Honey is full of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your dog needs to stay happy and healthy. It can also help control allergy symptoms, skin issues and maintain a healthy weight. But it is high in sugar, so you do need to use caution. Here are the top 5 reasons to give your dog honey.
If your dog gets seasonal allergies, he may benefit from honey. Honey contains trace amounts of flower pollen. When you feed honey, it slowly introduces flower pollen into your dog’s body. This helps him create antibodies. When the warm weather arrives, these antibodies prevent an autoimmune response to airborne pollen.
Be sure to local for local honey, because it contains the local pollen that will affect your dog’s immune system.
Pollen also contains quercetin – a bioflavonoid with antihistamines. And this can help decrease watery eyes and itchiness.
“I recommend raw, unfiltered honey to strengthen dogs’ immune systems, so they won’t suffer reactions to seasonal and environmental allergens.” – Veterinarian Jay Brekke DVM in Castle Rock, Colorado
Honey For Cough And Throat Irritation
You may already know this from your own experience …raw honey can do wonders for soothing a sore or itchy throat. The same goes for your dog.
If your dog has kennel cough or other breathing irritations, honey is a great way to provide relief.
Honey For Digestion
If your dog has trouble with digestive issues like …
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
… a bit of honey daily can be an effective way to help with these stomach upsets. Honey contains both prebiotics and probiotics. And these play a big role in healthy.
A Word Of Caution About Giving Honey To Your Dog
Diabetic dogs need to be very careful with honey. There is research suggesting that honey may have some anti-diabetic effects in diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). But most dogs get type 1 diabetes. This means their pancreas doesn’t make insulin properly.
If you want to give your diabetic dog honey, monitor how it affects his blood glucose very carefully … or, ask your holistic vet first.
Avoid feeding honey to dogs under 1 year of age. Raw honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Because puppies are still developing their immune system, these spores could make them sick
