If Your Dog Won't Eat Their Food, Try Adding This Liquid Ingredient

It can be frustrating (and potentially expensive) if your dog refuses to eat their food. Thankfully, pouring a little chicken broth over their kibble for a boost of flavor will likely appease even the pickiest of pooches and get them to chow down. Not only will this hack help your picky pup eat their food, but it's simple, easy, and convenient for you as well. There's also the fact that chicken broth has some health benefits for your beloved canine, though you'll need to be careful about the varieties you serve them.

When choosing a chicken broth, always opt for a low-sodium option. If you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own. When buying or making chicken broth, be sure to stay away from poisonous ingredients, such as onion and garlic. Both of these often appear in minced or powdered form (especially dangerous due to its higher concentration of toxins than the raw variety) in human foods, and can prove fatal for canines in rare cases. "It only takes 100 grams of onion (about the size of a medium onion) per 20 kilograms of a dog's weight to cause toxic effects," warns the American Kennel Club.

Beyond making your pup's meal more enticing, chicken broth can benefit them in other ways. Adding it to your dog's dry food will give them some extra hydration they wouldn't normally get from their meal. Thanks to the collagen it contains, chicken broth can also be beneficial for your dog's joints.

Just like you may eat chicken soup when you're feeling under the weather, chicken broth may help a dog's upset stomach. Further, it contains vitamins and minerals that can benefit your canine's overall health. One such ingredient is magnesium, which is essential for dogs and has an abundance of perks, such as supporting muscle function and strengthening their immune system. Additionally, chicken broth can play a part in your pup's teeth and bone health, as it typically contains both phosphorus and calcium, which help keep these parts of the body strong.

If chicken broth doesn't do the trick (or maybe your pup is allergic to chicken), there are other liquids you can incorporate into your dog's meal. Adding bone broth to a dog's diet may appeal to a picky eater and help them get some extra hydration. It is packed with vitamins and minerals, making it highly nutritious for canines, and benefiting joint and immune health, among other advantages. Bone broth is usually available in chicken, beef, and pork varieties, so you can choose the type that best suits your pup's tastes. Just like with chicken broth, you can buy or make your own bone broth or dog gravy, but be sure to steer clear of toxic ingredients like onion and garlic.

If broth just isn't your dog's thing, another liquid ingredient you can give your pooch is fish oil. If your pup has more of an aquatic taste, adding a little salmon oil to their kibble might make it tastier for them, not to mention it has many health benefits. Dr. Alex Crow told The Dodo, "Salmon oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for bone, joint and heart health." It can also assist with skin issues and allergies.