Manuka Honey For Dogs: Can They Have It?

Did you know that animals, including your dog, can also benefit from the health benefits that come with manuka honey?

The same healing properties that this medicinal honey exerts into your body will also work wonders for the dog. Though the research based on manuka honey has only focused on its benefits to human beings, people who gave been feeding their pets with this honey years have come up with enough evidence that this honey is good for your dog’s health as well.

What are The Benefits of Manuka Honey To Dogs?

External uses

As we all know, manuka honey has excellent antibacterial properties. It contains high levels of MGO, an enzyme that helps produce hydrogen peroxide- an antibacterial agent.

As such, honey can help fight inflammations and sooth burns and wounds in your dog.

How to administer manuka to your dog externally:

For Burns: clip off the hair around the affected area and wash it with some vinegar. Then liberally apply manuka honey on the area after every 10 minutes or so until the pain goes away. Afterward, you can put a sterile wound dressing on the area, lightly.

The best part about using a wound dressing made with manuka honey is that it does not stick to the wound, ensuring that the newly formed tissues do not get easily damaged.

For Wounds: if your pet suffers from minor cuts, wounds, scratched, etc., you can just apply a thin layer of manuka honey to the affected area without dressing. Ensure the honey remains on the wound for around 20 minutes.

Internal Uses

You can also feed manuka honey to your dog. In such cases, it obtains the following benefits:

• Gastrointestinal issues: your pet might be suffering from some digestive problems, caused by the overgrowth of harmful bacteria like colitis, IBD, etc.
  
  Giving that manuka honey comes with superior antibacterial properties, giving it your dog will help solve this issue and improve its overall digestion system.
• Allergies: Dogs are also prone to seasonal allergies. Luckily, feeding them with a teaspoon of manuka honey twice a day can help solve the problem.
• You can also rely on manuka honey to alleviate a number of symptoms associated with the kennel cough. Depending on the size of your dog, giving it ½-1 teaspoon for around 3-4 times a day works the trick.
• Manuka honey can also help treat stomach ulcers, boost its energy levels while offering it many sources of nutrition.

Caution:

Like any other honey, manuka bears high levels of sugars. So, if your dog is overweight or diabetic, you should consult your veterinarian before giving it the honey

Manuka is not recommended for dogs below one year age as it contains bacteria that young puppies can’t easily fight off. Adult dogs have no issue fighting these bacteria.

Conclusion

Manuka honey is equally important for your dog(s) as it is for you. When applied topically, it helps heal wounds, burns, cuts, etc. in the dog. When used internally, it helps solve digestion issues, allergy, and fight off infections.

Above all, it comes packed with nutrients that promote the overall health of your pet.