Our favourite thing about honey is how versatile it is. It’s sweet but complex and has the ability to bring out subtle flavours in food. It can be used as a sweetener or savoury ingredient and mixed with other spreads for a fun twist on toast. You might be wondering whether honey is a safe treat for dogs to eat or not. So, let’s get into it: can dogs eat honey?
Can Dogs Eat Honey?
Yes, dogs can eat honey but in moderation! It is a natural sugar and it even has a small number of minerals and vitamins that may be beneficial for your dog.
Benefits of Honey for Dogs
There are many benefits to giving your dog honey, such as:
- Honey can boost your dog’s energy. This is because honey has sugars in it that break down, which can give your dog a burst of energy. This can be beneficial for dogs who are getting ready to train or go for a run with their owners.
- If your dog has allergies, honey may help with their symptoms! Locally sourced, raw honey contains the same pollen that is in your dog’s environment, which helps to lessen your dog’s sensitivity to pollen. Keep in mind that honey will only help if your dog has environmental allergies and will not help with food allergies.
- Kennel cough is a virus that is often spread to pups in kennels, shelters, or daycares, and honey can help any dog suffering from this condition by soothing their sore and itchy throat.
- Honey can help a dog with your dog’s stomach ache. If your dog has a minor stomach upset, such as from eating a treat that did not agree with them, honey can help to soothe their upset stomach.
- Honey can be applied to a minor scrape or cut (if your dog has a deep wound or puncture, take your dog to the veterinarian, and do not apply honey to it) in a thin layer. Then you should apply a dressing to cover it. Honey can help because it has antibiotic properties, which can help a minor injury heal quicker. Honey can also be applied to eczema, insect bites, and hot spots.
Things to Keep in Mind
Even though honey is safe and healthy for most dogs, and it has many benefits for them, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when feeding your dog honey. Dogs shoud eat honey in moderation because of the fact that it has sugar in it.
If given too much honey, dogs can develop obesity. Plus, if honey is given to dogs in excess, it will not provide them with the nutrition that they need; instead, it should just be given as a treat. Additionally, due to the sugar in the honey, if you do give your dog honey, you should brush your dog’s teeth afterward to ensure that they do not get tooth decay.
Additionally, there are a few dogs that should not be fed honey. Raw honey should never be given to puppies, elderly dogs, or any dogs with a compromised immune system because raw honey can contain botulism, which these populations of dogs should not digest.
Honey should not be given to any dogs who are diabetic or obese. Also, dogs who are allergic to bees should not eat honey because it could cause them to develop an allergic reaction.
How To Give Honey To Your Dog
Since honey has a lot of sugar and contains quite a bit of calories, you should only give your dog about a teaspoon of honey a day. This might be too much if you have a smaller dog; for example, a dog who is under ten pounds should only get about a quarter of a teaspoon a day.
It is a good idea to ask your veterinarian what an appropriate amount of honey is for your dog to make sure that they stay at a healthy weight.
When feeding your dog honey, there are a few ways that you can do this. One is to spread a thin layer of honey on their favourite treat. Just be sure to give them their honey treat outside or on a surface that you can easily wipe down because honey is a bit sticky and messy.
You can also make a little parfait for your dog! Make a parfait by layering thin layers of honey, plain yogurt, peanut butter, cream cheese, and pet-safe fruits (such as apples or bananas) to give them a very special treat.