🐾 Bone Broth for Dogs: Why We've Gone Back to Basics
Bone broth resurged as a nutritional trend a few years back, but it’s been around since the dawn of dogs as we know them, if not earlier. Our ancestors would likely have shared bowls of broth or similar foods around a campfire, so including it in our dogs’ diets is nothing new. Which is exactly why we eat it ourselves and have included it in our range.
For us, bone broth is less about adding something extra and more about returning to what dogs have thrived on since domestication began: slow-cooked, mineral-rich nourishment that naturally supports overall vitality, day after day.
🦴 What Bone Broth Actually Is
At its simplest, bone broth is made by slowly simmering bones and connective tissue over many hours. This process draws out naturally occurring nutrients like amino acids, minerals, and gelatine—creating a nourishing liquid that’s super tasty and easy to digest.
When made properly, bone broth provides:
- Naturally occurring collagen and gelatine
- Amino acids like glycine and proline
- Minerals released from bones during slow cooking
It’s not a supplement in the modern sense—it’s a traditional food, prepared with time and intention.
💧 Why Bone Broth Makes Sense for Dogs
Dogs and their predecessors evolved eating whole animals—including bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. Bone broth mirrors that profile in a form that’s easy to feed and gentle on the digestive system.
We see bone broth as especially useful for:
- Dogs who need encouragement to drink more
- Dogs prone to digestive sensitivity
- Dogs recovering from illness, injury, or periods of stress
- Older dogs who benefit from soft, nourishing foods
Rather than targeting one specific outcome, bone broth supports the body as a whole—hydration, digestion, joints, and general vitality.
🔬 What the Science Tells Us (and What Our Experience Confirms)
Bone broth hasn’t been marketed in the same way as modern supplements, but its components are well-studied.
Research shows that:
- Gelatine and collagen-derived amino acids support connective tissue and joint health
- Glycine plays a role in digestion and gut integrity
- Warm, palatable liquids can encourage fluid intake and support hydration
While studies tend to focus on individual nutrients rather than “bone broth” as a product, the benefits align closely with what dog owners and trainers have observed for generations: dogs do well on simple, nutrient-dense foods.
🧠 Why We Use It at Native Breed
We didn’t create a bone broth product because it’s very much a product that’s on trend—we created it because we kept spooning it into our dogs’ bowls and they were lapping it up.
Whether it was for:
- Adding nourishment during Biggs’ recovery and for bolstering his and Gregor’s diet
- Encouraging both boys to drink more to improve their hydration
- Supporting their digestion and Biggs’ gut health after medication
Bone broth consistently proved useful for both of them in day-to-day life.
That’s why our Native Breed Grass-Fed Beef Bone Broth is made from:
- Grass-fed beef bones, sourced for quality and nutrient density
- Slowly simmered to extract naturally occurring goodness
- With nothing unnecessary added
It’s designed to be used flexibly—to top their food bowl, be mixed into their water, or frozen into treats. Just as beneficial and tasty in each format.
⚖️ Safety & Use
Bone broth is generally well tolerated and suitable for dogs of all ages when fed appropriately.
A few simple guidelines:
- Introduce gradually, especially for dogs new to broth
- Use as a topper or hydration boost alongside a balanced diet
- Serve according to packaging instructions
- Speak with your vet if your dog has specific dietary needs
Our bone broth is intended as a complementary food, designed to support everyday wellness rather than replace a complete diet.
🐕 The Bottom Line
Bone broth isn’t about doing more—it’s about going back to basics and to what has worked for millennia.
It can help support:
✅ Hydration and fluid intake
✅ Digestive comfort
✅ Joint and connective tissue nourishment
✅ Overall vitality, especially during recovery or ageing
For us, bone broth remains one of the simplest and most reliable ways to support Biggs and Gregor day to day—and sometimes, simple really is best.
At Native Breed, we believe good nutrition doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be thoughtful—backed by nature, chosen with purpose.
