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Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
MEDICINAL USES OF MANUKA HONEY FOR DOGS
In this article we are going to discuss medicinal Manuka Honey for dogs and its topical uses and benefits. In another post we discussed the benefits of giving honey to your dog internally.
Check out our other articles for more information on honey and its other uses in the link below.
CAN DOGS EAT HONEY? HEALTH BENEFITS AND A CAUTION
Now honey as a whole is considered to have medicinal qualities but not all honeys are created equal. Some honey is thought to be more potent than others and this could be due to a specific region, flower or even the way its processed.
Today were going to talk about the therapeutic qualities of honey when used topically on pets. Honey possesses antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Did you know that the reason honey possesses these properties is because during the honey making process, hydrogen peroxide is produced depending on the colloidal structure of the honey.1Mandal MD, Mandal S. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Apr;1(2):154-60. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60016-6. PMID: 23569748; PMCID: PMC3609166. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity – PMC (nih.gov) 2A current perspective on hydrogen peroxide production in honey. A review – ScienceDirect
Manuka honey’s hydrogen peroxide production is actually blocked but it is thought that its high sugar content is the reason that it is capable to hinder the growth of certain bacteria.3Mandal MD, Mandal S. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Apr;1(2):154-60. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60016-6. PMID: 23569748; PMCID: PMC3609166. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity – PMC (nih.gov)
Manuka honey typically comes from New Zealand and in doing so they have developed a grading system for the honey and the antibacterial qualities it possesses. UMF15+ is considered antibacterial grade for skin therapy and anything above UMF20+ is for very bad wounds as it is superior in antibacterial properties and is considered medical grade.4What Is UMF | Manuka Honey Grading Systems (manukahoneyorganic.com)
Products like straight Manuka honey with no additives can be beneficial for applying in certain situations to your pet either topically and even internally (read our other post for cautions)
MEDICINAL MANUKA HONEY BENEFITS FOR DOGS
EARS
Medical grade manuka honey for dogs could be an option for your furbaby if you are concerned about antibiotic resistant bacteria5Medical-Grade Honey Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Vitro and Eradicates Skin Colonization | Clinical Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic (oup.com) In fact, otitis externa is the most common type of infection seen in the ears of dogs. Typically, some symptoms could include scratching and headshaking.
The bacterial species most commonly found in dogs’ ears besides yeast, was Staphylococcus pseudintermedius .6An update on microbiological causes of canine otitis externa in Campania Region, Italy – ScienceDirect Manuka honey has been found to not only inhibit this bacterial strain but also act synergistically along with relevant antibiotics.7Brown, H. L., Metters, G., Hitchings, M. D., Wilkinson, T. S., Sousa, L., Cooper, J., Dance, H., Atterbury, R. J., & Jenkins, R. (2020). Antibacterial and Antivirulence Activity of Manuka Honey against Genetically Diverse Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Strains. Applied and environmental microbiology, 86(20), e01768-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01768-20
In one scientific study, medical grade honey produced a resolve of otitis externa and itching in 90% of dogs by day 21.8Maruhashi, E., Braz, B. S., Nunes, T., Pomba, C., Belas, A., Duarte-Correia, J. H., & Lourenço, A. M. (2016). Efficacy of medical grade honey in the management of canine otitis externa – a pilot study. Veterinary dermatology, 27(2), 93–8e27. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12291
Pet products on the market such as these Silver Honey for Dogs Manuka ear wipes
Or this ear cleaner made with Silver Honey for dogs, Manuka honey and Microsilver BG
could be a great natural alternative to other ear cleaners depending on your furbaby’s situation.
If your furbaby has a superficial scrape or cut. Then manuka honey for dogs may be an option for you. Honey as we know possesses antibacterial and antimicrobial effects but that is not all it does.
WOUNDS
Did you know honey has the ability to sterilize infected wounds as well as stimulate tissue growth and minimize scar formation.9Al-Waili, N., Salom, K., & Al-Ghamdi, A. A. (2011). Honey for wound healing, ulcers, and burns; data supporting its use in clinical practice. TheScientificWorldJournal, 11, 766–787. https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2011.78
HEALING
Honey makes it easier for the body to produce and stimulate certain types of cells that can create immune and inflammatory responses to speed up the process of healing.10Ahmed S, Sulaiman SA, Baig AA, Ibrahim M, Liaqat S, Fatima S, Jabeen S, Shamim N, Othman NH. Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jan 18;2018:8367846. doi: 10.1155/2018/8367846. PMID: 29492183; PMCID: PMC5822819. Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action – PMC (nih.gov)
ANTIFUNGAL
In fact, honey may even be an option for certain other conditions such as yeast or dermatitis in pets. Honey exhibits antifungal properties against Candida albicans, Malassezia and other species. 11Ahmed S, Sulaiman SA, Baig AA, Ibrahim M, Liaqat S, Fatima S, Jabeen S, Shamim N, Othman NH. Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jan 18;2018:8367846. doi: 10.1155/2018/8367846. PMID: 29492183; PMCID: PMC5822819. Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action – PMC (nih.gov)
One such product for animals on the market for scratches and scrapes is this Silver Honey for dogs, Manuka Honey and Microsilver BG and I believe it also has shea butter but I am not sure of the other ingredients
Whatever your situation is for wanting to try honey on your furbaby make sure your consult with your veterinarian first as the product could contain other ingredients which could interfere, pets could be allergic or your pet may have other underlying issues that could interfere.
