Beef Broth Question

[Christine & Shelby]

Hi DK friends.... I've been on the site quite a while and just recently thought to myself... I see lots of suggestions to use beef/chicken broth (as topper, to cook rice in, etc). Today while looking at my can of broth... I noticed it had onion in it. I know onion is toxic for dogs... Are you making your own or is the amount of onion in broth pretty trivial... And then when mixed with other items (flour for dog biscuits, rice, etc.) is it too much? Thoughts? If it's not too terribly difficult, I can try making my own.... Or will be looking to modify some biscuit recipes.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good question, Christine. I don't use canned broth for this very reason. The danger from onions is dose related, so maybe the small amount in canned broth doesn't have an effect, but I have never been comfortable with it.

[Christine & Shelby]

Do you make your own? What do you do to substitute or do you just not use it at all?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just don't use it at all.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

An easy way to make beef broth...and it might sound gross is to take leftover beef you might have like steak or roast that you will not eat for leftovers.  Get a good beef bone from the grocery store or butcher shop then boil it all together .  You can then put the water/broth in the fridge til it gets cold and then skim off any fat that raises to the top.  You can add any seasonings that are safe for dogs.  It makes a tasty broth that your pup will enjoy...with no salt or other added things that are not safe. 

Hope this helps

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It doesn't sound gross at all. And to make chicken broth (for dogs or cats), you just put a chicken (it can be cut up or whole, but you want the bones and skin) in a big pot with just enough water to cover it, bring it to a boil, and then simmer for a good long time, at least two hours. Strain the water into a container and refrigerate it overnight. The fat will all rise to the top and harden into a waxy yellow layer that you can just take right off. You can use the chicken meat to make chicken salad for yourself.

The broth in both cases, Elizabeth's post and mine, will still be pretty high in fat, so you don't want to give this to a dog with digestive problems or who is prone to pancreatitis.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I doubt the amount would be significant but I guess you could look into it. I certainly give my dogs a spoonful or two of my food that has been cooked with onions but I pull any visible onion out.