Does manuka honey benefit my dog?
Simply put, yes! Manuka honey has bountiful benefits for humans, but also for dogs. From spicing up your dog’s meals to healing skin ailments, manuka honey is a wonderful product to treat man’s best friend.
#1 Treating Skin Ailments Using the Healing Powers of Manuka Honey
It is commonly known that manuka honey has wonderful healing properties and can be used to help heal burns and cuts on human skin. This is because manuka honey has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Found out more about wound care for human skin here. Fortunately for us, the same healing properties can be applied to dogs. Apply manuka honey to cuts, scratches, bites, sores, or burns. Afterward, gently place a gauze over the site and wrap it up using a bandage, so that your dog doesn’t lick it off. Even if Fido gets to it, manuka honey is all-natural and will not cause any harm to your dog.
Applying Manuka honey to the open wound helps to reduce inflammation and redness, whilst preventing further infection. Placing a layer of manuka honey and a bandage over the wound also prevents your dog from scratching and picking at the wound, allowing your dog to heal and get back to bounding around.
#2 Tackle Nasty Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a highly contagious, respiratory infection that spreads quickly amongst dogs. It is caused by bacteria and can result in great discomfort for dogs. Having your dog consume manuka honey can combat the infection and soothe the discomfort that may be bothering your dog. However, manuka honey can only support the healing of infection and should be accompanied by proper medication from a veterinarian in order for your dog to make a full recovery.
#3 A Sweet Treat for Your Best Friend
Mmm, honey. We all love the sweet taste of manuka honey, and so do dogs! Adding honey to your dog’s snacks does not just provide nutritional benefits, but also makes it tastier. Just be careful when giving honey to your dog. Honey does have a significant amount of sugar, so limit the amount you give your dog in case it becomes obese. For small dogs, only give them about a teaspoon of honey per day. A larger dog can take about a tablespoon of honey per day. Also, ensure that you brush your dog’s teeth so that it doesn’t cause tooth decay. You can even make your own dog-friendly treats!
Banana and honey dog treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 bananas, mashed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 4 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 175 C and lightly grease 2 large baking sheets covered with baking paper.
- Combine water, mashed bananas, honey, vanilla, and egg in a large bowl.
- Combine whole wheat flour and baking powder in another bowl.
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients together on medium speed until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead the dough until it is no longer sticky.
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut it into various shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool and let your dog enjoy the freshly-baked treats.
#4 An energy boost for Fido
The sugar in honey does not just make for a tasty treat, but the sugars can also give your dog a well-needed energy boost. The natural sugars in honey are broken down more slowly than processed sugars, which can give your dog a sustainable level of energy to keep up the energy during your run or play session.
#5 Improve your dog’s gut health
Having a healthy dog stems from the gut. Ensuring that your dog’s digestive system has a good balance of bacteria is crucial. Manuka honey can serve as a natural prebiotic that can do that. Not only does manuka honey remove bad bacteria, but it also boosts the number of good bacteria present in the gut. Simply add a spoonful of manuka honey to your dog’s meals.
Conclusion
Indeed, this article has proven to us that manuka honey’s wonderful list of benefits also extends to our beloved dogs. Get your manuka honey today!
