A common ingredient in natural dog treats, honey is safe for most dogs to eat in small amounts. Honey is reported to have multiple health benefits, but before you start feeding your dog honey, it’s important to take everything into consideration, and talking to your vet is always a good idea. 

Benefits

Honey has long been used for its health benefits, including the ability to alleviate seasonal allergies. Raw honey contains trace amounts of pollen, and eating raw, local honey may help our bodies build up a tolerance to pollen. There have not been many conclusive scientific studies on the benefits of honey, but the general consensus is that it’s safe for humans and dogs to eat and, therefore, doesn’t hurt to try. 

For most dogs, you’ll want to aim for less than one teaspoon a day for short periods of time. For small dogs, you’ll want to aim for even less.

Honey is also known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which may be beneficial for certain types of wounds. It has been used throughout history for wound healing thanks to its inhibins (antimicrobial substances) that include hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, and phenolic acid. To find out more about what kinds of wounds or skin issues honey can help, check out this article from Vet Help Direct. 

Things to Consider

• In order for honey to help your pup’s allergies, your pup would need to be allergic to one of the pollens in the honey and not some other environmental allergy. 
• If your dog has had a previous allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting, then it’s not a good idea to offer honey as it can lead to allergic reactions or other health issues.
• The sugar content of honey can lead to or exacerbate obesity if too much honey is offered, and honey should never be given to diabetic dogs.
• Sugar can also cause tooth decay, so you might want to brush your dog’s teeth after you give honey.
• Raw honey should not be fed to puppies or dogs with compromised immune systems as it may contain botulism spores, which can be harmful to dogs. 
• If your dog accidentally eats too much honey, look out for signs of stomach ache, diarrhea, and vomiting, and notify your veterinarian if you notice them.

If you would like to try feeding your dog honey but aren’t sure if you should be concerned about the potential side effects, it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian first.

Apple-Oatmeal Dog Treats

Feel comfortable feeding your dog small amounts of honey? Here’s a recipe to try by The 104 Homestead.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 c. Rolled Oats
• 1/2 c. Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/4 c. Water
• 1 tbsli. Honey
• 1 Alilile
• 1 Egg

Directions:

1. Peel apples and puree them (or use homemade applesauce)
2. Mix oats, flour, egg, apple puree, and water together. Stir in honey.
3. Roll out dough to 1/4″ thick. Cut with cookie cutters or simply cut into bite size pieces with a sharp knife and move to a non-stick pan.
4. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned on the bottoms.

Homemade treats will last a week or two on the counter. To keep them fresh longer, you can store them in the fridge (for up to 2 month) or the freezer (for up to 8 months). No matter where you choose to store them, be sure they’re in an air-tight container.