Bone Broth for Dogs: Is It Safe?

Bone broth for dogs is safe when it is plain: bones and water, with no onion, garlic or added salt, and every bone strained out. Broth made for people can contain all three, so read the label first.

Keep portions small. Broth is an optional extra, and a dog on a complete and balanced diet doesn't need it.

The ingredient that matters most is one you can't taste or see in the bowl. Here is what to look for, and why it matters more than the bones themselves.

What makes bone broth unsafe for dogs?

Three things, and only one of them is the bone. The bigger risks are what gets added for flavor.

Onion and garlic

Onion, garlic, chives and leeks all belong to the Allium family. The ASPCA warns that Allium vegetables can irritate the stomach and damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia (a low red blood cell count).

Garlic is the stronger of the two. Merck's veterinary manual puts it at three to five times more toxic than onion.

Simmering doesn't help. A peer-reviewed toxicology review in Veterinary Medicine states that cooking does not reduce Allium's potential toxicity, so an onion boiled for hours in a stock pot is still a problem.

Here's the part that surprises people. That same review notes that some dogs inherit red blood cells that are more sensitive to onion, and that the trait is relatively common in Japanese breeds.

Salt

Broth made for people is often heavily salted. The ASPCA notes that too much salt can cause increased thirst and urination, and sometimes abnormal electrolytes in the blood, depending on the amount eaten.

The bones

The broth is fine. The bones that made it are not. WSAVA's guide to treats for dogs states that bones, cooked and raw, can be very dangerous and cause significant damage if chewed or swallowed.

How much onion is too much for a dog?

Less than you might hope. Merck reports clinical signs in dogs after eating 15 to 30 g of raw onion per kilogram of body weight.

The Veterinary Medicine review puts it another way: problems are consistently seen when an animal eats more than 0.5% of its body weight in onion at one time. For a 30-pound dog, that is about 2.4 ounces.

Concentrated forms carry the most risk. Merck says most cases in dogs and cats involve dehydrated flakes, powders or dry onion soup mixes, the same forms that end up in bouillon and boxed broth.

Repeated small amounts can add up too, the review notes. So there is no safe dose worth aiming for. Leave Allium out entirely.

Is store-bought bone broth OK for dogs?

Some is. Turn the carton around and read the full ingredient list before you pour.

• Skip anything listing onion, garlic, chives, leeks or shallots, including the powders.
• Look for low sodium or no salt added. AAHA's palatability tips suggest low-salt chicken or beef broth for dogs.
• Avoid bouillon cubes and dry soup mixes, which are concentrated by design.
• If the label only says "seasoning" or "spices," contact the maker or choose another.

Broths sold for pets need the same check. Labels vary, and the ingredient list is the only reliable guide.

Check the calories as well. WSAVA advises contacting the manufacturer if a commercial treat doesn't list its calories, and the same applies to broth.

Does bone broth do anything for dogs?

It makes food more appealing. That much is well supported. AAHA lists warm food and a little low-salt broth among its tips for tempting a dog to eat.

It also adds liquid to a meal, which is one more small way to help, alongside fresh water. Our guide on how to keep a dog hydrated covers the rest.

Beyond that, the evidence is thin, and almost none of it comes from dogs. Broth is often sold on its collagen. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found its amino acid content varied widely between batches and recipes.

Minerals are lower than the bones suggest, too. A 2017 study in Food & Nutrition Research found home-made and commercial broths supplied less than 5% of a person's daily calcium and magnesium per serving.

Researchers disagree about lead. A small 2013 study found organic chicken bone broth held several times the lead of the water it was made with. The 2017 study judged heavy metal levels in broth minimal. Both studies looked at food for people.

The bottom line from WSAVA is simple: extras should never replace a meal, because every dog needs a complete and balanced diet.

How much bone broth can I give my dog?

Treat it like any other extra. WSAVA and AAHA both say extras should stay under 10% of a dog's daily calories, and broth counts toward that.

A tablespoon or two over the usual food is a sensible start. Larger dogs can have more, but the 10% line still applies.

Start small with anything new. Merck's veterinary manual names dietary indiscretion, the vet term for eating something outside the usual diet, as a common risk factor for pancreatitis in dogs.

That's also why the fat matters. Chill homemade broth and lift off the layer that sets on top, so the bowl gets the flavor without the extra richness. For more ideas, see our guide to dog food toppers.

How do I make bone broth safe for a dog at home?

Homemade gives you full control of the ingredients, which is the main reason to bother. It's simpler than most recipes make it look.

1. Use bones and water only. Leave out salt, onion, garlic, chives, leeks and seasoning blends.
2. Simmer as long as you like. Plain carrot or celery is fine to add if your dog already eats them.
3. Strain through a fine sieve, then check again by hand. Small shards are easy to miss, and WSAVA is clear that cooked bones are dangerous.
4. Chill it overnight and lift off the fat.
5. Serve it cool or lukewarm, poured over food.
6. Keep it in the fridge, and freeze extra in an ice cube tray for single portions.

A frozen cube melted over dinner works well. A little can also be spread or frozen on a lick mat.

Call your vet promptly if your dog:

• ate broth, gravy or soup made with onion or garlic, even if they seem fine. Merck notes that signs usually appear a few days later, once red blood cells have been damaged.
• seems weak, tires easily on walks, or breathes fast at rest
• has pale or yellow gums
• passes red or brown urine
• has vomiting or diarrhea after a new food
• swallowed a piece of cooked bone

If you can't reach your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center answers 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.

Questions new dog parents ask

Can dogs have chicken broth?

Yes, if it's plain and low in salt, with no onion or garlic. AAHA names low-salt chicken or beef broth as a way to make a dog's food more tempting.

Is store-bought bone broth safe for dogs?

Only if the label is clean. Broth made for people can contain onion, garlic or a lot of salt. Read the full ingredient list every time.

Can I give my dog bone broth every day?

A small daily splash is fine for a healthy dog, as long as it stays within the 10% allowance for extras and the main diet is complete and balanced.

Can puppies have bone broth?

A little plain broth over food is fine for most weaned puppies. Their complete puppy food comes first, so keep it small and check with your vet.

Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats
• Cope RB. Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats. Veterinary Medicine, 2005
• WSAVA: Feeding Treats to Your Dog
• AAHA: Healthy and Low-Calorie Snacks for Pets
• Alcock RD, Shaw GC, Burke LM. Bone broth unlikely to provide reliable concentrations of collagen precursors. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 2019
• Hsu DJ et al. Essential and toxic metals in animal bone broths. Food & Nutrition Research, 2017
• Monro JA, Leon R, Puri BK. The risk of lead contamination in bone broth diets. Medical Hypotheses, 2013

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.