Have you ever wondered if honey was safe for dogs? I will freely admit, when we got our first dog, Reya, I was a bit nervous giving her anything that was not food or treats designed for dogs. Doing some research though, I kept seeing that honey was in many homemade dog treat recipes, something that really surprised me since I had never heard of giving dogs honey. Of course, being the paranoid dog parent I was, I asked our vet if honey was safe for dogs. Our vet was actually quick to say (after a bit of a laugh) that honey was completely safe for dogs…as long as it was pure honey and used in moderation. When I started looking up raw honey for dogs, I was surprised with all the fantastic benefits!
Benefits of Raw Honey for Dogs
So, why choose raw honey for dogs over other types of treat? Part of the difference is that honey isn’t just a natural sweetener, but one filled with vitamins and minerals that are healthy for dogs. As well, there are quite a few studies showing that it can help dogs with allergies too, especially if it is mixed with pollen from different parts of the country. That is usually something you only see with raw honey, since it isn’t processed or heated, unlike the cheaper stuff you can buy in the store. That is important since heating can destroy the pollen and other natural contents of the honey, something that is typical when processing honey to make it look ‘perfect’. Also, many companies put fillers in their honey, some of which aren’t really good for humans or dogs! If you want the health benefits, go with honey that is safe for dogs and contains everything it should have – raw honey!
Some of the benefits of raw honey for dogs include:
- Wound Care (proven to shorten healing time with proper treatment)[1]
- Arthritis Relief [2]
- Reducing Allergy Symptoms[3]
- Burn Treatment[4]
- Digestive Aid[5]
- Natural Energy Source for Dogs[6]
- Reduce Kennel Cough Symptoms[7]
- Chronic Ear Infection Relief[8]
How Much Raw Honey Should I Feed My Dog?
To know how much honey to feed your dog, it is likely best to talk to your veterinarian first, especially if your dog has diabetes. They know your dog’s specific health needs. Typically though, it is safe to give a teaspoon daily for every 20 pounds of your dogs’ weight. The exceptions are dogs fewer than 10 pounds (1/2 teaspoon a day 1- 10 pounds) and dogs over 50 pounds (no more than 1 tablespoon a day). These measurements are based on the measuring system used by K9 Honey – the first raw honey specifically for dogs.
What Raw Honey Should I Buy for My Dogs?
Looking for the perfect raw honey that is safe for dogs? We highly recommend trying out K9 Honey – the first raw honey varietal specifically for dogs. Naturally filled with vitamins and minerals, they blended this honey with bee pollen from nine geographic regions, giving your dog a tasty and delicious treat filled with health benefits. Best of all, dogs love it as a yummy treat or food topper, making dinner time even better! Currently, you can buy a jar of K9 Honey on the K9 Honey official website, starting at only $7.99. Make sure to head over there today and check it out!
About Susan Bewley
Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.
Amber Ludwig says
November 15, 2017 at 10:24 amHoney is so amazing for SO many things!! Its really just amazing! Im so glad to hear it works for dogs too!
Michelle S says
November 15, 2017 at 10:40 amWe are planning to get a dog in the near future. Thanks for the tip because I wouldn’t have known it was good for them.
Sarah L says
November 16, 2017 at 11:07 pmNever thought about honey for dogs. Didn’t know there was some made just for them.
Kimberly Flickinger says
November 17, 2017 at 7:12 pmThis is very good to know. I will definitely have to try this.
Lisa Queen says
November 17, 2017 at 8:29 pmi have never thought about honey for my dogs! We certainly use it alot. Thanks for sharing.
Ronald Gagnon says
November 19, 2017 at 8:46 pmMy niece is Vet Assistant working towards her vet degree…she has told us so many times how funny it is to see the reaction of people when they are told to give their dogs honey
Linda Manns Linneman says
November 20, 2017 at 9:15 amThis sounds great. I never thought about giving our dog honey. Thank you so much for sharing this
John Heim says
November 20, 2017 at 10:58 amGood to know, even though we currently don’t have a dog. We still have a doggie door for a large dog a three cats and may get a dog again soon.
ellen beck says
November 20, 2017 at 12:37 pmHoney has many benefits for humans and animals. It is a natural ( although messy) antibiotic, it has many things going for it. I have not thought about kennel cough as our dog has never had it. but that makes sense too.
Tamra Phelps says
November 20, 2017 at 1:37 pmThis is interesting. I admit I never thought of using honey with dogs.
Deborah D says
November 20, 2017 at 1:47 pmThis is a very interesting post. Who knew that honey is good for dogs?
Katelyn Deveraux says
November 20, 2017 at 2:10 pmThis is great to know especially because I have one dog that does have pollen allergies!
Melissa Storms says
November 20, 2017 at 4:09 pmI have used raw honey in treats for my dog. I really wasn’t aware that there were so many reasons to use it though.
Gail Williams says
November 20, 2017 at 7:46 pmI never knew that raw honey was good for dogs. I only eat raw honey for myself.
Lynne B says
November 30, 2017 at 4:52 pmThanks for the info! I’m going to include some raw honey in my next batch of dog treats.
Rosie says
January 16, 2018 at 10:08 amThis is so good to know! I have to say, that I do keep seeing individual foods not safe for dogs,and I know people do give their dogs those foods, and I’m shocked. But I would want to check any food item before giving to a pet, and this is so nice, because I like to make treats for other people’s dogs, while I’m hoping to have a home where I can have my own.
Calvin says
January 28, 2018 at 2:06 pmWonder if it’s the same with cats?
Susan Bewley says
January 28, 2018 at 5:32 pmI can look into it. I had never considered giving it to kitties, mostly since they are carnivores. 🙂
Lauryn R says
January 30, 2018 at 3:08 pmCats actually do not taste sweet stuff, so I do not see any reason to give them honey. I have heard it can cause digestive issues for them as well.
Susan Bewley says
January 31, 2018 at 4:19 pmIt actually has little to do with it being sweet but the antibacterial and anti-allergy properties of raw honey. It would just have to be in a very small amount per their body size to avoid digestive issues or diabetes. I’m just not sure if it will have the same benefits as dogs or humans (that being said, none of us can properly digest honey).
Lauryn R says
January 30, 2018 at 3:06 pmHoney is so amazing, did you know that it also never spoils? You can literally eat 100 year old honey and be just fine. I have never given it to our puppy before though, I will definitely have to pick some of this up! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Susan Bewley says
January 31, 2018 at 4:20 pmVery welcome! We are big fans of honey in our household!