Bone broth is an inexpensive source of minerals (e.g., calcium, silicon, sulphur, magnesium, phosphorus, trace minerals) in an easily absorbable form along with other nutrients you and your dog will love. Often, a sick dog will drink bone broth when he will not eat anything else. But a healthy, vital, energetic dog can also benefit from bone broth.
Bone broth contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons (eg, chondroitin, sulphates, glucosamine) and is good for the joints. It also helps to detoxify the liver and promotes a healthy gut. When broth is cooled, it congeals due to the presence of gelatin, which is reportedly good for a long list of ailments.
Making bone broth is easy. You can begin with bones, some pieces of meat and fat, and vegetable. Before adding to the other ingredients, the bones can be browned in a hot oven (optional) to form compounds that enhance the flavor and color. Then add bones (e.g., chicken feet, beef marrow bones, lamb bones), garlic (optional), vegetables (optional) to a pot. Cover with cold water, add vinegar (to help extract the calcium) and heat the broth slowly on the stovetop or using a crockpot. Allow the broth to simmer for about 2 hours for fish broth, all day for chicken, turkey, or duck broth, and 24 hours for beef broth. Strain out the bones and refrigerate, then skim off the fat that has congealed on top. The broth that remains will look like jelly. The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen. Add the bone broth to your dog’s regular meal in teaspoon or tablespoon amounts, depending on his size. More broth can be fed to a sick dog.
Bone broth is also good for humans. Broth is considered a cure-all in traditional households and is commonly made from chicken, fish, beef, or lamb. It is said that bone broth “builds strong bones, assuages sore throats, nurtures the sick, puts vigor in the step, and sparkle in love life….for chefs, it is the magic elixir for making soul-warming soups and matchless sauces.”
For more information on the benefits of bone broth and details on how to make it, go to http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/how-to-make-bone-broth-for-your-dog/ or to http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/broth-is-beautiful/ .
