Marrow Bones and Bone Broth 

A note for dog owners. 

I want NOT to bombard with information about dogs and cats but sometimes I see something “enough times” to think that “Hmmm I should say something about this because people won’t know.” 

It’s about bone broth. 

Bone broth is a soup or stock made with bones. Like, the marrow (which is a LOT of fat) is melted out of bones making a tasty marrow / bone broth. 

What’s good: 

It has lots of nutrients that are from the marrow. Even iron. 

What’s bad: 

It’s a LOT (I mean a LOT) of fat. So if you noticed that when you put it on your dog’s food they “Eat like never before” that’s why. And then you’ll notice their weight climbing up month after month. 

REMEMBER: 

Bone broth is basically “Liquid Pizza” for a dog’s waistline. 

It gets worse: 

Bone broth and any other source of fat over 15% in toto are actually LIKELY to cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea and eventually, chronic colitis. 

If you and your Vet are battling your dog’s chronic diarrhea (like every month or more) it could be a cumulative effect of too much fat in the diet. Overweight dogs have a very high likelihood of diarrhea and GI Upset. 

CONCLUSION: 

I said all that to say this:   I’d leave Bone Broth out of a dog’s diet. If they don’t wanna eat dry dog food dry, twice a day, then I’d suspect they’re at a really good weight and don’t NEED the calories. 

Adding Bone Broth makes them eat WITHOUT NEED and they get fat. 

Two random notes:   

BONES GET STUCK SURPRISINGLY: 

We cut a bone off a dog’s lower jaw again the other day. It was a “marrow bone” which is basically a ‘bracelet’ made of bone, and full of marrow / fat. The bone gets ‘emptied out’ pretty fast, giving the dog a sudden 750 calorie punch in the waist. Then they slide the bone down over their lower jaw and have to go get it cut off. 

BEST BONE FOR DOGS:

Secret sauce: Beef Shanks. All of the marrowy goodness MUCH more slowly, and no bones over the lower jaw. ALWAYS make sure it’s a BEEF shank because a PORK SHANK will splinter like a Pinata full of razorblades. 

A WORD OF CAUTION: 

In fact, I STRENUOUSLY recommend AGAINST any and all bones which are PORK origin. Only BEEF bones have any chance against the jaws of a dog over 40 pounds. For the rest, Pork Bones Splinter. 

 In the picture, Robin plays with a big BEEF Knuckle