Tag Archive for: hydration

add bone broth to your bowl

5 Reasons to Add Bone Broth to Your Pet’s Bowl

If you ask any NPP team member what they add to their pet’s bowl, you’ll undoubtedly get the same answer: bone broth. We’ve seen first hand how well bone broth can improve health from the inside out, so we swear by it!  This nutritional treat is packed with vitamins and minerals to boost your pet’s overall health and wellness. Our pets experience inflammation and metabolic stress just like we do. Feeding your pet a mineral-rich stock like bone broth can improve inflammation, promote a healthy gut, and improve their overall health.      

1. Improved Hydration

Reasons to Add Bone Broth for pets

Glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid are nutrients packed into bone broth to help promote collagen growth.

Bone broth is a great way to add additional hydration to your pet’s diet. You can easily add this to their food as a topper. Feeding dry kibble without added moisture can often lead to chronic dehydration as the body pulls moisture from surrounding organs to break down the food. If you feed kibble (dry food), this can significantly help keep them stay hydrated, ease digestion, and maximize nutrient absorption.    

 2. Joint Health

Glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid are nutrients packed into bone broth to help promote collagen growth. Collagen is essential because it cushions the bones, ligaments, and tendons, which means it is crucial for joint health. Just like in humans, collagen naturally deteriorates as your pet ages. Without it, the bones have nothing between them to ease movement, leading to pain and limited mobility. Therefore, adding bone broth to the bowl diet is an easy way to keep joints healthy.      

3. Liver Detox

Glycine, a vital amino acid, aids the liver in filtering toxins from your dog’s body. Bone broth’s high glycine levels support the liver’s most important function of filtering toxins from your dog’s body to detoxify its system.       

4. Healthy Skin and Coat

A healthy coat and skin are essential components of overall health. Vitamins B and C promote collagen formation and cell proliferation, yielding a thick healthy coat. In addition to a healthier, softer coat, this can also help to alleviate common problems with dry, itchy skin and excessive shedding.   

5. Better Digestion and Nutrient Absorption

Bone broth promotes overall gut health from glycine which helps to repair the intestinal wall and seal the gut lining. You may have heard of ‘leaky gut’, a condition in which undigested food particles can escape through an unhealthy gut – leading to a myriad of symptoms. Bone broth helps to seal this lining to prevent poor digestion. A healthy gut means better nutrient absorption, a more robust gut microbiome, and a stronger immune system.

Try serving your pet bone broth one of these ways:
  • Serve as a food topper over any type of food
  • Give to your pet as a stand alone treat
  • Freeze bone broth in a lick mat or puzzle toy for a longer-lasting treat
FAQ: Is Bone Broth the same as soup broth or stock? 

In short, no. Avoid feeding your dog the broth you find on the shelves of the grocery store. Typically, the soup broth or stock we use in our own cooking is loaded with excess sodium, added flavors and ingredients that aren’t great for our pets. Instead, you can make your own bone broth at home or buy broth specifically made for pets. 

3 Quick Ways to Improve Dry Kibble

We all want the best for our pets, and one crucial aspect of their well-being is a nutritious diet. While dry kibble forms the foundation of many pets’ meals, there are simple yet effective ways to enhance its nutritional value. In this blog, we’ll explore three easy ways to improve a bowl of dry kibble. These enhancements not only enhance the taste but also provide numerous health benefits for your beloved companion.

Simple Additions for Any Meal

  1. improving bowl of dry kibble

    Goat milk is another fantastic way to add hydration.

    Add a Splash of Water: Dry kibble can be dehydrating for our pets, making it essential to increase their moisture intake. By adding a splash of water to your pet’s food, you’re not only improving its palatability but also aiding digestion and promoting hydration. Adequate hydration supports optimal organ function, aids in nutrient absorption, and helps maintain healthy skin and coat. Goat milk and bone broth are also fantastic ways to boost hydration. It’s a simple yet effective way to ensure your cat or dog stays well-hydrated throughout the day.

  2. Add Fresh Food: Incorporating fresh food into your dog’s kibble provides a wealth of nutritional benefits. Vegetables like green beans, broccoli, grated carrots, leafy greens, and fruits such as blueberries and watermelon are excellent choices. These additions offer essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health, boost the immune system, and contribute to healthy aging. Fresh foods also provide natural dietary fiber, aiding digestion and promoting a healthy weight management for your dog.
  3. Add Quality Canned or Freeze-Dried Food: Supplementing dry kibble with high-quality canned or freeze-dried food offers a variety of benefits. These options often contain a higher moisture content, providing additional hydration for your pet. Moreover, they tend to have a richer flavor, enticing even the pickiest eaters. Canned or freeze-dried foods are typically made with quality ingredients, offering a balanced blend of proteins, healthy fats, and beneficial nutrients. They can enhance the taste, texture, and overall nutritional profile of your dog’s meal.

A Simple Way to Promote Overall Health

By incorporating these simple improvements, you can transform your pet’s dry kibble into a more enticing and nutritious meal. Remember, consult with your veterinarian to ensure any dietary changes align with your pet’s specific needs and health conditions. With these easy enhancements, you’re taking proactive steps towards providing your pet with a well-rounded and satisfying diet that promotes their health, happiness, and longevity.