Does your dog experience sore joints, digestive problems, or does its skin or coat appear unhealthy? You can consider including bone broth in your dog’s diet. Bone broth is an affordable, nutrient-rich superfood that can boost your dog’s health. 

What is Bone Broth?

Bone broth is a stock liquid made from slow cooking animal bones at low heat for an extended period of time. You’ll recognize “stock” from the grocery store, where it is commercially made for human consumption. However, the bone broths you find in grocery stores are very different from homemade bone broth - commercial stock is cooked at a much higher heat and for a shorter period of time, and may contain additives for preservation and taste. 

If you’re looking to reap bone broth benefits (for yourself or your dog!), we recommend making bone broth yourself, or choosing bone broth recipes that are made in small batches by transparent manufacturers. You can even find dog foods specifically formulated with fresh bone broth, which simplifies the process even more - we’re cooking up some at A Pup Above.

But what are these purported benefits of bone broth for dogs? Let’s dig in.

Liver Detoxification

No matter how hard you try to stop your dog from ingesting anything they find along their way, they can swallow some toxic substances. Such substances end up in your canine's liver for detoxification. The liver has the enormous task of breaking down these toxins. 

Bone broth supports liver health by providing high amounts of amino acids, such as glycine, that do excellent work to remove toxins that build up in the dog’s body. 

Immune Booster

Bone broth is therapeutic because it has a wide range of essential nutrients that boost your dog’s immune system and promote healing. The nutrients in bone broths enhance the dog’s immune system’s ability to fight diseases and hypersensitive reactions. 

If your favorite pet is ailing, bone broth helps them bounce back to good health. It’s also an excellent food for pets that require a break from solid food, such as pets experiencing stomach upset or awful bouts of diarrhea. 

Enhances Skin/Coat Health

The gelatin and collagen in bone broth help your pet maintain a youthful, healthy-looking skin/coat. Healthy skin protects your dog from a wide range of harsh elements in the environment. Also, bone broth has collagen, which aids in skin, joints, and fur repair. 

Supports Healthy Joints

Glucosamine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in bone broth. Glucosamine works to support joint health by stimulating cells to produce collagen around connective tissues like tendons and ligaments.

In addition, broth has high amounts of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin; these substances are vital in strengthening and repairing joints. If your dog’s meals include healthy bone broth, your pooch will have a better chance of having long-lasting joint health and limited bone problems such as joint pain and arthritis. 

Promotes Gut Health

The intestinal lining in the gut is permeable and allows the digested nutrients to enter the body. Some conditions such as bacterial growth, stress, and poor diet can increase gut permeability, leading to a condition known as a "leaky gut." Such a condition allows toxins and bacteria to leak through the intestinal walls of your dog’s digestive system.

When your dog has a leaky gut, substances that should not get into their body find their way, causing more problems. These substances include yeast, toxins, and undigested food particles. A leaky gut can cause food sensitivities and allergies. Adding bone broth to a dog’s diet can help improve digestive health. 

Excellent Source of Essential Minerals

Bone broth is nutrient-dense and is packed with much-needed minerals for canine nutrition. These minerals include magnesium, calcium, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus. The minerals provide a nutritional boost for your dog, as they play a crucial role in the nervous system, heart health, muscle contractions, sleep, and hydration. 

May Fight Inflammation

Amino acids such as arginine and glycine, found in bone broth, can help counter inflammation. For instance, arginine plays an essential role in fighting chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can cause severe diseases like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, different types of cancers, and canine dementia. Adding bone broth in your dog’s diet can help lower inflammation and prevent these chronic diseases. 

Hydrating

Your dog may need more fluids in certain cases, like when they are experiencing stomach upsets, diarrhea, or heatstroke. Bone broth for dogs is a flavorful, tasty liquid that can help hydrate your best friend. Also, it has many nutrients and other substances that support digestion and gut health and help make your dog feel better overall. 

Bone Broth Is Nutritious and Delicious

Are you in search of a better way to add extra nutrition to your pet's diet? Bone broth for dogs is a nutrient-packed alternative that can serve this purpose. Now that you know some of the benefits of bone broth, consider including it into your pet’s meals. Ensure all the ingredients are dog-friendly, and introduce the broth in small quantities to prevent stomach upset.