by Katherine Khoo July 17, 2025 6 min read

If you’re looking for a simple, natural way to boost your dog’s health, bone broth might just be the answer. As pet parents, we’re always on the lookout for healthy, natural ways to support our dogs' well-being. Whether it’s better food, supplements, or treats, we all want our pups to live long, happy lives. One powerful (and delicious) tool you may not have considered? Bone broth.

Bone broth is more than just soup. It's a rich, nutrient-packed liquid that provides a wide range of health benefits for dogs of all ages. Often called a superfood, bone broth is gentle on the stomach, tasty, and full of ingredients that support joints, digestion, immunity, skin, and more.

Let’s dive into what makes bone broth so special—and why it might be one of the best things you can add to your dog’s diet.  

Bone Broth for Dogs: The Superfood with Many Benefits

Packed with Essential Nutrients

Bone broth is made by slowly simmering animal bones, joints, and connective tissues; often with a splash of apple cider vinegar to help extract the nutrients. The result is a golden, gelatin-rich liquid loaded with:

  • Calcium – supports healthy bones and teeth
  • Phosphorus – helps cells function and works with calcium
  • Magnesium – regulates muscle and nerve function
  • Potassium – supports the heart and digestion
  • Sulphur – aids metabolism and detox
  • Collagen & Gelatin – key for joint, skin, and gut health
  • Glucosamine & Chondroitin – known to ease joint pain and stiffness 

Whichever diet your dog is on, adding bone broth can help provide a more complete nutritional profile, especially for aging or recovering dogs.

What to Look For

Commercial bone broth for pets typically comes in 2 types - freeze-dried powder like Bailey+Co New Zealand Original Beef Bone Broth, or frozen like frashfresh Health Broth For Dogs & Cats. Freeze-dried bone broth is easy to store, travel with and can have a longer shelf life. On the other hand, frozen bone broth is less processed, highly palatable and most dogs love the taste of fresh, frozen bone broth. 

Most bone broths are plain broth - made simply with bones, water and a little apple cider vinegar. Some bone broth products have additional superfoods or herbs. frashfresh Health Broth For Dogs & Cats have added Chinese herbs like cordyceps, astragalus root or goji berries.

Freeze-dried broth like Bailey+Co New Zealand Beef Bone Broth With Probiotic (Digestive Health) has probiotics added for gut health, while WildChow Freeze-Dried Bone Broth Powder has added vegetables and spices like carrot and ginger.

For pet parents looking for an immune boosting, veggie-only broth, try this Dr. Frozen Bone Broth For Dogs & Cats. This broth is made from mushrooms - golden mushrooms, shiitake and chaga mushrooms, which are high in immune-boosting compounds. 

Other things to look out for when choosing bone broth for your pup is the texture of the broth. A good bone broth should be gelatinous. The jelly-like texture is a sign that the broth is rich in collagen and gelatin, which come from the slow simmering of connective tissues, cartilage, and bones.

Bone Broth for Dogs: The Superfood with Many Benefits

Benefits of Bone Broth

Supports Joint and Bone Health

As dogs get older, their joints can start to ache. Conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, or general wear and tear can make movement painful. That’s where bone broth shines.

It’s naturally high in:

  • Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which are well-known for supporting joint cartilage and reducing inflammation.
  • Collagen, which helps maintain the cushioning between joints and supports the structure of tendons and ligaments.
  • Hyaluronic acid, which improves joint lubrication and flexibility.

If your dog is slowing down, limping, or struggling to jump or climb stairs, regular bone broth may help reduce discomfort and keep them mobile for longer.

Gentle on the Tummy and Good for Gut Health

Bone broth is one of the most digestible foods you can offer your dog. It’s soothing to the stomach and helps support a healthy gut lining thanks to its gelatin and amino acid content.

One key amino acid found in bone broth is glutamine, which helps repair and maintain the intestinal lining. This is especially helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, or leaky gut syndrome.

In fact, recent research shows that bone broth can act as a prebiotic—feeding the good bacteria in the dog’s gut. One 2024 study found that dogs given bone broth for four weeks had a noticeable increase in beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium, while reducing harmful strains like Helicobacter and Clostridium, which are linked to inflammation and gut disease.

If your dog has chronic digestive issues, loose stools, or food sensitivities, bone broth could be a gentle way to help improve their gut health over time.

Strengthens the Immune System

The nutrients in bone broth don’t just help your dog feel good, they help them stay healthy.

Thanks to its combination of minerals, amino acids, and gut-healing properties, bone broth can support a strong immune system. A healthy gut is linked to stronger immunity, and many of the compounds in broth, like glycine and prolin, help reduce inflammation and promote overall resilience.

This makes bone broth especially useful during:

  • Recovery from illness or surgery
  • Times of stress or travel
  • Transitions to new foods

Adding broth during these times can give your dog’s body the boost it needs to bounce back faster.

Promotes Healthy Skin and a Shiny Coat

If your dog struggles with dry, flaky skin, itching, or a dull coat, bone broth may help. Thanks to collagen, gelatin, and glycine, bone broth helps support the connective tissue under the skin and boosts hydration from the inside out. These nutrients also help replace what’s lost as dogs age—collagen production naturally declines over time.

Many dog parents notice that after a few weeks of bone broth, their pet’s coat looks glossier, and skin irritation starts to ease. It’s a simple addition that can make a visible difference.

Supports Liver Detox

The liver is your dog’s main detox organ. It works hard every day to break down and remove toxins from food, medicine, and the environment. Bone broth can help take some of the load off.

It contains amino acids like glycine and glutamine, which are vital for the liver’s detox pathways. These compounds help process and eliminate toxins more efficiently, making bone broth a natural way to support internal cleansing.

It’s not a replacement for medical care but as a daily or weekly supplementary feeding, it can give your dog’s detox system a healthy assist.

Aids Hydration and Encourages Eating

Many dogs don’t drink enough water throughout the day—especially if they eat dry food. Bone broth is a great way to help your dog stay hydrated while giving them a tasty treat.

The warm, savoury smell and flavour are also appealing to picky eaters or dogs recovering from illness. Pour it over kibble to boost flavour, use it to rehydrate freeze-dried or dehydrated food, or serve it on its own as a nourishing snack.

For senior dogs, those with dental issues, or dogs with reduced appetites, bone broth can make mealtime easier and more enjoyable.

Low in Calories, Big on Benefits

One of the best parts? Bone broth is low in fat and calories but still incredibly satisfying. This makes it perfect for dogs that need to lose a bit of weight or stay on a lean diet. It fills your dog up without overloading them with extra calories, and the added nutrients mean you’re giving them something valuable, not just empty filler.

Bone Broth for Dogs: The Superfood with Many Benefits

Serving Ideas

If your dog has never tried bone broth before, introduce it slowly to minimise tummy upset.

  • Pour over dry food to enhance flavour
  • Freeze into ice cube trays for summer treats
  • Mix into water to encourage drinking
  • Use as a food topper for picky eaters 

Bone broth isn’t just a trend. It's a tried and true health booster for dogs (and cats). Whether your pup is young and active or older and slowing down, this simple supplement offers real benefits. Backed by vets and supported by studies, bone broth is a smart and tasty way to show your dog some extra love—every single day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Katherine Khoo

KATHERINE KHOO
Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.

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