Beef bone broth

Beef bone broth is a great staple in the Well Dog Pantry. As versatile as it is nutritional, it can add taste and goodness to all sorts of goodies; in the summer it’s a useful standby in the refrigerator for keeping dogs hydrated. A beef bone broth isn’t difficult to make, it just requires bones, patience and a large pan (or even a slow cooker if you are making smaller amounts). And perhaps vegetables or vegetable waste. The broth is easy to freeze and can be used to provide extra flavour and nutritional value in toppings, purees and baked treats.

Beef bones support joint health and because of their synergetic effect, glucosamine and chondroitin are prescribed together in the treatment of canine arthritis and osteoarthritis.

That’s why I’ll always jump at an offer of a few kilos of beef bones!

Simple beef broth

Place all beef bones, with connective tissue and bone marrow, in a large pan.
Cover with water, adding a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to help.

Beef bones and bone marrow

 

Why add apple cider vinegar?

The acidity helps to break down the bones and facilitates the release of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Extraction of more minerals from the bones enhances the nutrient density of the broth, making it more beneficial. Apple cider vinegar also helps to break down collagen into gelatine, which supports joint health, skin, and digestion. For freezing: the natural antimicrobial properties in apple cider vinegar help to preserve the broth, which can be useful when storing in the refrigerator or freezing for future use.

Bring slowly to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for around 12 hours.

 

Fat

Beef bone broth recipes for human consumption are strict about removing fat that rises to the surface. Not important for dogs – in fact it’s counteractive. Dogs don’t care about a cloudy liquid, they aren’t gourmets! We want all that fat that comes to the surface: fat left on the bones, from connective tissues, and of course from bone marrow. It provides the nutritional value and flavour, especially where you have a good mix of bones.

Beef bone broth with vegetables

Vegetables can also be added to a beef bone broth recipe. For example, try adding celery, carrots, cauliflower leaves or broccoli stalks. Herbs like parsley, rosemary or thyme are also an option. Or even turmeric and ginger.

 

 

Strain and freeze

Allow the broth to cool, then strain out any bones. Use a fine cheesecloth to catch all sharp splinters.
Store the broth in portions in the freezer.

The larger bones can be reused to make a second stock, known as a Remouillage (see recipe here).

 

Want to know more? These studies may be useful:

Wang L, Qiao K, Duan W, Zhang Y, Xiao J, Huang Y. Comparison of taste components in stewed beef broth under different conditions by means of chemical analyzed. Food Sci Nutr. 2020 Jan 9;8(2):955-964. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.1376. PMID: 32148804; PMCID: PMC7020296.

 

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional nutritionist. I am sharing recipes that I have created and tested in my kitchen and that have been tasted and approved by our doggy friends.