Is Chicken Broth Good For Dogs? 8 Benefits Of Chicken Broth To Dogs 

Chicken broth is a nutrient-dense stock that is commonly used in soups and sauces. If you’re among the many pet parents who consider chicken stock a must-have, then you might be asking: Can dogs have chicken broth? Is chicken broth good for dogs?

Adding chicken broth to your dog’s food may sound like a good idea, especially when dealing with picky eaters. But there are things you need to consider before letting your canine companions have a bowl-full of bone broth. What are these? Read on.

If you read the entire article, you’ll even learn the benefits of chicken broth for dogs and how to make your own broth – the pup-approved kind of chicken bone broth. On top of that, you'll even get 4 ideas on how to make broth extra special for your furry friend.

Is Chicken Broth Good For Dogs?

The answer is IT DEPENDS. Although most chicken broths are safe for dogs, some of them are better left on the dinner table.

When it comes to chicken stock, you ought to give a hard pass to commercial chicken broth or any bone broth that’s high in sodium and filled with preservatives and seasoning. Even though it's human grade, giving this will bring more harm than good to your dog.

On the one hand, low-sodium chicken broth and homemade chicken broth that’s made specifically for your pooch are worth considering. Why? Besides giving dry dog food added flavor, this also gives your pup the nutritional boost it needs for the day.

8 Reasons Why You Should Give Your Dogs Chicken Broth

Nothing beats having warm chicken noodle soup on a cool day or on days when you’re feeling down and unwell. Good thing, giving your dog chicken broth also offers the same benefits.

And you know what? Adding this rich and tasty liquid to your dog’s meals provides a handful of health benefits for your pal. Here they are: 

Enhances Your Dog’s Appetite

When you don’t feel like eating, having warm chicken broth mixed with your favorite veggies will surely help you get started. Its rich aroma and flavor are hard to resist. It’s the same for dogs (even the picky eaters).

A cheap food-topper alternative, broth is something any picky eater will have a hard time saying no to. Senior dogs and those with tummy problems will also enjoy this since this will surely soften up their food, making it easier to chew and digest.

Boosts Immune Health

In case you didn’t know, chicken bone broth is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C and antioxidants are just some of the nutrients your dog gets from having a slurp of broth. All of these nurture your dog’s defenses against diseases.

Promotes Dog’s Joint Health

Gelatin, a by-product of cooking collagen (a protein found in bones and tendons), support joint health. Its proline and glycine content helps build connective tissues while the glucosamine found in it helps repair joints and reduce joint pain.

Supports Gut Health

Does your dog have an upset stomach or have a condition called leaky gut syndrome wherein undigested food and toxins seep through the small fissures in your dog’s gut? If your answer is yes, you might want to add chicken broth to your dog’s diet.

Like a vet-approved bland diet, bone broth is easy on your dog’s stomach. Aside from that, the glutamine found in the gelatin will help keep your dog’s digestive system in tip-top shape. How? 

Aside from helping food easily go through your dog’s gut, the gelatin can also protect and heal the lining found in your dog’s digestive tract.

May Detoxify Your Dog’s Liver

Glycine, another type of amino acid found in gelatin, can also improve your dog’s health by supporting its liver function. It does this by removing the toxins that have accumulated in your dog’s body.

Gives Your Pet A Healthy Skin & Shiny Coat 

Thanks to its collagen content, your dog can enjoy the skin and coat-beautifying features of bone broth. Besides that, having healthy skin and coats will help protect your dog from harmful environmental elements.

Hydrates Your Furry Friend

A dog suffering from diarrhea will need that extra boost of hydration. Enter: Broth. Letting your dog have chicken broth will do just that while providing your dog nourishment.

Helps Reduce Inflammation

Remember: Chicken broth contains amino acids and antioxidants that can improve your dog’s immune system. This also helps alleviate inflammation – a symptom commonly present in various illnesses like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Risks Of Feeding Your Dog Chicken Bone Broth

Now that you know the health benefits of chicken broth for dogs, as pet parents, you also need to know all the risks involved should you decide to add broth to your dog’s diet. Knowing this will help avoid mishaps and emergency visits to the vet.

May Contain Potentially Harmful Ingredients

Not all chicken broth is made equal. Some are less dog-friendly compared to others. 

Store-bought broth (whether it’s organic chicken broth or not) or broth that’s cooked specifically for people can be too salty for your pup. Besides that, it may also contain seasoning like garlic and onion – human-grade and natural ingredients that are toxic to your furry pals.

Choking Hazard

If the chicken bones are not removed, your dogs might swallow them without you knowing. Since cooked bones are prone to splintering, swallowing bone splinters could result in choking, and even intestinal blockage.

Gut Problems

Giving your dog too much chicken broth is not advisable because this can lead to GI problems like diarrhea. Like any food, your dogs' tummies cannot have too much of a good thing.

Allergies

Chicken is the second most common food allergen in the canine world. So, if your dog is allergic to chicken, you might want to keep this out of your dog’s reach.

How To Make Homemade Chicken Broth For Dogs?

Loving pet owners would give anything to give their dogs the best. So what’s the best kind of broth for your dog? 

If you don’t have time to cook up something, store-bought low-sodium broth that’s specifically made for dogs will do just fine. However, as always, homemade chicken broth tops the list.

Don’t worry, making homemade broth for dogs is pretty straightforward. Here are the steps to make your own broth for your dog:

Boil the chicken bones. To do this, fill the pot or slow cooker with water mixed with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This helps break down the collagen and ensures that you get all the possible nutrients from the bones. 

Once the water boils, add the unseasoned chicken bones. You can either use bones leftover from your roasted chicken or a fresh one with the meat still intact – it’s your choice. 

If you want to add dog-friendly vegetables like sweet potato, carrots, and green beans, do so. But don’t add any seasoning like salt, pepper, garlic, and onion. Will your dog love it minus all the seasoning? Trust us. They will.

After it boils, lower the heat and let it simmer for one hour or more. The longer you let it simmer. The more flavorful and richer it gets.

Strain the broth to remove the bones and bone splinters. Since swallowing this can lead to various problems, you’d want to serve bone-free broth to your dog. You can do this by straining the broth a few times just to make sure.

Let the broth cool in the ref, then remove the fat. If fat is something that your pet needs to steer clear of, then you can easily get rid of this by refrigerating it for some time. Any excess fat will float on top of the broth when it cools down. 

NOTE: Homemade bone broth usually stays fresh for up to 3 to 4 days if placed in the refrigerator. However, you can opt to freeze broth if you want it to last longer and use it as needed.

How Much Chicken Broth Can Dogs Have?

The amount of broth your dog can have will depend on your dog’s weight. In short, a bigger dog can have more broth compared to a smaller one. 

If you want to get a ballpark figure, it is 1 oz of broth for every 10 pounds of body weight. So if your dog weighs 20 pounds, they can enjoy a maximum of 2 oz of broth.

4 Creative Ways To Serve Broth To Your Dogs

When you’re in a hurry, you can simply add a little chicken broth to your dog’s dry food or freeze-dried raw food, and voila! Dinner served!

However, on days when your dog deserves something more than a tasty treat, consider doing the following:

Use Broth To Make Homemade Dog Treats

That’s right. You can make homemade dog treats by using broth instead of water. This will surely make the treat uber tasty. 

Serve It As Frozen Pup-Sicles’

Broth frozen in ice cube trays makes for an instant pup-sicle – perfect for summer days. Not only is it yummy and refreshing, but it will also quench your dog’s thirst.

Serve Chilled As Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Create pup-approved ice cream by mixing broth with human-grade ingredients like plain yogurt and your dog’s favorite fruits and veggies. This might not sound appetizing to you, but your dog will love it.

Treat Your Pup To A Yummy Chicken Pot Pie

On special days, you can whip up a hearty and nutritious pot pie made of chicken broth for your dog. All you need is some flour, butter, broth, shredded chicken, and veggies like peas and carrots. 

Food For Thought 

Can dogs eat chicken broth? The answer is a big YES. You can let your dogs have chicken broth and add it to your dog’s diet since it’s generally safe. 

However, it won’t hurt to get your vet’s expert advice. At the end of the day, your vet knows best and what matters most is that you're able to provide your dog with a complete and balanced diet.