Can dogs eat bone broth?

Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: VCA Animal Hospitals — pet health library; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · Free · No sign-up

Yes — bone broth is generally safe for dogs in moderation, plain and in small pieces.
If your dog may have eaten something harmful, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right now — don't wait for symptoms. A consultation fee may apply to the ASPCA hotline.
Verdict for dogsGenerally safe
Severity1 / 5 — Low risk — fine in moderation for a healthy pet.
Safe amountSmall amounts
CategoryProtein
SourceVCA Animal Hospitals — pet health library; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high

Why

Plain home-made bone broth with no salt, onion or garlic is a safe, well-liked topper and a useful way to get fluids into a dog that is off its food. Shop-bought broth and stock cubes are the opposite — high in sodium and almost always containing onion or garlic.

Signs to watch for if your dog has eaten bone broth

Signs can lag by a day or more, so no symptoms does not mean your dog is clear — call rather than watch.

What to do now

Serve it plain, in small pieces, as an occasional treat. Keep all treats to under about a tenth of daily calories, and introduce anything new in a small amount so you can spot a sensitive stomach.

Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.

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Safer alternatives for dogs

What about cats?

Can cats eat bone broth? — Generally safe for cats.

This page is a reference, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. Verdicts are transcribed from the cited source, never inferred, and a finding in one species is never copied onto the other. How we source and decide a verdict.

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FAQ

Can dogs eat bone broth?

Yes — bone broth is generally safe for dogs in moderation, plain and in small pieces. Plain home-made bone broth with no salt, onion or garlic is a safe, well-liked topper and a useful way to get fluids into a dog that is off its food. Shop-bought broth and stock cubes are the opposite — high in sodium and almost always containing onion or garlic.

What happens if a dog eats bone broth?

Usually nothing — in moderation this is a safe treat. If they had a large amount, watch for: Most pets are fine after a small amount; Vomiting, loose stools or a skipped meal if they had a lot; Any new food can upset a sensitive stomach — introduce it in a small amount. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.

How much bone broth is dangerous for a dog?

The safe amount is small amounts, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.

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