Sometimes it works but other times he just refuses to eat. I freaked out at first, worrying about him not eating because he needs nutrients and his strength, especially during chemo weeks since his wbc count will take a nose dive, but I learned after a few chemo treatments what to expect and I learned not to panic.
This too shall pass and he will be ready for food soon.
One of the things I read about and many of my awesome friends told me about was bone broth and all of the good nutrients it provides for both 2 legged creatures (that's you and me) and the 4-legged kind.
Here is some great info on bone broth that I never knew:
-Bone broth is a collagen-rich and nutrient-dense superfood. It contains important nutrients, especially minerals, which makes it a beneficial dietary supplement for many people. When bones from chicken, cows, and even some fish get simmered down, it releases nutrients from the marrow of the bones and it breaks down other tissues into the water making it a flavorful and nutritious broth
-Bones themselves are rich in vitamins and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Brewing connective tissue into bone broth provides the body with natural compounds from the cartilage. Tissues and bones also contain collagen which provides the body with amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
-Bone marrow is rich in nutrients such as: Iron, vitamins A & K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc, and manganese.
-Bone broth may help protect joints, it may aid in fighting osteoarthritis, and it may help in reducing inflammation and aid in overall gut health.
There are many benefits to bone broth for your dog, too!!! Research has shown that bone broth is a great liver detox for dogs, it promotes gut health for furry Rover (or Max!) and it supports their immune system which is important, especially for those dogs fighting cancer.
On top of these great benefits for your dog, bone broth has a wonderful meaty flavor and if your dog is being picky about their food, adding warm broth can make their meal too enticing to walk away from!
Over these past weeks of chemo and Max being picky about his food or not wanting to eat at all, I have found when I add warm bone broth to his meals, he can't resist. He laps it up right away and I feel good knowing it's giving him extra nutrients to support his immune system.
The first time I made bone broth I used bones from roasted chicken. I used our instant pot and it worked out great! The next time I made it I wanted to try beef bones with marrow bc marrow has wonderful nutrients in it!
Below is what we did when making beef bone broth for Maxie and I hope it helps you if you decide to try this for your furry loved one or for YOU!
To make beef bone broth you will need:
3lbs of beef bones (with marrow if you can find them)
3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (I used organic)
Instant Pot (or crock pot)
Filtered water
**You can make bone broth on your stove or in your crock pot but it has to simmer for 24 hours in order to pull all the ingredients from the bones. We like to use our Instant Pot bc it is quicker. The amount of water will vary from stove to crock pot to Instant Pot so look up the proper water requirements once you decide which cooking method you prefer
The first thing you will want to do is to roast your beef bones in your oven. Set your oven temp to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with vegetable oil.
Place your bones on the baking sheet and roast for 40 minutes.
Roasting brings out the flavor in the bones and will make for a more flavorful broth.
Next, place your bones in the bottom of your Instant Pot. Be careful! Those suckers will be warm! Add filtered water and cover the bones and fill to 1" BELOW the max fill line on your pot.
Next, add in 3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar which will help draw out the nutrients from the bones and marrow.
Set the Instant Pot on high pressure and set for 120 minutes.
Once time is up, allow your Instant Pot to slow release for 30 minutes.
Once your pin drops, shut off and get ready to strain.
**Side note: When we took our lid off here, we noticed our bone marrow did NOT come out of the bones, so, we took a knife and pushed it out into the hot broth. We decided to cook the broth for 1 more hour just to allow more nutrients to be extracted from the marrow into the broth, but not sure this is really necessary.
Next, you are going to strain your broth to get rid of any bone pieces that have splintered off and to remove any chunks of marrow left or other impurities.
When you have completed straining, pour your broth into storage containers and cool in your fridge over night.
The next day, there will be a layer of oil that has risen to the top that you will want to skim off.
As you can see, Sammy was helping me with the process. :)
Then, you can store your bone broth however you want! We like to freeze it in ice cube trays so we can pop 2-3 cubes out for each one of our dog's meals and pour it over their food. It is super convenient that way, too.
Don't be alarmed by the light color of the broth. I had in my head it would look dark brown like it does in the beef broth you buy in the stores. My bones did NOT have a lot of meat left on them (actually none at all) and I have read it's the meaty part that adds the darker color.
On days when Max doesn't want to eat bc his belly is upset, giving him some warm broth in a bowl will keep him hydrated and provide the nutrients and gut health he needs.
Hope you found this helpful and if you have any tips or tricks on how you make bone broth, I would love to know! A BIG thanks to my friend Diane Shimansky and Dawn Church for giving me advice and feedback how to make this!!! I couldn't have done it without you!
Comment below and let me know if you try this!
Love,
Brenda (and Max, too!)
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