Canine Nutrition: Bone Broth Benefits and Recipe

Written by: Jennifer Carter, Canine Nutritionist

When dogs are injured and now healing, the normal daily amounts of certain nutrients are not enough- you must give them some excess to not only maintain, but have enough to use to support healing. 

Bone broth provides: 

• Liver Detoxification

• Immune System Boost

• Maintain Healthy Skin and Coat

• Support Strong Joints

• Improve Digestive Health

• A Source of Essential Minerals

• Fight Inflammation

• Enhances Hydration and Appetite

The amino acids in bone broth are shown to be protective against joint pain, wear and tear. It is also full of vitamins like hyaluronic acid which helps to lubricate and cushion joints.

How to Make Bone Broth in an Instapot:

Using an Instant Pot is definitely the easiest way for pet owners to make their own broth for the dogs. The process is pretty much the same as cooking it on the stove or in a slow cooker, but cuts down on the cooking time tremendously—and still gives your dog the same bone broth benefits.

1. Add enough bones to cover the bottom of the pot.

2. Add just enough water to cover the bones.

3. Add a good splash of apple cider vinegar – this helps extract all the nutrients from the bones.

4. Cook at high pressure for 3 hours on soup mode. 

Once complete: 

• Remove all larges pieces of bone from the broth.

  • Strain your broth into a clean glass airtight container (mason jars are perfect)

  • Let the broth cool slightly, then refrigerate overnight. If you used bones with high collagen content, you’ll end up with a jello-like texture!

  • Remove the fat cap on top and discard before feeding to your dog.

  • Store your bone broth for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Freeze your bone broth into cubes for longer storage and easy access! Pro tip: freeze extra broth in ice cube trays for a quick treat, especially during the summer!