Best Ways to Use Chicken Broth for Your Dog
From promoting good health and rewarding good behavior to easing a sick tummy, there are several ways that you can incorporate chicken broth into your dog’s diet. The good thing about chicken broth is that it is a liquid packed with nutrients and flavors your dog will love.
The problem with kibble is that it is often boring. Some dogs are picky eaters due to genetics or food selection, and it seems like you are always fighting with them to eat enough. It also means that a little bit of stress or digestive upset can have them refusing to eat altogether. Chicken broth can be a big lifesaver for these guys because it adds flavor and softens the kibble.
Some people even tout claims that chicken broth can help with persistent digestive issues like diarrhea or constipation and give them a shiny coat. However, the scientific research supporting these claims is lacking, and there hasn’t been much reason to study the health benefits of chicken broth on canine health.
Like everything that comes from a box, many commercial dog treats are loaded with preservatives and dyes that serve non-nutritional purposes in your pup’s treats. If you like to make things homemade to control what your dogs eat, then chicken broth is your golden ticket to whipping up some tasty treats.
With a handful of common pantry ingredients, anyone can whip up some delectable and healthy dog treats with this recipe. All you need is peanut butter, oats, flour, cinnamon, chicken broth, and water. These are baked treats and super fun if you use a dog-treat-shaped form.
Chicken broth makes the perfect, tasty liquid to freeze your dog’s favorite fruits and vegetables into pup-sicles for enjoyment to beat the heat. Try combining low-sodium or homemade chicken broth with green beans, carrots, cucumber, pumpkin, strawberries, and more.
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It’s not all about treats, and sometimes dog lovers just want to spoil their favorite four-legged friends. Chicken broth is a key ingredient in homemade chicken pot pies, a delicious, dog-friendly meal. All you have to do is stick to plain chicken and dog-friendly veggies like green beans and carrots.
Just like people, dogs get sick sometimes too. Even something like the flu that lasts a few days can leave your dog dehydrated and lacking nutrition. And prolonged illnesses can lead to malnutrition. The best way to make sure your dog gets some nutrition while sick is to offer plain chicken broth as something easy and palatable to eat. It will be a little easier on them than chunks of undigested food if it does come back up.
Can Dogs Have Chicken Broth?
In short, yes—chicken broth is a generally safe addition to make to your dog’s diet. “I routinely recommend chicken broth as a palatability enhancer for dogs with picky appetites,” says Dr. Valerie Parker, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and associate professor of clinical small animal internal medicine and nutrition in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
That said, be sure to take a look at the label before you feed your dog any ol’ store-bought chicken broth. Many broths contain additional ingredients like onion and garlic, both of which can be toxic to dogs, says Dr. Deborah E. Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and research assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts.
Beyond this, even low-sodium broths can be very high in sodium, which may be a no-no depending on your dog’s unique dietary needs, she says.
As is true any time you change your dog’s diet, make sure to check in with your veterinarian before you add chicken broth to his food, especially if he has an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.
Can dogs with pancreatitis have chicken broth?
Make sure you scrape off any excess fat from your bone broth after cooking, especially if you have a dog with pancreatitis or IBS. While a lot of pet owners swear by bone broth for dogs with cancer or kidney disease, make sure you speak to your veterinarian before incorporating bone broth into your pet’s diet.
FAQ
Can dogs have Swanson chicken broth?
Can dogs have store bought chicken broth?
Chicken broth can be a safe addition to your dog’s diet so long as you choose a pet-friendly product that is low in sodium and does not contain potentially harmful ingredients for dogs like onion and garlic.
What kind of chicken broth can dogs have?
What broth brands are safe for dogs?
- Only Natural Pet Bone Broth Nutritional Boost.
- Honest Kitchen Daily Boosters Beef Bone Broth with Turmeric.
- Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Bone Broth.
- Brutus Bone Broth for Dogs (Beef Flavor)
- Nature’s Diet Pet Bone Broth Protein Powder.
- Solid Gold Human-Grade Bone Broth for Dogs.