Bone Broth for Dogs and Cats: Benefits, How Much, and How to Serve

Bone broth is exactly what it sounds like: animal bones simmered slowly in water for many hours, until the liquid turns rich and golden and sets into a soft jelly when it cools. That jelly is gelatin, drawn out of the bones and connective tissue during the long cook.

For pets, a good bone broth is a topper or a drink, not a meal. It adds moisture, aroma and a little protein to whatever is in the bowl, and that is where most of its value comes from.

What matters most is what is not in it. A pet broth should contain bones, water, and very little else. Ours, for example, is made from water, bones and a splash of apple cider vinegar, which helps draw minerals out during the simmer. No salt, no onion, no garlic, no additives.

Here is what bone broth can genuinely do, without the hype:

• Hydration. This is the biggest and best-supported benefit. Cats in particular drink little, and a broth topper is one of the easiest ways to get more water into them. It is also a gentle way to keep dogs drinking through a Saudi summer.
• Appetite. Broth smells wonderful to a dog or cat. A spoonful warmed over food is a reliable trick for fussy eaters, older pets with a dulled sense of smell, and pets recovering from illness.
• Gentle on the stomach. Plain broth is easy to digest, which is why vets often suggest it alongside a bland diet during a mild upset.
• Collagen and gelatin. Broth is a natural source of both. They are often associated with joint, skin and coat support, though broth works best as part of a complete diet rather than as a treatment on its own.
• Easier transitions. Pouring a little broth over a new food can help a hesitant pet accept the change.

Broth is low in calories but not calorie-free, so think of it as a topper and keep portions sensible. These are starting points per day:

Start at the low end for a few days, especially with a sensitive stomach, and split it across meals. With a 500 ml pack, a cat or small dog gets well over a week of toppers; a large dog a few days.

• Warm it over food. Gently warm a few spoonfuls and pour over the meal, then stir. Never serve it hot.
• As a drink. Offer a little in a separate bowl, especially for pets that do not drink enough water.
• Frozen lick-cubes. Pour into an ice-cube tray or silicone mould and freeze. A broth cube is a cooling, calm treat on a hot afternoon, and a good boredom-buster.
• To soften food. A splash softens kibble for seniors, puppies and kittens, and pets with sensitive teeth.
• To help with medicine. A little broth can make a prescribed tablet or powder easier to give, if your vet agrees it can be given with food.

Once opened, keep broth in the fridge and use it within a few days, or freeze it in portions. Follow the date on the pack.

The broth in your kitchen cupboard is almost certainly not safe for pets:

• Onion and garlic, including powders, are in most human stocks and are toxic to both dogs and cats.
• Salt levels in stock cubes and ready-made broths are far too high for a small animal.
• Spices, MSG and flavourings can upset the stomach.

If you make your own, use only bones, water and a splash of vinegar. Simmer for 12 to 24 hours, strain out every piece of bone (cooked bones splinter), chill it, and lift off the hard layer of fat before serving. Too much fat can upset the stomach and, in some dogs, trigger pancreatitis.

Different proteins suit different pets:

• Chicken: mild and widely loved, the classic choice for cats and a good everyday topper.
• Lamb: rich aroma and a favourite for fussy eaters and pets that do better away from chicken.
• Beef: deep, savoury flavour for dogs that like something heartier.
• Rabbit: a novel protein, useful for pets with suspected food sensitivities.

If your pet has a known food sensitivity, match the broth to a protein you already know agrees with them.

Bone broth is a small, simple addition that does one thing very well: it gets more water and more enthusiasm into the bowl. It is not a cure for anything, and it does not replace a complete diet, but as a daily topper it earns its place.

Soluky bone broths for dogs and cats are slow-simmered in Saudi Arabia from real bones, water and apple cider vinegar, with no salt or preservatives, in chicken, beef, lamb and rabbit. For more ways to keep water intake up, read how to keep pets hydrated, and for cats specifically, why water matters for urinary health.