Bone broth can be a helpful, low-calorie topper and hydration aid for many dogs, but it is a supportive extra, not a necessary food. Use only plain, unseasoned broth, and never anything with onion, garlic, xylitol, or added salt. Keep it within the 10% treats rule, and check with your vet first if your dog has a medical condition.
TL;DR:
- Keep broth and all other treats at or below 10% of daily calories, and offer it only a few times weekly unless your veterinarian advises otherwise.
- Reject broth containing onion, garlic, leeks, chives, xylitol, or excess salt; low sodium claims do not replace checking the complete ingredient list.
- Ask your veterinarian before serving broth to dogs with heart or kidney disease, a history of pancreatitis, prescription diets, sensitive stomachs, or appetite loss.
- Homemade broth gives you ingredient control but is nutritionally incomplete; commercial broth is suitable only when every ingredient is verified and safe.
- Strain homemade broth thoroughly and discard every cooked bone, which can splinter; chill the broth, skim the fat, and serve it warm.
Table of Contents
- What can bone broth do for your dog?
- Which ingredients make bone broth unsafe for dogs?
- Should you buy bone broth or make it yourself?
- How do you make dog-safe bone broth at home?
- How much bone broth can your dog have?
- Why do pet owners trust Loyal Saints?
- Our take: safety first, broth second
- Want a simpler topper? Try our freeze-dried options
- FAQ
- Sources
What can bone broth do for your dog?
Think of broth as a flavor and moisture boost, not a supplement that fixes health problems. Tufts Veterinary Nutrition describes it as not necessary for healthy dogs but a low-calorie treat that can encourage fluid intake. Here is where owners tend to see a difference:
- Hydration: a savory liquid can tempt dogs that skimp on water, especially seniors or dogs recovering from illness.
- Palatability: a spoonful over dry or bland food can win over picky eaters.
- Joint and gut comfort: collagen, gelatin, and amino acids may offer gentle support alongside a balanced diet.
- Senior moisture: older dogs often do better with softer, wetter meals.
Hydration also matters for mobility, which we cover in our piece on how hydration supports joint health in dogs.
AKC guidance on the joint angle: the collagen and minerals in bone broth are a supportive addition, not a cure, so talk with your veterinarian about any joint concern.
If you are curious about collagen itself, we explain how collagen supports natural immunity in dogs.
Which ingredients make bone broth unsafe for dogs?
Most broth problems come from what gets added, not the bones. Run through this checklist before anything goes in the bowl:
- Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives. These Allium plants are toxic to dogs and can damage red blood cells. The AKC notes that all parts of the onion plant are toxic, and onion or garlic powder hides in many foods. Our page on whether dogs can eat onions covers safe swaps.
- Xylitol and excess salt. Veterinary coverage from UC Davis flags that xylitol is especially dangerous to dogs and often hides in human products, along with excess salt. A “low sodium” label is not a guarantee, so read the full ingredient list.
- Raw preparation. Raw animal products can carry bacteria, so households with immunocompromised members should ask a vet before handling them.
- Cooked bones. They can splinter. See our guidance on cooked bones for dogs.
Call your vet before using broth if your dog has appetite loss, heart or kidney disease, a history of pancreatitis, or a prescription diet. Cornell veterinary nutritionists note that needing to add palatability enhancers like broth often may point to an underlying medical issue.
Pro Tip: If you change your dog’s food or add new toppers, jot down the date and your dog’s reaction. A simple log, like this pet feeding schedule documentation guide, makes it easy to spot a pattern if something upsets their stomach.
Should you buy bone broth or make it yourself?
Both routes can work if you stay careful. Tufts notes that homemade broth is nutritionally incomplete and its nutrient profile can’t be measured by owners, so it should never become a major part of the diet. The Tufts team also says the safest approach is making broth at home with plain water and unseasoned meat, because many commercial broths contain hidden ingredients.
When you shop, use this label checklist:
- No onion, garlic, leek, chive, or “natural flavor” you can’t identify.
- No xylitol or other sweeteners.
- Low sodium on the panel, but still verify the full ingredient list.
- Few ingredients, ideally just bones, meat, and water.
- Dog-formulated products over human-market broth whenever you can find them.
If you do use a human-market product, choose a single-ingredient one and dilute it. The AKC also advises that when feeding human foods you avoid seasonings, salt, sugar, oil, and butter.
Homemade gives you control over every ingredient, which is its real advantage. Store-bought saves time, as long as the label passes your checklist.
How do you make dog-safe bone broth at home?
This simple method keeps the ingredient list short and the risks low.
- Place meaty bones or scrap meat in a large pot, with no salt, onion, or garlic.
- Cover with plain water and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer gently, adding water as needed.
- Let the pot cool, then strain out every solid piece.
- Throw away all bones. Cooked bones can splinter, so none should ever be fed to your dog.
- Chill the broth and skim the fat from the top.
- Refrigerate for a few days, or freeze in an ice-cube tray for single-serve toppers.
Reheat only until warm, never boiling hot, before serving.
Pro Tip: Skimming the hardened fat after chilling is worth the extra minute, especially if your dog is prone to pancreatitis.
How much bone broth can your dog have?
Tufts advises keeping treats to 10% or less of daily calories, and our dog treat calorie guide has a calculator to estimate your own dog’s limit.
Tufts on why the cap matters: treats, including broth, should stay at or under 10% of daily calories so a complete diet stays balanced.
As a starting point, these portions are small by design, and your vet can fine-tune them:
- Small dogs: offer a small amount per serving.
- Medium dogs: offer a moderate amount per serving.
- Large dogs: offer a larger amount per serving. Ask your vet what portion suits your dog.
Offer broth a few times a week rather than daily unless your vet says otherwise. Pour it over kibble as a topper, serve a little in a separate bowl for hydration, or freeze cubes as cool treats. Dogs on special diets, with kidney or heart disease, or with a sensitive stomach should skip it until your vet approves.
Why do pet owners trust Loyal Saints?
Our author writes about the topics dog owners ask us about most, including collagen and calcium in canine diets. We make freeze-dried foods from human-grade, whole ingredients, formulated to AAFCO standards and approved by veterinarians. Because they are shelf-stable, they work as simple toppers or complete meals. For more reading, start with our guides on collagen, hydration, and treat calories linked above.
Our take: safety first, broth second
Here is where we land after weighing the evidence. Broth is pleasant, not essential. The conventional advice often treats it like a wellness shortcut, and the research does not support that. Collagen and minerals may help, but the AKC calls them supportive, not curative.
What deserves your attention first is the label, not the recipe. Hidden onion, garlic, salt, and xylitol cause more harm than any missing nutrient. Second, count the calories. Third, notice why you are reaching for broth. If your dog needs flavor on every meal to eat, that is a reason to call your vet, not a reason to pour more.
Making broth at home is fine when you follow the safe method. But convenience matters too, and a topper that is already balanced, shelf-stable, and free of hidden seasonings removes most of the guesswork.
— Kristina
Want a simpler topper? Try our freeze-dried options
If you like the idea of a flavorful topper without the simmering, straining, and label hunting, we make it easy. Our Freeze Dried Raw Beef and Freeze Dried Raw Beef add flavor and nutrition with no fillers or synthetic additives. The Variety Pack lets you rotate Beef, Chicken, and Turkey with Salmon.
Our Halo Club membership offers monthly and annual options with savings and shipping perks, and you can check shipping details before you order. Pick a product, add it to your cart, and your dog’s next meal gets an easy upgrade.
FAQ
Can dogs benefit from bone broth?
Many dogs enjoy it, and it can add moisture and flavor to meals. The AKC describes the collagen and minerals as supportive, not a cure, so use it as an extra and ask your vet about medical concerns.
How do you prepare beef bones for dogs?
Simmer meaty beef bones gently in plain water, with no salt, onion, or garlic. Strain well and discard every bone, because cooked bones can splinter. Chill, skim the fat, and serve the broth only.
Is store-bought chicken broth okay for dogs?
Only if the ingredient list is simple and safe. Tufts advises against giving pets broth made for human consumption unless every ingredient is verified, since garlic, onions, and leeks are common. When in doubt, make a plain batch at home.
What should you check before choosing a bone broth for your dog?
Look for no Allium ingredients, no xylitol, and modest sodium, and favor dog-formulated products. Also consider your dog’s size, age, and health. Ask your vet before adding broth if your dog has kidney or heart disease or a prescription diet.
Sources
- Boiling it Down: Adding Broth to Your Pet’s Meals
- Bone Broth for Dogs: A Superfood With Many Benefits
- Vet
