Honey is one of the tastiest delicacies around. It is ooey-gooey sweetness loaded with the healthiest nutrients and natural sugars. Plus, honey also has a number of medicinal properties that make it a must-have in anyone’s’ diet.
Although humans can enjoy honey every single day and reap all of its benefits while enjoying the taste- what about dogs? You may have a dog and are wondering if honey is a good dietary option for it. Before you go on and feed anything new to your pet, it is always best to research it and find out if it is safe for your animal.
It may also be possible that your dog somehow managed to eat some honey and now you’re worried if it could have any health consequences. So, let’s, find out; can dogs have honey?
The simple answer is yes. Honey is safe for dogs as long as they eat it in a small amount. If given in a reasonable quantity, honey can actually be quite beneficial for dogs. This is because it contains natural sugars and a number of vitamins and minerals too.
Can Dogs Eat Honey Safely?
The sweet taste of honey is something most dogs are bound to enjoy.
However, due to the sugar present in honey, it is not something your dog can safely over-eat. If such a high sugar content is consumed, your dog will be at a major risk for obesity, which in turn poses further health complications.
Furthermore, if you are giving too much honey to your dog and not giving it enough exercise or balanced nutrition, then this will surely make your dog unhealthy and obese.
Another complication that honey may pose is tooth decay from sugar. After you feed honey, it would be wise to brush your pet dogs’ teeth.
Lastly, not all dogs can consume honey safely. If your pet dog has compromised immunity or suffers from diabetes, or is already obese- then it is recommended to stay away from honey. It contains botulism spores that are not safe for them.
Honey Benefits For Dogs
Now, let’s come to the reasons why it is a good idea to feed honey to your dog.
Honey is a known health supplement for people and even pets. This is because honey contains a number of medicinal properties that make it anti-microbial and anti-fungal. It is also an anti-inflammatory, plus it soothes a sore throat or ulcers too. Honey is even known to cure allergies.
For dogs, some people even claim that honey can cure their seasonal allergies well. We don’t have any scientific backing for this yet but is mostly acknowledged. Plus, honey is so affordable and readily available that people are willing to try it out.
Another major benefit of honey that truly always works, is that it’s a remedy for sore throat. Even a stomach ulcer can be improved with honey. In case your dog is suffering from any of these, honey will likely reduce their discomfort and improve their overall well-being. And it will also help in soothing down the inflammation.
The bottom line is that honey does have a number of benefits so there is no harm in using it at times for your dog. You should just make sure you don’t feed too much. Otherwise, it is generally safe and even recommended.
The right amount of honey to feed your dog
You may now be confused about what this ‘right amount’ looks like. Your best bet is to consult a veterinarian and discuss your dogs’ specific dietary habits, plus health conditions with them. Based on this, they would suggest an appropriate amount of honey for your doggo.
As a rule of thumb, the smaller your dog is, the less honey it should be having. And for diabetic dogs, we suggest you completely stay away from honey unless recommended otherwise by your vet.
Generally, one teaspoon of honey is considered safe for most small dogs. Whereas larger dogs could easily tolerate about one tablespoon of honey per day. You should also try to avoid processed versions of honey, and stick to raw honey instead.
We hope this guide was helpful for you and will now be able to make informed decisions regarding feeding honey to your dog.
For more information on what foods your dogs can and can’t have please see our guide here.
