main risk of feeding chicken bone broth to your pet is the risk of dangerous ingredients included in store-bought broths. That is why it is recommended if you are going to give broth to your dog that you make it yourself at home. This way, you have complete control of everything that goes into it. 

Store-bought broths that are not specifically listed as being made for dogs can contain ingredients such as onions and garlic, which are both harmful to your furry friend. You can always ask your vet for pet-safe recommendations. 

Given too much bone broth, dogs can also develop diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and lack of appetite. If you’re adding broth to their meals, be sure it is just a little, and don’t oversaturate each meal you give them.

Giving dogs too much chicken broth can also have the negative side effect of them developing a distaste for any food without the broth on it. Bone broth is great as a supplement to meals, not as a meal replacement, so it is important that you maintain your dog’s normal daily diet, ensuring they get adequate nutrition.

Fun Ways to Give Your Dog Chicken Bone Broth

There are more ways to incorporate chicken bone broth into your dog’s diet if you don’t want to add it to their daily meals. You can make giving it to them more of a treat.

Making dog treats with chicken bone broth as the main ingredient is a fun way to add it to their diet. There are plenty of recipes online that explain exactly how to make some safely with different ingredients. 

The size of treat you make will depend on the size of your dog, as you don’t want your little dog getting an overabundance of bone broth.

Another great idea to give your furry friends an exciting treat is to freeze the bone broth, either on its own or with some other healthy foods, and let them lick it on a hot day. You can even freeze the bone broth into a freezable chew toy as an added bonus.

Finally, for their birthday or another special day, you can make them a dog cake or cupcake and incorporate chicken bone broth that way. Some pet stores have cakes pre-made for special occasions, but they are super simple to replicate at home.

Conclusion

Dogs are a man’s best friend, and pet owners typically want to reward them for being so loyal and loving. Chicken bone broth is an excellent way to show our dogs that they are special and give them a little extra treat during the day.

Besides being an amazing treat for our dogs, chicken bone broth is also packed full of nutrients that keep them healthy and strong and, if given to them correctly, can be a great addition to their meal times.

It is definitely safe and sometimes recommended to give broth to your dog. You can bet that they’ll thank you with extra love!