Homemade Broth for Dogs, Cats - Bone, Chicken, Meat or Vegetable Broth

Bone broth made for my own Dogs and Cats -
This batch of broth is made with healthy herbs for dogs and cats.

In this Article:

1.0 The importance of ensuring your dog and cat have adequate moisture intake with their
      food;
      1.1 Daily Digestive Health
      1.2 Treatment of Arthritis and Cancer
      1.3 Restorative Digestive Health
      1.3.Recovery From Injury or Poor Appetite
      1.4 Renal Health 
      1.5 Dental Health
2.0 Recipe for Chicken, Meat or Vegetable Broth
3.0 Recipe for Bone Broth
4.0 Recipe for Smoothie 

My Cat 'Tibby' with my Boxer x 'Robbie'

1.0 Moisture Intake With Food - supporting good health for dogs and cats

My Pomeranian' Zoey', my GSD x Malamute 'Jordie',
my Sheltie x Pomeranian 'Stevie and my Chihuahua 'Carmen'

Regardless of whether you are feeding:

• Dry food;
• Homemade cooked and fresh food, or;
• Raw food...

Increased moisture is of great benefit to your companion animal’s overall health.

Dry food (kibble, cookies, etc.) is formulated in direct contradiction to a dog’s and cat’s natural diet (species appropriate diet). A species appropriate diet for a dog and cat is high in moisture content as fresh meat represented the major portion of the diet, with fat next and then carbohydrates.

1.1 Daily Digestive Health

During the digestive process dry food actually steals moisture from the digestive system and can cause clinical dehydration – particularly in dogs and cats that drink very little water or other fluids directly before or just after their meal. 

1.2 Prevention, Treatment of Arthritis, Cancer


Bone broth made from organic grass fed animal bones is a good source of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) a form of naturally occurring sulfur that is present in all vertebrates. Dogs with cancer (humans as well) are often found to be deficient in sulfur. Sulfur performs multiple actions that make it difficult for cancer and inflammation to spread...

Anti-inflammatory:

• MSM protects against oxidative stress by supporting the bodies ability to produce glutathione. 
• Glutathione is one of the most important antioxidants produced naturally by the body. 
• Glutathione cannot be produced without sulfur.
• MSM is used to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.

Nutrient Absorption, Detoxification, Oxygenation:

• Sulfur improves cell-wall permeability which supports the movement of:
• Nutrients into cells, and; 
• The transfer of waste product and toxins out of cell.
• Sulfur helps to oxygenate the blood.

Cancer Inhibitor:

Sulfur:

• Strengthens collagen an amino acid that gives strength to many structures in the body (i.e. bone, connective tissue, skeletal muscles, etc.);
• Healthy collagen:
• Helps to hamper the spread of cancer and may even turn malignant tumors into benign tumors.
• Helps to repair the damage from chemotherapy.
• Helps to re-balance the body's pH level from acidic to alkaline - cancer and other diseases thrive in an acidic environment.
• Most dogs, cats and people that are suffering from cancer have an acidified body pH level.

  

1.3 For Restorative Digestive Health 

Diarrhea

If your dog or cat has just experienced a bout of diarrhea and you have fasted him/her for a day  and you want to start re-introducing food to his/her diet - you can start by offering your dog or cat a bowl of  bone broth. Bone broth when made properly is rich in nutrients and easy on the digestive system.

Leak-Gut Syndrome
If your dog or cat has leaky-gut syndrome bone broth can help with cell repair. Bone broth contains substances that are important for intestinal cell health - these substances include:
- Collagen;
- Gelatin;
- Glycine, and;
- Proline.

1.4 For Recovery From Injury or a Poor Appetite

If your dog or cat has just had surgery or a oral injury, is older and has a suppressed appetite   bone broth can be added to the daily diet to help deliver needed nutrients.

1.5 For Renal Health kidneys and ureters, bladder and urethra

Dry food is very hard a dog’s and cat’s elimination system - particularly the kidneys, liver and bladder. The kidney, bladder and liver rely in the presence of moisture to flush unwanted substances out of the body – excess minerals, toxins etc. When moisture is in short supply the organs cannot function efficiently. This can…

• Contribute to toxic loading.
• Contribute to the formation of fatty lipomas.
• Create the perfect breeding ground for urinary tract infections.
• Enable the formation of crystals and stones in the bladder and kidney, and;
• Create a host of other health issues.

1.6 Dental Health

Although dry food is promoted as being great for dental health – dry food can actually promote dental problems such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. In the absence of moisture particles of food remain on the dog’s or cat’s teeth. With insufficient moisture to flush the particles away – bacteria forms, then plaque. You inadvertently create dental issues for your companion animal. It is important to note that most commercial dental bones contain species inappropriate ingredients, toxins and carcinogens.

You can further increase the dental health benefit by adding Ceylon cinnamon as noted further below. 

By hydrating your companion animal’s food you support dental, digestive and eliminatory health.

2.0 Recipe for Chicken, Meat or Vegetable
      Broth with...
        Healthful, Safe Herbs and Spice For Dogs and Cats

 

I make a big batch (I have ten dogs) and then store the resulting broth in glass jars in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer.

• This recipe can be made with a stock pot (slow cooker) and simmered on a stove burner or with a crock pot. 
• If you want to maximize the nutritional value and healing qualities of the broth use meat from grass-fed organically raised animals...

If You Can Afford To - Go Organic...

Of course as with all food stuff – using organic ingredients is better than non-organic.  So if you can afford to use organic ingredients. Many people don’t realize that if the source of the meat fed to their companion animal is from a non-organic, non-free range farm the meat can, overtime cause very serious health issues for their dog or cat.

  

Meat derived from animals from concentrated animal feeding operations – CAFO raised animals (i.e. large factory farms) contains high levels of antibiotics, steroids and if you reside in the USA – growth hormones. These animals are also fed genetically modified corn – a health threatening food stuff all on its own. All of these health threatening substances are ingested by your dog and cat when they eat the meat from factory farm raised animals.

• Take a piece of chicken i.e. (a leg with back attached) or beef bone with meat attached (or other meat bone as desired) put in a pot of water;
• Add:
• The following herbs are optional:
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped sage.
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped basil.
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped rosemary (not for dogs prone to seizure, not for Shetland sheep dogs (Shelties); not for flat or smooth coat collies.
• You can toss in a few carrots and or parsnips if you want to;
• Simmer on a low heat;
• When chicken is cooked:
• Remove chicken and carrots/parsnips from the pot;
• Leave the herbs in the liquid;
• Leave the fat in the liquid – do not skim it off;
• Allow the meat and veggies to cool for a few minutes, then;
• Remove the bones from the meat and cut the meat and vegetables into small pieces;
• You can then either give the cut-up cooked meat and vegetables to your dog as an additional treat or add the meat and veggies back to the stock.
• Pour broth into glass jars and store in the refrigerator. 

If you just want to make a vegetable broth skip the meat use the herbs and add some of the following vegetables to the water in the pot...

• Carrots.
• Parsnips.
• Turnips.
• Rutabaga.
• Mushrooms. 

Bone Broth Serving Suggestions

Broth can be served 1x to 3x per day.

If you are fasting your dog, give broth during the fasting period.

X-Small Dogs and Cats - 1 tbs to 1/8 cup
Small Dogs and Cats – 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup
Medium size dogs – ¼ cup to 1/2 cup
Large dogs – 1/2 to 1 cup

X-Large dogs - 1 cup to 2 cups

Boost The Dental and Digestive Benefits...

Sprinkle a little (i.e. 1/4 tsp) Ceylon Cinnamon over top of the food and broth. Ceylon Cinnamon helps dissolve food particles and aids with the digestion of food.  You can read more about the use of cinnamon as a dental care aid in this article.

3.0 Recipe for Bone Broth
      with Healthful, Herbs and Spice For Dogs and Cats 

• This recipe can be made with a stock pot and simmered on a stove burner or with a crock pot (slow cooker).
• The recipe below uses chicken - you can also use marrow and soup bones from:
• Beef;
• Bison;
• Lamb;
• Venison, etc.
• If you are using a red meat bone rather than poultry extend the simmering time period from 24 hours to 36 hours.
• If you want to maximize the nutritional value and healing qualities of the broth use bones/meat from grass-fed organically animals...

If You Can Afford To - Go Organic...

Of course as with all food stuff – using organic ingredients is better than non-organic.  So if you can afford to use organic ingredients. Many people don’t realize that if the source of the meat fed to their companion animal is from a non-organic, non-free range farm the meat can, overtime cause very serious health issues for their dog or cat.

  

Meat derived from animals from concentrated animal feeding operations – CAFO raised animals (i.e. large factory farms) contains high levels of antibiotics, steroids and if you reside in the USA – growth hormones. These animals are also fed genetically modified corn – a health threatening food stuff all on its own. All of these health threatening substances are ingested by your dog and cat when they eat the meat from factory farm raised animals.

Recipe Part One

• Use a whole or half chicken complete with bones, placed in a pot of water;
• Add:
• For every gallon of water in the pot add:
• 1 to 1.5 tsp of organic unpasturized, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (ACV), or;
•  The fresh juice of one (1) whole lemon.
• The natural acids in the ACV and lemon help to break down the bones which releases the healthful minerals from the bones into the broth as it cooks;
• The following herbs (optional):
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped sage;
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped basil;
• ½ tbs of dry or fresh finely chopped rosemary;
• You can toss in a few carrots and or parsnips and celery if you want to;
• Simmer on a low heat;
• When chicken starts to fall off of bones;
• Remove all of the meat and carrots/parsnips from the pot;
• Leave the herbs in the liquid;
• Leave the fat in the liquid – do not skim it off;
• Leave the skin in the liquid;
• Allow the meat and (veggies) to cool then;
• You can offer some of the meat (and veggies if you like) to your dog or cat or you can put it in containers and store in the refrigerator to add to his.her food later;

Recipe Part Two

• Once the meat and vegetables have all been removed;
• Add some additional water as some will have evaporated during simmering and some will have been removed with the meat;
• Add another tsp of ACV or fresh lemon juice;
• Then put the broth back into the stock pot or crock pot:
• If you are making a poultry based broth  allow to simmer for 24 hours;
• If you are making a red meat based broth allow to simmer for 36 hours;
• After simmering for 24 hour (or 36 hours) strain the liquid (a mesh strainer works well) so that you remove all of the bits of bone that have not dissolved into the liquid;
• Discard the undissolved matter and pour the cooled broth into glass jars for storage in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or for storage in the freezer.

4.0 Recipe for Smoothie

 

Green Leafy Smoothie as a Topping on Food

• To select the vegetables that you would like to use see the list of safe vegetables provided in this article.
• Chop the greens either by hand or in a food processor and mix a little into your dog's or cat's food, or;
• You can toss the greens into a blender with some broth and make a smoothie - store in the refrigerator for up to three days and just add to your dog's food once a day...
• X-Small Dogs and Cats - 1 tbs;
• Small Dogs and Cats – 1/8 cup;
• Medium size dogs – ¼ cup;
• Large dogs – 1/3 to ½ cup.

Fruit Smoothie as a Topping on Food

If you want to give your dog fresh or frozen fruit in a nutrient rich smoothie...

• To select the fruit that you would like to use see the list of safe vegetables provided in this article.
• Toss the fruit into a blender with some kefir or yogurt or use homemade chicken broth to make a smoothie - store in the refrigerator for up to three days and just add to your dog's or cat's food once a day...
• X-Small Dogs and Cats - 1 tbs;
• Small Dogs and Cats – 1/8 cup;
• Medium size dogs – ¼ cup;
• Large dogs – 1/3 to ½ cup.

During Hot Weather…

You can also:

• Pour stock or the smoothie into ice cube trays and freeze for a hot-weather treat, crunchy, cold hydrating treat, or;
• Simply chill and serve in a bowl as a special drink;
• If your dog or cat has not consumed all of the liquid within a half hour don’t leave the stock out as you don’t want bacteria forming in the stock.

For other hydrating, nutritious hot weather treats read here. 

5.0 Holistic Support

Holistic Wellness and Behaviorist Services

Do you need holistic advice to support your companion animal's health and well being? Become a client. Book your consultation. My professional holistic nutrition, wellness and behavioral services are available to you:
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld