Did you know bone broth is good for your dog? Did you know herbs are good for your dog? Did you know that it’s also easy to make your own homemade herbal bone broth? It’s true. In addition to providing minerals and amino acids, bone broth can be enhanced with herbs to make it even more beneficial for dogs. Herbs can be used to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from arthritis to diarrhea to infections. Learn how to make your own herbal bone broth for your dog using the following DIY ideas!

What Is Herbal Infused Bone Broth?

Bone broth has been around for ages. It’s rich in minerals, amino acids, and collagen, and is often used as a treatment for joint pain or digestive issues and as a general gut health supplement. There are lots of different ways to prepare bone broth, but herbal infusions are one of the best ways to add flavor and boost health benefits. Herbal bone broths are super easy to make, taste great, and are a healthy, delicious way to improve your dog’s diet. For dogs, herbal infused bone broth is a great way to add flavor to a nutrient-rich, gelatin-rich meal that can benefit joint pain, treat digestive issues, or even help treat an infection. Bone broth is also super easy to make. All you have to do is add bones and water to a large pot, boil it for a few hours, then strain the bones and herbs out. You’re left with a nutrient-rich liquid that you can use daily or when your pet isn’t feeling well.

Why Is Bone Broth Good for Dogs?

Like the human body, your dog’s body also needs a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Bone broth is a great source of minerals, and the amino acids found in the broth are important for muscle health and repair. Bone broth also contains lots of gelatin. This might sound gross, but it’s actually a really good thing. The collagen found in bone broth is great for improving gut health and reducing digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, or food allergies. Besides the vitamins, minerals, and gelatin, bone broth is also rich in collagen. Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues that is important for skin, joint, and gut health. The minerals, amino acids, and collagen found in bone broth are beneficial for all dogs, but especially good for senior dogs.

Which Herbs Are Good for Dogs?

All herbs are not created equal. Certain herbs are toxic to dogs, so it’s important to choose herbs that are safe for dogs and beneficial for them. Here are a few great herbs to add to your next batch of herbal infused bone broth. Herbs like chamomile, fennel, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric are super easy to grow or find at your local supermarket, and they make great additions to your homemade herbal bone broth.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a great herb to add to your bone broth because it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and full of antioxidants. It’s also one of the best herbs for dogs with digestive issues because it helps with gas and bloating. Chamomile soothes the gut lining which means it’s a great choice if your pet is suffering from diarrhea, stomach ulcers, or gastroenteritis. It can also help decrease anxiety making it a great choice for dogs prone to stress colitis and senior pets with sundowners or night time anxiety.

Fennel

Fennel is another great anti-inflammatory herb that also helps with digestion. It can help calm an upset stomach, aid in the digestion of fat and proteins, and reduce gas in your dog’s digestive tract. Fennel helps increase gut motility but also has antispasmodic effects which means its a great choice for stomach upset whether your pet has diarrhea or constipation. Be careful using fennel with dogs that are not eating well as it can reduce appetite.

Ginger

Ginger is anti-inflammatory and supports a healthy immune system. Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, ginger can help ease arthritis pain. People often employ ginger to relieve gastrointestinal distress and nausea, and research has shown that it is as effective as Dramamine. The great news is that it works the same in pets.

If your pet gets nauseous on car rides try giving this infusion before your next trip!

Rosemary

Rosemary is another great herb for your pet. It’s full of antioxidants which help support a healthy immune system. Rosemary also supports a healthy inflammatory system which means it’s great for decreasing joint pain. Finally, its anti-microbial properties make it a great choice if your pet is fighting an infection.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years to treat joint pain. It decreases inflammation throughout the body which means that its great for acute pain due to injury or chronic pain from arthritis. Adding turmeric to your pet’s diet may help decrease inflammatory conditions such as cystitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as well.

It’s also loaded with antioxidants and can help with any age-related cognitive decline your dog might experience.

Rose Hip

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose plant, and they’re a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for boosting the immune system during illness. It’s been shown to have anti-microbial effects against gram-positive bacteria. I love adding rose hip anytime my pet has a wound, ear infection, or urinary tract infection.

DIY Herbal Infused Bone Broth for Dogs

Healthy and delicious — what’s not to love about bone broth? Making homemade bone broth is simple and inexpensive. I love getting beef soup bones or using leftover bones from a rotisserie chicken for my broth.

On its own, bone broth is a great source of collagen, but adding some of the herbs listed above can give it an extra health boost! If you’re looking to ease inflammation, reduce anxiety, decrease pain, or boost the immune system in general, try adding a few of these herbs to your next batch of bone broth.

Check back soon for my E-Book on how to make herbal infused bone broths plus my complete guide to herbal mixtures for every illness!