Depending on where the bees collect, honey will vary in color and will have different beneficial properties for the human organism. Although it is not exclusive to humans, the benefits of honey in dogs are also considerable.
However, not all dogs can take honey, and those who take it must do so in the right amount so that our dog does not feel bad or have negative effects on his health.
Let’s see how to give honey to a dog, what are its beneficial properties and what care we must have. Also its different uses since erroneously, not everyone uses it as food or supplement.
Index of contents
- 1 Main benefits of honey for dogs
- 2 Possible harm of honey in dogs
- 2.1 What is honey NOT for?
- 3 How much honey should I give my dog?
- 4 Using honey to heal wounds in our dog
Main benefits of honey for dogs
Honey is a food made from the collection of nectar and pollen from flowers by bees. It is not a natural food since it is not created naturally but it is made from totally natural materials.
It provides a large amount of vitamins to the dog among which those of group C and B stand out, in addition to some minerals such as potassium and iron, among many. Although what stands out most about honey is its calorific value.
Being a product rich in carbohydrates obtained from glucose, they quickly provide an extra level of energy to those who consume it. Honey has more calories and carbohydrates than white sugar for example.
Honey stimulates the body’s immune system, making it more efficient against allergies and diseases. It also has a large amount of glucose oxidase enzymes, natural antioxidants such as flavonoids and even hormones.
- Add extra energy immediately
- Stimulation of the dog’s immune system
- Beneficial enzymes like glucose oxidase
- Provides antioxidants for the body like flavonoids
- Rich in vitamins C and B, in addition to minerals
Possible harm of honey in dogs
Not all dogs are created equal, so not all dogs tolerate the same foods beneficially. The same happens with honey, not all dogs tolerate it and even in some, it is quite harmful.
Diabetic dogs should never take honey, because it contains a high sugar / glucose content that can seriously harm their health. Dogs with overweight problems should also not take honey, as it contains a huge amount of carbohydrates that will make them fatter even more.
If we have a dog with an allergy environmental or nutritional, we must also be very careful, since honey contains high doses of pollen. Something that can greatly harm the dog.
So avoid giving honey to dogs that:
- Have some kind of allergy
- Dogs that do not exercise or are overweight
- Diabetic dogs or dogs with digestive problems
- Sick dogs
What is honey NOT for?
There are many silly things that come to be heard when talking about honey and dogs, so to clarify the false legends we indicate that honey is not for cure cough in dogs It is also not used to cure a dog’s cold, much less should we give the dog milk with honey.
Lemon honey is good for humans but not for dogs, never give your dog lemon honey. Puppies should not take honey either, as it can cause digestive disturbances.
How much honey should I give my dog?
We must start from the fact that honey is not a food for dogs, but a nutritional supplement for dogs that have a high energy waste or a little whim to occasionally give to our dog. For adult dogs only, we should not give honey to a puppy.
One hundred grams of honey (about five small tablespoons of coffee), contains eighty-five grams of carbohydrates, translatable to three hundred and fifty calories. Although they seem low values, they are really high values for a dog.
Therefore, a healthy dog weighing about thirty kilos and with normal physical activity should not take more than a couple of small tablespoons per week. If it weighs fifteen kilos, half, if it weighs seven kilos, a quarter, etc… ..
A healthy dog weighing about thirty kilos with high physical activity, such as working, search and rescue dogs, etc … should not take more than two tablespoons a couple of times a week.
Obviously, as a supplement to your diet. Since we must continue feeding them with their usual diet (croquettes, BARF, etc …).
Using honey to heal wounds in our dog
We must not get carried away by the false information circulating on the Internet about the use of honey to heal wounds in dogs. Honey contains a low PH and a natural antibacterial effect, that is true, but it does not mean that it works to heal wounds.
Dogs love honey because it is sweet, if applying honey to a wound will not stop licking it and will even intensify its wound. In addition, many wounds require veterinary attention and if we try to fix it at home by applying honey, it can become infected and cause much more damage to the dog.
If your dog has a minor injury that does not pose an obvious danger to his health, applying a little pharmaceutical iodine (Betadine) is usually more than enough. If the wound is severe, go to the vet, but never use honey to heal a dog’s wounds.