BONE BROTH
Bone broth has been a classic folk remedy for thousands of years and benefits ailments that affect connective tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, the joints, the skin, the lungs, the muscles and the blood. Bone broth is essentially the nutrient-dense stock liquid made from simmering raw bones at low heat over long periods of time. This gelatinous broth is packed full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals and is considered a nutrition powerhouse for pets!Bone broth is rich in many nutrients, especially amino acids such as arginine, glycine, glutamine and proline. Bone broth also acts as a superior joint supplement, as it contains gelatin (the breakdown of collagen) , glucosamine, chondroitin and other nutrients that support good joint health.
It also contains vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, iron, thiamin, potassium, calcium, silicon, sulfer, magnesium, phosphorus, and trace minerals. Bone broth is especially ideal for sick and senior pets, as it is extremely easy to digest and is soothing for the gut. Although this healthy broth can be given to help pets heal and stay strong, it also works as an excellent supplement for any dog or cat at any age!
Bone broth is beneficial for the following conditions in pets:
Gastrointestinal ailments, esp. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Decreased appetite with chronic kidney disease
Arthritis and degenerative Joint Disease
Chronic Skin allergies and ear infections
As a medium to hide herbs and drugs
How to make bone broth
Using raw bones including joints and chicken feet will increase the amount of collagen, minerals and glycosaminoglycans in the broth, so we recommend beef marrow bones and chicken necks and chicken feet . Add enough water to cover the bones, add a ¼ cup of raw apple cider vinegar, and optional assorted vegetables (no onions!). Bring to a simmer. Simmer on lowest heat for a minimum of 12 hours but 24 hours is better. Strain to remove small bones, cool, skim off any fat, and put into containers (ice cube trays work well for freezing small individual portions). The broth can be kept in the refrigerator for about five days, or frozen for months. Warm the broth to just above room temperature at each serving. Since this takes more time than most of us have, we sell premade free range turkey bone broth from ALWAYS REAL FOOD, locally made in Crown Point. When using bone broth as a supplement, we recommend ½ cup per 50# dog per day.
PROTOCOL FOR PETS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Day 1-3:
Make bone broth (see above) using a novel source of animal protein (fish, rabbit, bird, beef, kangaroo, venison). Introduce a probiotic slowly by adding a pinch to one serving a day for a few days, then increase to a pinch with each serving. Add meat and marrow mixed with the broth when you are certain that the broth is not making your pet worse.
Day 3 to 2 weeks:
When the food (broth, meat, marrow) is tolerated, add in fish or coconut oil, starting with small amounts and building up to the full daily dose. Maintain probiotics in either broth, food or water. Slowly add herbs as prescribed by your holistic veterinarian (these can often replace steroid therapy). Additional foods and supplements can be added into the diet once symptoms have abated. Don’t forget to address any stress that can trigger flare-ups.
