Broth

The benefits of broth for dogs

Broth has many positive effects on your dog's health. For example, it can

• Stimulate the appetite: If your dog is fussy or doesn't eat much, broth can help him regain his appetite. You can simply pour the broth over dry or wet food or offer it as a snack.
• Promotes digestion: Broth contains gelatine, which protects the mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal tract and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Broth can also support the intestinal flora and prevent diarrhea or constipation.
• Strengthen joints: Bouillon is rich in collagen, which builds up cartilage, tendons and ligaments and keeps them elastic. This can improve mobility and reduce pain, especially in older or arthritic dogs.
• Strengthening the immune system: Broth contains many minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc, which are important for your dog's immune system. Broth can also promote liver detoxification and accelerate wound healing.
• Makes the coat shiny: Broth is a good source of proteins that are responsible for the formation of keratin. Keratin is an important component of skin, hair and nails. Broth can therefore help your dog to have a beautiful and healthy coat.

Disadvantages of broth for dogs

Broth is not suitable for every dog. For example, it can

• Trigger allergies: If your dog has an intolerance or allergy to certain types of meat or vegetables, broth can be harmful to them. Therefore, always pay attention to what the broth contains and whether your dog can tolerate it.
• Too much salt: If you buy broth from the supermarket, it may be far too salty for your dog. Too much salt can increase blood pressure, strain the kidneys and lead to dehydration. Give your dog unsalted or homemade broth instead.
• Too much fat: If you cook broth from bones, it can contain a lot of fat that settles on the surface. Too much fat can lead to obesity, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Therefore, remove the fat from the broth before giving it to your dog.
• Too many calories: If you give your dog broth as an addition to his normal food, he may consume too many calories. This can lead to obesity or other health problems. Therefore, reduce the amount of normal food when feeding broth, or give broth only as a supplement and not as a substitute for the normal food. Broth alone does not cover your dog's entire nutritional requirements.

How do I prepare broth for dogs?

The best broth for your dog is the one you prepare yourself. This way you can be sure that it doesn't contain any harmful additives or too much salt. You can also choose the ingredients according to your dog's taste and needs. Here are some tips for making bouillon for your dog:

• Choose a type of meat that your dog likes and can tolerate. This could be beef, chicken, lamb, turkey or fish. You can also use bones that contain a lot of collagen, such as beef bones, chicken necks or fish heads. However, make sure that the bones don't break or are too small so that your dog can't swallow them or injure himself.
• Choose a vegetable that your dog likes and tolerates. This could be carrot, celery, parsley, spinach or pumpkin, for example. However, avoid onions, garlic, leeks or other vegetables that can be poisonous to dogs.
• Put the meat, bones and vegetables in a large pot and cover with water. You can also add some apple cider vinegar, which dissolves the minerals from the bones and acidifies the broth. This tastes good to your dog and helps with digestion.
• Bring the broth to the boil and then simmer over a low heat for several hours. The longer you simmer the broth, the more nutrients will be released. You can simmer the broth for up to 24 hours if you are using a pressure stove.
• Strain the broth and remove the meat, bones and vegetables. You can give your dog the meat and vegetables as a treat or mix them into their food. However, you should throw away the bones as they are too soft and brittle after cooking.
• Leave the broth to cool and remove the fat from the surface. The broth can be stored in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Warm to room temperature or lukewarm before feeding, but never hot.