For minor bouts of an upset stomach or diarrhea that might come from something simple, such as your dog feasting on fresh grass, a couple of doses of honey may help quiet and soothe his GI tract.
Raw honey is an all-natural treat. It is taken straight from beehives and is never heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. It has pollen in it, and if it hasn’t been strained, you might even be able to see some beeswax particles. Some merchants or neighborhood beekeepers might even sell raw honey that contains pieces of honeycomb.
Honey is used by humans for a variety of purposes, such as sweetening tea, treating coughs and sore throats, and easing the symptoms of seasonal allergies. But can you or, more importantly, should you share it with your dog?
Yes, raw honey has many of the same health benefits for dogs as it does for humans when consumed in moderation.
6 Uses and Health Benefits of Honey for Dogs
According to Dr., dogs experience allergies almost as much as people do. Joseph Mercola. Most dogs don’t exhibit symptoms of human allergies, such as sneezing and watery eyes. It appears to be more like flaking, dry, itchy skin, or excessive dandruff.
When this occurs, doctors typically advise a small dose of Benadryl to “take the edge off,” but some holistic doctors think that after just a few days, a teaspoon of natural, raw honey per day can actually prevent allergies in dogs.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that if your dog experiences itching and dry skin all year long due to allergies and honey doesn’t seem to help, your dog may actually have an underlying condition. The health benefits of honey for dogs won’t help because it’s probably a food allergy.
Wounds
Many dog breeders and kennel owners use honey as a wound dressing similar to Neosporin.
The most typical use of honey for dogs is shown to be topical application.
As in human studies, honey is often used to treat burns and wounds (Jalali et al. 2007).
It has been demonstrated that Sidr honey from Yemen can heal contaminated wounds in the same amount of time as iodine.
Further research into the effects of Sidr honey displayed the added benefit of healing wounds of full-thickness (Hananeh et al. 2015).
On a similar vein, non-boiled honey from West Azerbaijan has shown great potential in being an effective healer of surgical wounds (Goharshenasan et al. 2016).
For those who lack the required medical supplies or who have negative/allergic reactions to conventional antiseptics, honey can be used in these ways as an alternative.
If a dog has a cut, bite, scratch, burn, etc. they directly apply raw honey to the area and then wrap it to prevent the dog from licking the honey off the skin.
Honey has been shown to have antibacterial and disinfectant properties that aid in wound healing. Additionally, the honey’s thickness acts as a barrier while the wound heals.
A helpful hint is to warm the honey before applying it to sore spots.
Of course, you should take your dog to the vet if they are seriously hurt rather than trying to apply honey to the wound. Recently, a bot fly bit my dog, but we were unaware of it.
Honey was applied, but it didn’t work because a bot fly larva was developing at the bite site.
Yuck! Honey can only do so much, apparently.
Pick Me Up
A small amount of raw honey actually gives older dogs the energy they need to engage in exercise that can be a little taxing on their frail bones.
Given that it contains natural sugars, it stimulates the body and gives the dog a little “pick-me-up.”
However, use it with caution as too much honey for dogs can result in dental and digestive issues.
FAQ
What does honey do for dogs?
Yes, you can give honey to your dog. Honey is tasty, packed with antioxidants, has a variety of vitamins and minerals, relieves allergies and skin irritations, and gives your dog a quick energy boost when they need it. Most adult dogs benefit from raw honey, and there are few risks.
Is it OK to give dogs honey?
Honey is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Natural sugars and trace amounts of vitamins and minerals are present. In many foods and beverages, it is also used as a sweetener.
How much honey is safe for dogs?
“A dog typically shouldn’t eat more than a teaspoon of honey per day, but depending on the size, breed, and age of your dog, that amount may be less.” Avoid giving them too much and causing digestive upset. “.
What type of honey is safe for dogs?
Yes, dogs can eat raw honey. Stick with raw, local honey or Manuka honey if you’re going to feed your dog honey. Avoid honey from the supermarket if it has been heated during processing or if it contains inferior ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup.