Is it okay to put chicken broth on dry dog food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Boiling it Down: Adding Broth to Your Pets Meals

Should I add broth to my pets meals?

Though not necessary for most pets, incorporating a broth into the diet can be a way to provide added moisture to pets that need it or as a low calorie treat. For starters, especially pets that need to watch their total calorie intake, diluting a small amount of broth with water and freezing it into a Kong toy or ice-cube tray can add variety to your pets diet without adding many calories. Broth can also sometimes help entice a picky pet to eat. However, it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian to make sure there is no underlying medical condition causing your pet to lose its appetite. Broth can also be a great way to add moisture to your pets food in some cases such as pets with a history of urinary stones.

Regardless of the reason, it is important to make sure that adding broth wont interfere with special diets. For example, if your pet is on a strict diet due to allergies, or a special formula to reduce bladder stones, adding broth may prevent these diets from working therapeutically.

What product should I use?

While there are many commercial broth products, it is important to look at the ingredients list closely. Even low sodium-branded broths may be too high in sodium levels, so using commercial broth is not recommended in pets with medical conditions. Also be sure to check for other ingredients in commercial broths that may be yummy to us but are toxic to pets! Onions or garlic, especially in a concentrated form like powders, can cause vomiting and the breakdown of healthy red blood cells which can make pets very ill, so its safest to avoid any products with these ingredients.

Can I make my own?

Since commercial broths can vary so widely and often have undesirable or even unsafe ingredients, its generally lowest risk to make your own broth at home. The safest recipe is boiling unseasoned meat or vegetables in plain water to form a basic broth. However, because there is no way to determine the nutrient profile of your homemade broth, owners should always consult their veterinarian to make sure the ingredients you use are not harmful for your pet.

Take-Away: Adding broth to your pets food can be a tasty, low calorie addition to your pets diet. But as with any diet change, it is always important to consult your veterinarian first!

Written in conjunction with veterinary student, Rachel Hanford.

Dr. Deborah Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, is the head of the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals and has had articles appear in Eating Well, the Boston Globe, AARP, SHAPE, and XM Sirius Radio Doctor Channel. She has spoken at national and international conferences and a Capitol Hillbriefing, and is an expert in pet obesity, nutrition communication, and in the human-animal bond.

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Can Dogs Eat Chicken Broth? Is Chicken Broth Safe For Dogs?

Can dogs eat chicken broth? You might have wondered this if your dog tries to sneak a taste while youre cooking up a batch of chicken broth for your own culinary projects. If humans can eat chicken broth, can dogs safely eat it too?

The short answer is yes, dogs can eat chicken broth. Feeding chicken broth to dogs brings with it a number of health benefits. You can also pep up your dogs regular meal times by adding a little chicken broth to any dog food you serve your pooch.

Just make sure that the chicken broth you use or make does not have any extra ingredients like salt, garlic and onions added to it.

As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your beloved pooch, including chicken broth. Heres what you need to know about chicken broth and dogs.

How Is Chicken Broth Good For Dogs?

Chicken broth can be a good addition to your dogs diet. It has an amount of the amino acid glycine in it that can have a positive effect on a canines liver and kidneys. Chicken broth also has collagen in it, which can be beneficial for a dogs joints.

Beyond its nutritional benefits, chicken broth can also tempt a dog to continue eating a meal that they might seem reluctant to finish up. It can also entice a dog who might have issues when it comes to eating dry food. Just add a small dash of chicken broth to the existing food!

How Can I Safely Give Chicken Broth To My Dog?

(Picture Credit: Andrey Zhuravlev/Getty Images)

The most important part about feeding chicken broth to your dog is to make sure that you do not serve it up with any added ingredients that might make it harmful or toxic to your dog.

For this reason, its best to avoid store bought brands because they often contain extra sodium, spices, garlic, or onions all ingredients you want to avoid giving to your dog.

If you have the time, simmer your own chicken broth using just the bones and meat of a chicken. Resist the habit of adding extra flavorings and sodium, like you might if you were making broth for your own cooking uses.

Make sure to always let chicken broth completely cool before serving it to your dog. Also, consult with your veterinarian about the exact safe and healthy amounts of chicken broth you can serve to your individual dog.

Does your dog enjoy chicken broth as part of their regular meals? Do they ever get some as a tasty snack? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!

8 Reasons Bone Broth is the Superfood Your Pup Needs

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When you were a child and you caught a cold or had a stomachache, did someone who cared for you serve you a bowl of soothing and nourishing chicken soup? Bone broth is the dog-safe substitute for chicken soup you can safely serve your dog when they are sick and even as a preventative measure when they are well.

Is Bone Broth Safe for Dogs?

Bone broth is a stock liquid made from slowly cooking animal bones at low heat for an extended period. Bones contain an abundance of minerals and vitamins, so bone broth is a safe way to get the nutrients to your dogunlike giving your dog cooked bones, which can be dangerous and can get lodged in their throats.

When choosing a bone broth for your dog, you need to look for ones with natural, dog-safe ingredients. Some may contain additives for preservation and taste, such as onions, garlic, or salt.

The safest, simplest, and most economical solution is to buy a quality dog food specifically formulated with fresh bone broth, like what you will find in A Pup Aboves four new fresh frozen recipes. Top pet food scientists and vet nutritionists developed A Pup Aboves recipes to make the healthiest dog food possible. All you have to do is defrost the food and serve it to your pup.

The inspiration to upgrade A Pup Aboves food to include bone broth came from our own pup, Lola, a 16-pound Pomeranian-Husky mix, says Ruth Marriott, co-founder of A Pup Above. She loves when we add bone broth to her bowl, but it was a pain to buy it separately. Our bone broth was always spoiling before she could get through it all.

Marriot notes that even the shelf-stable broths needed to be consumed within seven days, which was far too short for the small dog. By adding bone broth to the A Pup Above recipes, it made it so much easier for us to incorporate this superfood into pups diets on a daily basis, she says.

Benefits of Bone Broth

Responsible dog owners are always in search of ways to add extra nutrition to their dogs diets and keep them healthy. Bone broth for dogs is a nutrient-packed supplement that has a variety of benefits when included in a complete and balanced diet.

1. Liver Detoxification

Many dogs act like living garbage compactors. Theyll gobble up any smelly treat they can find, including some toxic substances. Its up to their liver to break down these toxins and keep them healthy. Bone broth supports liver health by providing high amounts of amino acids, such as glycine, that can help remove toxins that build up in the dogs body.

2. Immune System Boost

Bone broth contains a wide range of essential nutrients that enhance your dogs immune systems ability to fight diseases and hypersensitive reactions.If your pet is sick, bone broth helps them bounce back to good health. Its also an excellent meal for dogs who require a break from solid food when they have stomach upset or diarrhea.

3. Maintain Healthy Skin and Coat

Collagen is a protein found in your dogs skin and coat. Your dogs body will produce collagen, but this production may drop off as they get older. Bones naturally contain plenty of collagen, so including bone broth in your dogs diet will help him maintain youthful, healthy skin and coat to protect your dog from harsh elements in the environment.

4. Support Strong Joints

Glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin occur naturally in bone broth and are vital in strengthening and repairing joints. The collagen in bone broth also contributes to the health and stability of your dogs joints. Bone broth wont cure joint problems without other treatments, however, so you should also contact your vet for additional solutions.

5. Improve Digestive Health

If your dog has a condition called leaky gut syndrome, where small fissures develop in the gut lining, it may result in nutritional deficiencies, as well as allow substances such as yeast, toxins, and undigested food particles to leak out of the gastrointestinal system. A leaky gut can also cause food sensitivities and allergies. Adding bone broth to a dogs diet can satisfy those needed nutrients and help improve digestive health.

6. A Source of Essential Minerals

Bone broth is packed with much-needed minerals for canine nutrition. These minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus, play a crucial role in the nervous system, heart health, muscle contractions, sleep, and hydration of your dog.

7. Fight Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can cause severe diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, some types of cancer, and canine dementia. Bone broth contains amino acids, including glycine and arginine, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Adding bone broth to your dogs diet can help lower inflammation and prevent these chronic diseases.

8. Enhances Hydration and Appetite

If your dog has an upset stomach or diarrhea, he may become dehydrated. Bone broth is a flavorful liquid that can hydrate and nourish him. Senior dogs sometimes lose interest in eating, and bone broth-enhanced food like those from A Pup Above may stimulate their appetite. Dogs that are sensitive to certain foods may be able to tolerate bone broth since it is low in allergens.

Let the Experts Do It

Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, reminds pet owners that while bone broth is full of healthy bone marrow, cooked bones themselves are incredibly dangerous for dogs. Save yourself a trip to the emergency room and make sure no small bones escaped your notice.

Or better yet, stick with a quality, balanced dog food that already incorporates bone broth from A Pup Abovea company determined to make it easy to know whats in your dogs bowl.

The bone broth in our recipes is gently simmered for 10-plus hours, providing a nice flavor boost in addition to numerous health benefits, Marriott explains. We use the bones leftover from the meat that is used to make our fresh food to produce our bone broth, resulting in less waste and more of a nose-to-tail approach to making the food.

Exclusive for AKC readers: Get $50 Off your 1st order with code AKC50.

A Pup Above was founded by pet parents Ruth and Javier Marriott and their pup, Lola Marie Marriott. Ruth and Javier were tired of not knowing what was in Lolas bowl and Lola was tired of not liking anything they put in her bowl! Together, they created A Pup Above, a food thats delicious, nutritious, and fully transparent, from farm to bowl. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, A Pup Above specializes in its unique sous-vide cooking method, which gives the food more flavor, more nutrients, more healthy protein, and higher moisture. A Pup Above can be found nationwide at independent pet retailers.