The benefits of honey

Introducing honey to your dog's diet can offer a myriad of health benefits. Honey is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties which can aid with dogs who suffer from arthritis, it also packed with antioxidants that work as an immune booster, helps reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease - not to mention the fact that your dog will love licking every last morsel of this sweet treat.

Here are a few more reasons to fall in love with honey:

1.    It can be used to help heal wounds: the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties naturally found in honey make it a great way to treat and heal wounds. The thick consistency of honey can also provide a barrier to protect the wound – much like a bandaid. Ensure you have thoroughly cleaned the wound before applying a thin layer of a honey based wound treatment cream.

2.    Reduce effects of environmental allergies: local honey can expose your dog’s system to small amounts of local pollen, in turn reducing the symptoms associated with environmental allergies.

3.    Alleviate minor upper respiratory conditions: coughing, sneezing, and sore throats can be remedied by the anti-inflammatory soothing properties found in honey. Try giving your pooch a dose of honey each day as soon as you notice them coughing to speed up the recovery process.

If you’re considering introducing honey to your dog, we would suggest you buy it from a local supplier.

It’s also important to understand that too much sugar can cause health issues, so ensure you monitor your dogs' consumption. As a general rule, dogs should not consume more than the following amounts of honey per day:

-       1 tbsp for large dogs

-       2 tsp for medium dogs

-       1 tsp for small dogs

Get creative and try including honey in frozen treats, drizzled onto their food or treat, or bake them into homemade treats. Remember to also consult your vet for treatment advice if your dog suffers from any of the conditions mentioned in this article (arthritis, allergies, a respiratory condition or a wound) where you are considering using honey.