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Ingredient file // Flavor

Chicken Bone Broth

Useful chicken flavor, modest nutritional payoff

Chicken bone broth is the liquid left after chicken bones and attached tissue cook in water. It adds savory flavor and, when poured over a meal, water. Claims that it repairs joints or supplies substantial bone minerals run ahead of the evidence.

Chicken Bone Broth
What it is
Liquid made by cooking chicken bones and attached tissue in water, then removing the solids.
Made from
Chicken bones and attached tissue
Main job
Savory flavor and moisture
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Chicken allergy or seasoned household broth
Not the same as
Chicken meal

Straight answer

Is Chicken Bone Broth safe for dogs?

Read it as flavor, then check the protein

Chicken bone broth on a bag signals flavor. Ingredient order reflects weight, and liquid broth brings water with it, so a high position alone says little about retained chicken protein. Check the finished food's protein and moisture analysis and the meat ingredients around the broth. Treat joint and gut claims as unproven.

Why it is in the food
Savory flavor and moisture

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 48 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

2%

67 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 26 brands. 26 wet dog food, 20 dog food topper, 20 dry dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 3. In the top five of 38 foods, so it is usually a main ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

82%

Listed before the salt in 82% of foods. In the rest it is under about 1% of the recipe.

Price per lb

Foods with it $4.30
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 18 priced foods, 32% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

10%

of the foods that list it are from Stella & Chewy's. 26 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Poultry processing leaves bones and attached tissue after meat is removed. Cooking them in water recovers flavor and soluble material. Producers remove the bones and may concentrate or dry the liquid for pet food.4,10,11

  1. 01 // Source Chicken bones Bones with some attached meat and connective tissue come from poultry processing.
  2. 02 // Process Cooked in water Heat draws chicken flavor and soluble proteins into the water.
  3. 03 // Process Solids removed The cooked bones and other solids are separated from the liquid.
  4. 04 // Output Broth or powder The strained liquid is used as broth or concentrated and dried for a recipe.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

80-87

% protein

Protein in experimental, enzyme-treated chicken bone extracts. Concentrated solids tell you little about how much protein a splash of liquid broth adds.

Crude protein 80.4-87.2%4
Ash 3.5-6.2%4
Lysine 21-37.8 g/kg4

These figures describe enzyme-treated bone extracts after processing, not typical retail broth. The solids in a liquid broth change with the raw material, processing method, fat removal and dilution.4,11

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adds savory flavor

    Cooking transfers chicken-derived taste and aroma into water. Liquid broth can coat food; dried broth lets a manufacturer add those solids without shipping the water.1,11

  2. 02

    Moistens a served meal

    A pourable topper adds water directly to the bowl. Broth mixed into kibble before drying does not leave the same amount of water in the finished food.8,12

  3. 03

    Uses poultry leftovers

    Bones and attached tissue remain after meat processing. Extracting broth gives manufacturers another saleable use for that material and recovers flavor from an existing supply.4,11

How much No standard recipe percentage is published; a liquid topper gives serving directions, but those do not reveal a kibble maker's inclusion rate.12

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Pouring broth over kibble adds moisture

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A liquid topper adds water to the bowl by simple arithmetic. One chicken bone broth topper lists 97% as its maximum moisture. That label does not show that broth already cooked into dry kibble increases its moisture.12

  2. Brands say

    Chicken broth makes picky dogs eat

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In a dog swallowing study, liquid extracted from canned chicken raised acceptance of a test liquid to 89.4%. That was not a bone broth feeding trial and does not show a lasting appetite benefit.1

  3. Brands say

    Bone broth collagen repairs sore joints

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A funded, blinded trial in 31 dogs found better gait measures with specific collagen peptides. It tested a measured peptide product, not chicken bone broth. The amount of those peptides in broth and their effect there were not tested.2,13

  4. Brands say

    Bone broth heals a dog's gut

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Brands claim digestive support, and a study measured amino acids in 15 retail bone broth samples. It did not feed broth to dogs with digestive disease or test whether broth repairs a gut lining.5,13

  5. Owners say

    Chicken bone broth is rich in bone minerals

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A study that included 3 commercial chicken bone broths found the broths poor sources of most minerals measured. Bones contain minerals, but the strained liquid is not a reliable mineral supplement.6

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It supplies chicken flavor, a real recipe job. As a liquid topper it also adds water. Those uses do not make it a substitute for the meat, protein or minerals elsewhere in the food.1,6,12

  2. Q02

    Does it replace chicken meat?

    No

    Broth is mostly liquid when it reaches the bowl. A concentrated bone extract can have substantial protein on a dry matter basis, but its amount in a recipe is unknown. Read the other protein ingredients.3,4,12

  3. Q03

    Does broth on the label mean hydration?

    Only if served wet

    Pouring liquid broth over a meal adds water. If a manufacturer mixes broth into kibble before drying, the finished food's moisture is what matters. Check the product's moisture analysis.8,12

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Stella & Chewy's 7 / 85
  2. Jinx 6 / 21
  3. The Honest Kitchen 6 / 36
  4. Nulo 6 / 117
  5. Orijen 5 / 25
  6. Open Farm 5 / 42
  7. Dave's Pet Food 3 / 22
  8. Natural Balance 3 / 48
  9. TruDog 2 / 14
  10. Grandma Lucy's 2 / 24

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 16 more brands.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken 82%
  2. Carrots 40%
  3. Sweet Potatoes 33%
  4. Pumpkin 28%
  5. Mixed Tocopherols 27%
  6. Turkey 24%
  7. Chicken Fat 24%
  8. Flaxseed 22%
  9. Chicken Meal 22%
  10. Sunflower Oil 21%
  11. Chicken Liver 21%
  12. Peas 19%

On the shelf

Foods that list Chicken Bone Broth

67 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Weruva Awesome Everything Super Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperWeruvaWeruva Awesome Everything Super Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelTucker’s Boost Chicken Butter Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTucker'sTucker’s Boost Chicken Butter Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelBrutus Broth Brutus Bone Broth for Dogs - Chicken Dog Food TopperBrutus BrothBrutus Broth Brutus Bone Broth for Dogs - Chicken Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelWellness Core Bowl Boosters Hearty Toppers Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe in Savory Bone Broth Dog Food TopperWellnessWellness Core Bowl Boosters Hearty Toppers Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe in Savory Bone Broth Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Functional Pour Overs: Hip & Joint - Chicken Stew Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Functional Pour Overs: Hip & Joint - Chicken Stew Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Superfood Pour Overs Chicken Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Superfood Pour Overs Chicken Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Cage-Free Chicken Broth Dog Food TopperStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Cage-Free Chicken Broth Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Bountiful Bone Broth Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Dog Food TopperStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Bountiful Bone Broth Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Marie’s Mix-Ins Cage-Free Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe in Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food MixerStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Marie’s Mix-Ins Cage-Free Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe in Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food MixerTopper // No. 1 on the labelSolid Gold Bone Broth Stew with Chicken & Hearty Vegetables Dog Food TopperSolid GoldSolid Gold Bone Broth Stew with Chicken & Hearty Vegetables Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelSolid Gold Chicken Bone Broth with Lavender & Chamomile Dog Food TopperSolid GoldSolid Gold Chicken Bone Broth with Lavender & Chamomile Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelPurina Beyond Mixers+ Immune Support Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperPurinaPurina Beyond Mixers+ Immune Support Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the label
Show 48 more
The Honest Kitchen Pumpkin Pour Overs Chicken Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Pumpkin Pour Overs Chicken Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelMerrick Grain-Free Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperMerrickMerrick Grain-Free Chicken Bone Broth Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 1 on the labelTruDog Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Sweet Potatoes Wet Dog FoodTruDogTruDog Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Sweet Potatoes Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelTruDog Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Carrots & Spinach Wet Dog FoodTruDogTruDog Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Carrots & Spinach Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelGrandma Lucy’s Meal Prep Ranch Dog Food TopperGrandma Lucy'sGrandma Lucy’s Meal Prep Ranch Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelNatural Balance Specialized Nutrition Joint & Muscle Health Stew with Chicken & Brown Rice Wet Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Specialized Nutrition Joint & Muscle Health Stew with Chicken & Brown Rice Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelCaru Classics (Natural Stews) Classics Chicken Stew Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodCaruCaru Classics (Natural Stews) Classics Chicken Stew Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelFromm Nutritionals Mobility Supplement Pâté Dog Food TopperFrommFromm Nutritionals Mobility Supplement Pâté Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelNutro So Simple Dog Chicken and Duck Dog Food TopperNutroNutro So Simple Dog Chicken and Duck Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelHalo Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Sweet Potatoes Wet Dog FoodHaloHalo Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Sweet Potatoes Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelHalo Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Carrots & Spinach Wet Dog FoodHaloHalo Elevate Homestyle Bone-In Grain Free Chicken Stew w/ Carrots & Spinach Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelOrijen Original Stew Recipe with Chicken, Turkey & Eggs Wet Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Original Stew Recipe with Chicken, Turkey & Eggs Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelOrijen Real Meat Chicken Recipe Stew with Shredded Chicken & Eggs Wet Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Real Meat Chicken Recipe Stew with Shredded Chicken & Eggs Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Grain Free Chicken with Superfoods Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Grain Free Chicken with Superfoods Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Slow Cooked Chicken One Pot Stew Wet Dog FoodThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Slow Cooked Chicken One Pot Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelHealth Extension food Grain Free Chunky Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension food Grain Free Chunky Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelNutro So Simple Dog Chicken & Chicken and Duck Dog Food TopperNutroNutro So Simple Dog Chicken & Chicken and Duck Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelGrandma Lucy’s Meal Prep Chicken Taproom Ale Dog Food TopperGrandma Lucy'sGrandma Lucy’s Meal Prep Chicken Taproom Ale Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 3 on the labelJinx Salmon & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Salmon & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelCaru Daily Dish Chicken Stew Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodCaruCaru Daily Dish Chicken Stew Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelOrijen Original Pâté with Liver Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Original Pâté with Liver Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelOrijen Chicken Recipe Pâté with Liver Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Chicken Recipe Pâté with Liver Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelTiki Dog Raw Chicken, Chicken Liver and Chicken Bone Broth Frozen Raw Dog FoodTiki DogTiki Dog Raw Chicken, Chicken Liver and Chicken Bone Broth Frozen Raw Dog FoodFrozen // No. 3 on the labelJinx Chicken Homemades Single-Serve Meal Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken Homemades Single-Serve Meal Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelOrijen FreshPrey Chicken & Duck Recipe With Grains Wet Dog FoodOrijenOrijen FreshPrey Chicken & Duck Recipe With Grains Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelJinx Chicken & Salmon Homemades Single-Serve Meal Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken & Salmon Homemades Single-Serve Meal Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelJinx Grain Free Chicken Tuna Homemades Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Grain Free Chicken Tuna Homemades Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelJinx Chicken Homemades Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken Homemades Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance Platefulls Harvest Chicken & Rice Recipe Wet Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Platefulls Harvest Chicken & Rice Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance Platefulls Savory Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Platefulls Savory Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelHealth Extension Gently Cooked Chicken And Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension Gently Cooked Chicken And Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Grain-Free Goat Milk, Chicken Dinner Pouch Recipe for Dogs / 10 Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Grain-Free Goat Milk, Chicken Dinner Pouch Recipe for Dogs / 10 Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 9 on the labelNature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's RecipeNature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 9 on the labelNature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's RecipeNature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 10 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Lamb Clusters Dry Dog FoodThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Lamb Clusters Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Pouches Dave’s Chicken & Salmon with Brown Rice, Goat Milk Pouch Recipe for Do Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Pouches Dave’s Chicken & Salmon with Brown Rice, Goat Milk Pouch Recipe for Do Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 12 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Large Breed Baked & Coated Whitefish, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Large Breed Baked & Coated Whitefish, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelI and Love and You Baked & Saucy Beef + Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodI and Love and YouI and Love and You Baked & Saucy Beef + Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Pouches Dave’s Beef & Chicken with Brown Rice, Goat Milk Pouch Recipe Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Pouches Dave’s Beef & Chicken with Brown Rice, Goat Milk Pouch Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 13 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Puppy Baked & Coated Turkey, Chicken & Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Puppy Baked & Coated Turkey, Chicken & Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Large Breed Puppy Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Large Breed Puppy Baked & Coated Chicken, Duck & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Salmon, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Salmon, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelK9 Natural Baked & Coated Cage-Free Poultry Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodK9 NaturalK9 Natural Baked & Coated Cage-Free Poultry Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelOpen Farm Large Breed RawMix - Grain Free Large Breed Dry Dog FoodOpen FarmOpen Farm Large Breed RawMix - Grain Free Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelOpen Farm Epic Blend Chicken & Superfood Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOpen FarmOpen Farm Epic Blend Chicken & Superfood Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked September 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Standardization of a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Protocol to Investigate Dysphagia in Dogs Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2017 // Journal
  2. 2 The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) improves gait and quality of life in canine osteoarthritis patients-A translational large animal model for a nutritional therapy option PLOS One, 2024 // Journal
  3. 3 Protein quality of chicken-based protein sources evaluated by precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay Journal of Animal Science, 2025 // Journal
  4. 4 Industrial enzymatic hydrolysis of chicken viscera and bone materials: effect on protein recovery and product properties Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2026 // Journal
  5. 5 Amino acid content of beef, chicken and turkey bone broth Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research, 2019 // Journal
  6. 6 Assesment of macro, trace, and toxic element levels in beef and chicken bone broths Journal of Elementology, 2026 // Journal
  7. 7 Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024 // Book
  8. 8 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  9. 9 Cooking Up a Food Allergy: Conducting a Diagnostic Food Trial University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, 2026 // University
  10. 10 Best Foods to Soothe Your Dog's Upset Stomach American Kennel Club, n.d. // Nonprofit
  11. 11 What are animal protein powders? IQI Petfood, 2020 // Industry
  12. 12 Chicken Bone Broth Grain Free Dog & Cat Food Topper Merrick Pet Care, n.d. // Industry
  13. 13 Benefits of Bone Broth for Dogs and Cats Open Farm, 2019 // Industry
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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