Honey is one of those natural products that has always been used to treat multiple ailments. Its excellent properties make it a perfect home remedy to combat throat problems, provide energy, whet the appetite or heal wounds. Now, do all these benefits apply to dogs? I mean, is honey good for your dog?
In this article on our site we will talk about the uses of honey in dogs, we will explain if they can consume it and in what cases it can be harmful. Read on to find out with us if dogs can eat honey or not.
Is honey good for dogs?
Yes, in general, honey is good for dogs, both adults and puppies and the elderly. Now, it is important to clarify that not all the honeys that we find on the market are suitable for dogs because they do not all have the same properties. Thus, we recommend discarding honey made wholesale, sold in supermarkets and excessively processed. This type of honey has very little natural and we can check it by observing its color and texture, which is normally transparent. Natural honey is not completely translucent.
Having said the above, we can deduce that the best honey for dogs (and for us) is artisanal and organic, regardless of the type of honey that we want to use. This honey keeps almost all its properties intact, it has no added sugars, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.
Types of honey for dogs
The truth is that almost all types of honey are good for dogs, since each one of them has common and particular properties that can benefit the he alth of these animals. Thus, if you have a jar of pure honey at home, do not hesitate to use it with your dog as well. The only types of honey that are best left out are those made from the nectar of plants toxic to dogs, such as marijuana honey. However, as we say, they are a minority.
One of the types of bee honey that raises the most doubts when using it in dogs is manuka honey, highly valued in natural medicine for humans. Well then, we will see below if this honey is good for dogs and what it is for.
Manuka honey for dogs
This type of honey has become popular in recent years due to its excellent properties. Manuka honey is considered one of the best honeys that exist to heal wounds and relieve stomach pains due to its incredible effects. These same results can be seen in animals, so manuka honey is indeed good for dogs.
Maple syrup for dogs
Maple syrup is not a type of honey However, because of its texture and color, many people mistakenly believe that yes and they wonder if dogs can take it. This substance is also called maple syrup and, as indicated, is extracted from the sap of this tree. If we buy pure, organic maple syrup with no added sugar, we can also give it to dogs, since it has vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Properties and benefits of honey for dogs
As we have commented in the previous section, each type of honey has particular properties that translate into different benefits. In any case, in general, all honeys have common benefits and it is about them that we will talk about. Thus, honey is good for dogs for the following benefits:
- It is a source of energy due to the natural sugars it contains (mainly fructose and glucose). 100 grams of honey contains 300 calories.
- It is rich in minerals, the most notable being calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium.
- Contains vitamin C and some B vitamins.
This richness in nutrients translates into endless medicinal properties that can also be applied to veterinary medicine. In this way, honey acts as a tonic for the heart, it has relaxing, calming, diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antimicrobial and healing properties.
Uses of honey in dogs
After reviewing the benefits of honey for dogs, we can deduce that there are many he alth problems that we can treat or prevent. Likewise, honey is suitable for newly adopted dogs that refuse food, for puppies or for sick elderly dogs. Let's see how we can take advantage of all its properties and, therefore, what uses honey has in dogs:
Honey for dogs with cough
Thanks to its soothing, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, honey is an excellent remedy to relieve the symptoms of respiratory tract infections or inflammation. Thus, we can prepare honey with lemon for dogs with cough and/or sore throat or offer a teaspoon of honey before going to sleep.
Of course, if your dog has a cough, you have not visited the vet and you notice that it does not go away after using this remedy, we recommend that you visit the specialist as soon as possible to find the cause. Honey alone cannot fight a serious infection, and the cough could be from infectious tracheobronchitis.
Honey to heal wounds in dogs
Along with sugar, honey is one of the best home remedies for wound healing in dogs. So much so that more and more veterinarians use them in cases of not very deep wounds, minor ulcers or minor burns. To use honey as a healing agent in dogs, simply place a layer of honey on the wound and let it act, without covering it and preventing the dog from licking it.
Honey for puppies
Honey is also good for puppies because it provides them with energy, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, all nutrients necessary for their correct development. However, its use becomes even more interesting in malnourished puppies or that have lost their appetite. Honey provides these little ones with extra glucose and fructose and, furthermore, it is a food that whets the appetite precisely for these types of sugars.
Honey for sick or convalescent dogs
Also because of the energy it provides thanks to its sugars, honey is a highly recommended food for sick or convalescent dogs. In addition, during some recovery processes it is common to observe dogs that reject food. Well, a good way to get them to eat again is to mix honey with natural yogurt (without sugar) and offer this preparation. Yogurt is rich in probiotics, essential to favor the balance of the intestinal flora and promote proper recovery.
For convalescent dogs hospitalized or receiving IV fluids, we can dilute the honey in water and offer the solution with a syringe, introducing it directly into the mouth. Of course, all of these remedies should be administered under the supervision of the veterinarian.
Honey for dogs with anemia
Honey has iron, however, there are other foods with more of this mineral that allow to replace its deficiency in cases of anemia. Honey is good for anemic dogs due to the energy it gives them, since the lack of iron tends to produce a state of fatigue and weakness in the animal. This energy allows to combat this weakness and promotes proper recovery.
Honey for dogs with constipation
Due to its laxative properties and because honey is considered a prebiotic food, it favors the elimination of accumulated fecal matter and helps to combat constipation in dogs. Prebiotic foods stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria found in the intestines because they act as food for them. In this way, by balancing the intestinal flora, evacuation is encouraged.
In the following article you will find more home remedies for constipation in dogs.
Contraindications of honey for dogs
Although dogs can eat honey and we have already seen that it is good for treating and preventing multiple he alth problems, there are also cases in which it is better to avoid it. Thus, in diabetic dogs it is better to consult the veterinarian due to the glycemic index of honey.
So far, there are no other known contraindications for honey. However, in cases of kidney disease or high blood pressure, it is better to consult a specialist.
How to give honey to a dog?
Depending on the use you want to give it, you can give your dog honey directly or dilute it. To dilute it, you can choose between water, lemon juice or chamomile tea.
If you give your dog honey directly, we do not recommend exceeding two teaspoons a day. Again, we insist on verifying with the veterinarian the administration of it and in consulting with him the dose of honey suitable for dogs.
