Pets: What happens if a dog eats honey

In recent years, the global trend of feeding pets has grown natural foods. Partly to keep dogs away from balanced, dry foods from vets and supermarkets.

But also because the trend towards natural products is a movement between Humans and fresh products grow among the paradigms of healthy eating.

Honeya product that we have all known since our deepest childhood, is part of that group of essential foods in every family’s refrigerator, which we want to give to our dog.

But is honey good for dogs? Are we sure we want to add honey to our dear friend’s diet?

What happens if a dog eats honey?

If a the dog is not a puppyLet’s say an adult dog goes to eat honey, nothing will definitely happen to him. He eats it without any problems. And sometimes we see dogs whose owners give them something with honey.

But let’s start from the first warning: If the dog is a puppy, if he is less than 18 months old, don’t give him honey, no.

The Spanish newspaper Sportexplains the properties that honey has for dogs, warns his readers with the following paragraph which we transcribe:

“While adult dogs can ingest honey normally, Puppies should avoid this as their immune systems are still very weak. Honey may contain spores of the bacillus Clostridium botulinum which can be fatal for our pets, especially if they are not yet 18 months old. Furthermore, a diabetic dog should not consume honey either due to the high amount of sugars this food contains.”

Why should we give honey to a dog?

The veterinary doctor Graciela Castillo, license plate 5169, and expert at the Honduras Veterinary Clinic, in Palermo (Honduras 6049, between Arévalo and Dorrego), gives us a reflection that leaves us thinking:

“If an adult dog consumes honey, he will have no problems. But the question we need to ask ourselves is: why should we give honey to a dog?”

The specialist adds: “They don’t need additional sugar or salt. I understand that sometimes we give them honey as a reward. But in this case carrots or bananas are better. I think honey It is not a product to add to the diet of a dog.”

The specialized site Animal Expertin a detailed article on the benefits of honey for dogs, he specifies that “not all the honey we find on the market is suitable for dogs because not everyone has the same properties.”

And he advises dog guardians without hesitation: “So, We recommend discarding loose honey, sold in supermarkets and overly processed. This type of honey has very little that is natural and we can verify this by observing its color and consistency, which is normally transparent. “Natural honey is not completely translucent.”

Therefore, he tells his readers not to hesitate to just give their dogs artisanal and organic honeysince it is honey that keeps almost all its properties intact, it has no added sugars, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

Properties of honey for dogs

Despite the reservations expressed in this note, the truth is that most pet media today see no problem with occasionally feeding honey to adult dogs. Although no one recommends it as a regular diet, 2 or 3 times a week, like other natural products.

The Spanish newspaper Sport underlines regarding honey and dogs: “Honey gives energetic properties,antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, healingdigestive, relaxing and stimulating the mature immune system.”

And he lists in his article four strengths of honey in dogs:

1. Power. For sick or convalescent dogs who need to recover their energy, the high energy intake in the form of sugars and vitamins will give them a boost of energy.
2. Against allergies in dogs. The most natural version of honey that we find has always been able to improve the animal’s immune system.
3. Improves digestive problems. Honey is digestive and has very low acidity, it is alkaline. It is therefore suitable for dogs with problems of this type or if they have exaggerated one of their meals and have digestion difficulties.
4. Prevent and treat bacterial infections. Honey prevents bacteria from reproducing and surviving. Whether taken or applied externally, this sweet product is able to prevent bacterial infections and treat them if they arise, preventing them from getting worse.