Golden Jelly

The ultimate bone broth ever — and it's jelly!

A natural, ancestral daily treat — slow-cooked beef tendons that set into a golden jelly full of collagen and curcumin.

Leelah, almost 10, has had her Golden Jelly every day for years, along with collagen II and omega-3 — and she still runs like a young dog.

What you need (one batch)

• Beef tendons: 4 big ones — plenty for a 4 to 6 liter batch
• 4 liters of water (enough to cover)
• Optional: other meat or bones
• Pure curcumin (curcuma extract — the concentrated anti-inflammatory molecule, sold as capsules): 10 capsules of 500 mg, opened, or the same amount of powder. Not the turmeric spice, which contains much less.
• Black pepper: 1 teaspoon

How to make it

About 4 hours in a pressure cooker, or about 6 hours in a regular pot.

• 1. Put the beef tendons (and any extra meat or bones) in the pot, cover with the water, and cook for 2 hours.
• 2. Open, take out the tendons, cut them into small pieces and put them back. Add water if needed. Cook for another 2 hours.
• 3. Open, add the curcumin and black pepper, and cook for the last 10 minutes.
• 4. If you added bones, take every bone out.
• 5. Pour the liquid into small containers and let them cool in the fridge. It turns into a beautiful golden jelly — the tendon pieces almost melt into it, so it's pure collagen.

How much to give

Cut a piece and give it every day: about 2 tablespoons a day for a medium dog like Leelah (about 24 kg) — a little less for small dogs, a little more for big ones.

Make it once a month: keep one container in the fridge and freeze the rest, taking out a new one when you need it. Use an opened container within a few days.

Costs about $20 at most for a whole batch. One batch a month is 12 a year — about $240 a year for a natural daily treat. Not that crazy — and highly efficient!

Why it's good

• Collagen from slow-cooked tendons — for joints, tendons, skin and coat.
• Curcumin — a natural anti-inflammatory.
• Why black pepper? It helps the body absorb curcumin. In a well-known study, black pepper's active compound made curcumin about 20 times better absorbed in people (Shoba et al., 1998).
• Extra hydration, in a form dogs love.

Safety first

• Remove every bone before serving — cooked bones splinter.
• Nothing else in the pot: no onion, garlic, salt or seasoning. Onion and garlic are toxic to dogs.
• Use plain curcumin capsules or powder. Avoid gummies and chewables — some contain xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs. Check the label.
• If your dog takes medication, check with your vet first — concentrated curcumin can interact with some medicines.

Bonus: it's delicious, and good for humans too — we have it ourselves.

CanMyDog gives natural, ancestral guidance and is not a substitute for a veterinarian.