DIY BONE BROTH

Have you noticed the endless variety of supplements marketed to pet owners these days?

I am not referring to the ones designed for specific medical reasons of course, I am talking about the ones that are a good source of the most basic minerals / vitamins characteristic of a balanced diet anyway.... ?? 

Now, it's only one perspective of course, but here is just one example... let's take FISH OIL. Instead of buying a bottle of liquid capsules grab a can of the home brand tuna, salmon, mackerel ... i know we love our pets, but their bodies mechanics really aren't as fussy as the human kind. Our scrap meat is a Scotch Fillet cooked to a perfect medium rare for our dogs. And the canned tuna is actual food plus the omega 3's and 6's for the grant total price of $2. So in this instance, the ones that 'old mate West' rejected is just fine. 

Our advice is always (unless there is a reason why not), keep it simple and next time you're at the supermarket, don't be afraid of the 'marked down' meat section.  You're dog's health will love you for it!  

Is there gravy? Of course there's gravy... 

?All dogs can benefit from having a bone broth included in their diet and it's definitely something you can introduce early on that promotes a long term benefit but it can really be a game changer for some pets and most commonly discovered when our dogs are moving into their senior years. 'Arthritis' may be accepted as inevitable for our beloved oldies, but the onset and the discomfort can be reduced if we prepare them well.

Broth is also a great alternative for upset stomachs in dogs or ones that may be recovering from an injury, accident or illness and soft food is required. (K: remember the nice pot of home cooked chicken soup our nanna's would whip up when nothing else worked... ) 

And the good news is cooking a bone broth is inexpensive, nutrient packed & even better is it's super easy to make. I like to call it 'gravy for dogs'.

So if the question being asked is why pet owners should add this super-food to their pet's diet? Here's three reasons that may just spike your interest;

1. Bone broth is loaded with 'glycosaminoglycans', incl. glucosamine. Not only does bone broth contain super amazing amounts of glucosamine, it’s also packed with other joint protecting compounds like chondroitin and hyaluronic acid.
2. The liver is the master organ of detoxification. Its capacity to detoxify is limited by the availability of the amino acid glycine. Guess what has tons of glycine? Bone broth! Glycine also aids digestion by helping to regulate the synthesis of bile salts and secretion of gastric acid.
3. The lining of the intestines contains millions of tiny holes that allow the passage of digested nutrients to enter the body. Stress, poor diet and bacterial overgrowth can cause more holes to open or to become bigger…this is called "leaky gut". Bone broth is loaded with a gooey substance that can plug up those leaky holes: gelatin.    

Source Dana Scott, Dogs Naturally Magazine (USA)

DIY Bone Broth

So once you've dragged out the pot (or slow cooker), simply fill with the desired bones and add water until covering contents*.  
*The quantity of bones and water required will be to suit your pot. Note: don’t overfill your pot, leave a couple inches from the top as a minimum to help reduce boiling over. 

You can use raw or cooked bones but be sure to include joint bones with cartilage. You can even collect and save bones in the freezer. HOT TIP: Great bones to include are wings, legs & carcass frames. By including these parts increases ‘chondroitin’ content in broth which is beneficial for joint health, especially in large or senior dogs. 

Add a splash of an Acidic Acid - it's been said this helps draw the minerals out of the bones more thoroughly. * Raw apple cider vinegar is most commonly used (It’s well regarded by herbalists for its ability to draw minerals out of plants). Lemon juice may also be used.

• Heat ingredients on low heat and simmer with lid on for min. 10-12 hours
• Let broth cool in pot for a few hours.
• Top up water if needed and simmer on low heat with lid on for another 10-12 hours

​
OPTIONAL: at this stage you can add some whole or chunky-cut vegetables to your broth to include vitamins i.e. kale, carrots, sweet potato, zucchini etc.

• Let broth cool then remove/strain bones/vegetables etc. before any of the fat solidifies on top of broth
• Strain remaining liquid further if desired, but it is not necessary.
• Pour into clean (recycled) jars, ice trays, containers etc. and cool to room temp. before sealing with lid (avoids risk of mould growth by reducing condensation inside jar)
• Refrigerate or Freeze bottled broth – store for up to a week or so in the fridge

​         BEFORE USE:

• Remove top layer of fat from broth (cool/ fat solidified) and discard
• Shake jar to mix broth before feeding to your pets/animals
• Feed 1-2 Tablespoons regularly where possible and works great as a gravy if slightly heated.

Easy to use as a food gravy and/or mixing supplements ~ Use seasonally as an immune booster