Honey is an all-around natural treat. However, is honey for dogs beneficial?
Harvested directly from beehives, honey is a sweet yet delightful natural product that can be consumed without any treatment. For humans, honey has proven itself to be very useful. It can be used to soothe cough and sore throat issues, reduce seasonal allergies, as a natural sweetener, et cetera. However, is honey for dogs a safe option? The short answer to this question would be YES! Honey, if provided to your dog in small quantities, can be beneficial and keep your dog protected. However, honey is not meant for all dogs. Therefore, read the blog post to the end to understand the benefits of honey for dogs, when should you give honey to your dog, when should you not, and how much?
Topics covered in this blog post
Is honey good for dogs?
Short answer: a small amount of plain honey is safe for most healthy adult dogs as an occasional treat, but it is mostly sugar, so it isn’t a health food or a medicine. Treats (honey included) should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories (VCA).
Don’t give honey to dogs that are diabetic or overweight. Don’t give raw honey to puppies or dogs with a weak immune system (for example dogs on chemotherapy or steroid treatment), because raw honey can contain botulism spores (AKC). Never give honey or any sweet syrup that contains xylitol (birch sugar), which is toxic to dogs. Brush your dog’s teeth if they get honey regularly, since sugar can cause tooth decay.
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| Benefits of honey for dogs |
What is honey?
Honey is a golden liquid that is viscous in consistency. Industrious bees produce it. Honey is mainly made via the nectar from flowering plants and is saved in the beehive for consumption during scarcity periods. Bees extract nectar from the flowers and store it in their extra stomach, also referred to as a crop. When the nectar is sloshed around in the crop, it mixes with the enzymes produced by the bee’s body. This transforms the pH and the chemical composition of the nectar, converting it into honey. The honey is deposited in the honeycomb.
Honey for dogs
Honey is known to provide dogs with an energy blast. When the sugar present in the honey gets broken down, it gives a burst of energy that can keep your dog awake and energetic for extended periods. Many people give their dog honey right before competition or training sessions for that extra energy blast. Honey has some antioxidants, but it is mostly sugar. Because honey is mostly sugar, keep the amount small.
Benefits of honey for dogs
Honey is mostly natural sugars (fructose and glucose) and water. It has small amounts of antioxidants and traces of a few vitamins and minerals, but not enough to count as a supplement. Here’s what honey may and may not do for your dog.
Helps with allergy problems
Many people give their dogs local honey for seasonal allergies. Here’s the idea behind it, but note that it hasn’t been proven in dogs. You can look at this as a process of systemic desensitization of your dog towards pollen grain. Honey contains minuscule levels of flower pollen. When you give your dog a small amount of honey regularly, a very minute level of pollen grain gets introduced into your dog’s digestive system.
Pollen is the most common reason behind seasonal allergies in dogs. When you introduce a small quantity of pollen, it is not enough to cause an allergic reaction. However, it is enough to induce the production of antibodies. Over time, the body starts to recognize these pollen grains as natural. Thus, when the time comes for seasonal allergies, your dog’s body will learn to recognize pollen grains as natural components and will not launch an immune reaction against them. That’s the theory. There are no good studies showing that honey prevents or treats allergies in dogs, so it shouldn’t replace an allergy plan from your vet.
Honey also contains tiny amounts of plant compounds like quercetin, but far too little to act like an allergy medicine. If your dog is itchy, licking their paws or getting repeated ear infections, see your vet: allergies are very treatable.
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For dealing with skin problems
Vets sometimes use medical-grade honey (for example Medihoney or HoneyCure) on wounds and burns. Medical-grade honey is filtered and sterilized; kitchen and raw honey are not, so don’t put them on an open wound. Ask your vet before using any honey product on your dog’s skin (VCA). Honey is effective because unpasteurized honey contains antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the low moisture content in honey makes it extremely hard for bacteria to proliferate. Honey also contains hydrogen peroxide in low levels. This helps honey act as an antiseptic layer that keeps the tissue sanitized while promoting healing.
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Throat infection and kennel cough
This is something that humans are already aware of. Raw honey can work wonders if you suffer from a sore throat or cough and cold. However, were you aware that honey offers the same benefits to your canine companion as well? A little honey may soothe a mild cough, but it doesn’t treat kennel cough. See your vet if your dog’s cough lasts more than a few days, or straight away if your dog is breathing fast or hard, has a fever, stops eating, or is a puppy or senior.
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Honey to help with digestion
Some owners give a little honey for an upset stomach, but there’s no good evidence it helps dogs. If your dog has diarrhea, vomiting, or a known gut disease, ask your vet before giving honey: sugar can make diarrhea worse in some dogs.
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Instant energy provision
Honey is sugar, so it gives quick energy. Many dog guardians tend to use honey for dogs to promote endurance, athleticism, and vitality. In the case of senior dogs, honey can be used to help the dog regain some of the lost energy.
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| Honey for dogs has numerous benefits |
When is honey for dogs, not an option?
You must have noticed that in the case of humans, all food items cannot be eaten by everyone. Similarly, in the case of canines as well, honey cannot be given to all. If excessive honey is given to the dog, it can cause serious problems. Therefore, the following factors must be taken into account before you start giving your dog this sweet delicacy on a regular basis. It is always advisable to consult your veterinarian before you add a new supplement to your dog’s diet. Your veterinarian already knows of your dog’s medical conditions, allergy profile, et cetera. Your veterinarian can guide you regarding which superfoods should be added as a part of your dog’s diet.
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If your dog is diabetic
If your dog is diabetic, the addition of honey may lead to a spike in your dog’s blood sugar levels. Therefore, if your dog has diabetes, don’t give honey unless your vet specifically tells you to (for example, for a low-blood-sugar emergency). Alternatively, you can choose to add items with low sugar content to your dog’s diet, like cucumbers.
Dogs who are overweight
If your dog is overweight, do not give your dog honey. Honey contains sugar which in turn converts to calories. So, if you do give your dog honey, you are providing additional calories to your dog. Honey is also known to cause tooth decay in the case of dogs. Therefore, regular brushing is required.
Dogs who have hypersensitivity towards bees
If your dog is allergic to bee stings or bees, they may have an allergic reaction to the consumption of honey. Thus, be very cautious and consult your veterinarian before introducing anything new to your dog’s diet.
Senior dogs and puppies
Don’t give raw honey to puppies or to dogs with a weak immune system. Raw honey can contain botulism spores, which a healthy adult dog usually handles but a puppy or a sick dog may not (AKC). Thus, talk to your vet about your dog’s current condition and whether honey would make for a good supplement.
How much honey to give your dog?
First and foremost, honey is sugar. Therefore, you must be careful about how much honey you can give your dog. Too much honey can cause serious side effects. You can administer honey to your dog as per the following doses:
- If your dog is below 10 lbs, you can give him ¼ teaspoon of honey on a regular basis.
- If your dog falls between 10 to 20 lbs, then you can give them half a teaspoon of honey on a regular basis.
- If your dog falls between 20 to 50 lbs, one teaspoon of honey can be given daily.
- If the dog is above 50 lbs, up to two teaspoons of honey can be given daily.
Start with a drop. Add one drop of honey to your dog’s food till they get acclimated to the taste and smell of honey. Once your dog gets used to the essence of honey, you can increase the dose in a very gradual manner till you reach the dose that is right for your dog’s weight. However, remember to consult your vet before you add honey to your dog’s diet. Discuss all of your dog’s recent and past illnesses, wounds, treatments, etcetera, and find out if honey is a good supplement for your pup.
Finding the right honey for dogs
Not every honey is pure or beneficial. A lot of times, honey is extracted by using fume boards or pesticides. This is not the honey that you should purchase for your dog. Go for honey that is pure, unfiltered, and raw. This is the honey that contains all the goodness and will be a great addition to your dog’s diet. You can also opt for local beekeepers to get honey for dogs.
Bonus tip
If you have good quality honey that is unfiltered and raw, it will look dark in color and will crystallize if it is chilled. You can put a small amount of honey in the fridge and check if it is raw and unfiltered or not. Crystallizing isn’t a perfect test, since some pure honeys stay runny for a long time. This type of honey will not be beneficial for you or your dog since it does not have propolis and pollen.
How to feed honey to your dog?
There are many ways you can feed honey to your dog, from directly giving your dog raw honey to lick out of a spoon to making it a part of your dog’s regular diet. Here are a few methods that you can use to get your pup used to honey:
- Spread the honey in a thin layer on your dog’s favorite treat. Make sure your dog does not eat the treat when on the bed or couch. Honey can create a massive mess if dropped.
- Add a thin layer of honey on banana, apple, or any other dog-safe fruit and offer it to your dog.
- Mix the honey with some plain yogurt, cream cheese, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, or your dog’s regular food.
- Allow your dog to lick it off the spatula or spoon.
- People advise making cakes for dogs with honey. However, this cake will not provide your dog with all the nutritional benefits of honey because when the cake batter undergoes heating, the heat will kill the good bacteria present in the honey.
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Conclusion
Now you know how honey for dogs can be beneficial. However, as I have mentioned so many times before and in all my posts, you must consult with your vet before deciding to add any nutritional supplement to your dog’s diet, no matter how small. Make sure that the honey is stored in an airtight and sealed container. Keep the raw honey in a place that is dry and cool. If the raw honey crystallizes, you do not have to worry. Crystallization means that the honey is pure and unprocessed. You can soak the jar of honey in warm water to bring the honey back to syrupy condition. Do not boil it since heat can spoil honey.
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Shruti
In small amounts, plain honey is safe for most healthy adult dogs as an occasional treat. It is mostly sugar, so keep it small: treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Skip honey for diabetic or overweight dogs.
There is no good evidence that honey treats or prevents allergies in dogs. The idea that local honey “desensitizes” a dog to pollen hasn’t been proven. If your dog is itchy, licking their paws or getting ear infections, see your vet, because there are effective allergy treatments.
Raw honey is generally fine for healthy adult dogs in small amounts. Don’t give raw honey to puppies or dogs with weak immune systems, because it can contain botulism spores.
As a rough guide: up to 1/4 teaspoon a day for dogs under 10 lb, 1/2 teaspoon for 10–20 lb, 1 teaspoon for 20–50 lb, and up to 2 teaspoons for dogs over 50 lb. Ask your vet first if your dog has any health problems.
Vets use medical-grade honey (such as Medihoney) on some wounds because it is sterilized. Kitchen or raw honey isn’t sterile, so don’t use it on wounds. Have any deep, dirty, or infected wound checked by a vet.
