Bone broth is a nourishing, nutrient-dense addition to a dog or cat’s diet that offers benefits well beyond simple hydration. Made by slowly simmering animal bones, connective tissues, and cartilage, it’s packed with easily absorbed minerals, natural collagen, and amino acids that support gut health, joint mobility, immune function, and overall vitality. Gentle on the digestive system and highly palatable, bone broth can be especially helpful for picky eaters, aging pets, or those recovering from illness or stress.
Always choose a pet-safe bone broth with no onions, garlic, added salt or artificial flavorings.
Most bone broths at grocery stores have preservatives, onions, garlic and salt. These are not appropriate for your pets. See our recommendations instead.
You can make your own bone broth at home using raw or gently cooked bones, apple cider vinegar (to draw out the minerals) and slow simmering. You can also purchase premade good brands (see our recommendations).
Bone broth has become very popular in the holistic pet nutrition space because it provides a combination of hydration, nutrients, and gut-supportive compounds that are gentle on the digestive system. Here’s a full breakdown of the benefits for pets:
1. Joint and Bone Health
2. Digestive and Gut Support
3. Hydration and Appetite Stimulation
4. Immune System Support
5. Skin, Coat, and Nail Health
6. Liver Detoxification
7. Gentle Nutritional Support for Sick or Senior Pets
Things to Keep in Mind
From The Forever Dog Book by Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib
Ingredients
Instructions
Cover chicken (or leftover carcass or raw soup bones of your choice) with pure filtered water and add ingredients. Cover and simmer 4 hours. Turn off stove. Add 4 decaf tea bags, if desired. Steep tea in broth for 10 minutes, then discard the bags. Remove any remaining meat from bones and discard bones. Puree remaining meat, veggies and liquid until it’s a smooth, gravy consistency. Cool, then freeze in individual portions (ice cube trays work well). Remove a portion and let thaw in room temperature or reheat to warm the broth prior to adding it to your pets food.
Feed one cube or 2 Tbl per 10 lbs of body weight.
“Bone Broth For Pets: An Easy Recipe That Packs a Nutrioius Punch” by The Adored Beast Team
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “How to Make Bone Broth for Your Pets.”
“Dr. Becker Demonstrates How to Make A Bone Broth.”
Yes, bone broth is generally safe for both dogs and cats when it is made specifically for pets or prepared at home using pet-safe ingredients. Avoid bone broths containing onions, garlic, excessive salt, artificial flavorings, or preservatives, as these can be harmful to pets.
The amount depends on your pet’s size and diet. As a general guideline, small pets may benefit from 1–2 tablespoons daily, while medium and large dogs can enjoy several tablespoons to up to ¼ cup or more. Bone broth should be used as a nutritious topper or supplement rather than a complete meal replacement.
Bone broth provides hydration and contains naturally occurring collagen, amino acids, and minerals that may support joint health, digestive function, skin and coat health, and overall wellness. Many pet parents also use bone broth to encourage picky eaters to eat or to add moisture and flavor to meals.
Note: Be careful feeding bone broth to dog with mast cell tumors and seizures since it’s high histamine and can make things worse. You can lower the histamine instead by only cooking for 2-3 hours.
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