Manuka honey, known for its natural healing properties, has gained significant attention in recent years. This article delves into how Manuka honey can benefit dogs.
Honey has been recognized for its medicinal powers for thousands of years. Scientists are now exploring honey’s healing capabilities as a solution to antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Raw, unpasteurized honey possesses antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, primarily due to its natural hydrogen peroxide content.
Among various raw honeys, Manuka honey stands out. In 2015, the FDA approved wound dressings infused with Manuka honey, acknowledging its wound-healing capabilities. Manuka honey has even assisted in combating medical challenges like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The uniqueness of Manuka honey can be attributed to bees in New Zealand and Australia. These bees pollinate the Manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium), also known as the tea tree. Manuka honey is dubbed ‘healing honey’ due to its powerful chemical components: Methylglyoxal (MGO), Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and Leptosperin. These components provide Manuka honey with longer-lasting antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal effects compared to other honeys.
Manuka honey can treat approximately 60 species of bacteria, making it a significant asset in the fight against infections resistant to conventional drugs. Some common infections it can treat include Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Candida albicans.
For dogs, Manuka honey offers six benefits:
1. First Aid Wound Care: Despite efforts to keep dogs safe, they often suffer from bumps and cuts.
The good news is that Manuka honey can be useful for minor wounds at home. Check out Dr Jane Laura Doyle’s recommendations for wound-cleaning. If you’re unsure about the severity of the wound or if it’s a deep cut, consult your holistic vet first. Once the wound is clean, you can apply pure Manuka honey directly on top of it and cover it with a clean bandage. If the cut is small and not very deep, you may not need a bandage.
But if you don’t use a bandage, you’ll need to distract your dog for a while as the honey won’t have time to work its magic if he licks it off. To enhance the healing powers, you can mix equal parts Manuka honey with colostrum to make a wound paste. This mixture will be less sticky and colostrum contains growth factors that stimulate wound healing, providing two powerful natural healers in one DIY paste. Fight Skin Disease. Skin disease is a common problem in many dogs, whether due to allergies or immune-mediated issues. Many conventional treatments have a long list of negative side effects and don’t address the root cause. Manuka honey can provide itch relief while you determine the cause of your dog’s allergies. It’s great at controlling inflammation and can help soothe the itching. Skin disease often involves a battle of bacteria or yeast overgrowth leading to red, inflamed skin. You can use Manuka honey topically as a spot treatment with a ready-made ointment or the Manuka honey and colostrum combination. Spread a small amount on the irritated skin area a few times a day. It can also help with hot spots. You can also give it orally (see below for dosing). Manuka honey supports the body’s natural ability to restore healthy skin cells. Prebiotic Support For Gut Health. Gut health is crucial for overall health. About 90% of your dog’s immune system starts in the gut. So, it’s important to ensure your dog’s digestive system has a good balance of bacteria. Probiotics are the good bacteria your dog needs. And prebiotics fuel the probiotics and help them thrive. Manuka honey is a natural prebiotic that can help maintain the right bacterial balance. This helps support your dog’s natural immune response and enables him to heal faster. So, if you’re treating your dog with Manuka honey for a wound or skin issue, don’t forget to add some to his meals too. Added Immune Support. By boosting the good bacteria in your dog’s gut with Manuka honey, you can strengthen his immune system. Manuka honey also has anti-viral properties. If your dog is happy and healthy, he’s at less risk of getting sick from a virus. However, stress can lower his natural protection. Stress weakens the immune system, putting him at higher risk of getting a viral or bacterial infection. Two common illnesses in stressed dogs are dog flu and kennel cough.Kenneling can be stressful for dogs, which is where the term ‘kennel cough’ originates, as it is common in dogs in kennel environments. Stress can sometimes be unavoidable, especially when your dog travels for competitions or accompanies you on trips. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the effects of stress on your dog’s health. Manuka honey can be used orally to enhance immune health in dogs. It is recommended to offer Manuka honey as a preventive measure before dog shows, travels, or when your dog meets new dogs.
Antioxidant Protection is crucial for your dog’s health. Antioxidants help keep diseases and cancer at bay, slow the aging process, and support the dog’s immune system. They repair and restore cells to combat free radical damage and counteract the effects of environmental toxins such as air pollution, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and electromagnetic frequencies from technology devices. Manuka honey has been found to have significant antioxidant effects, particularly the flavonoids and phenolic acids it contains.
Supporting oral health is another benefit of Manuka honey. Bad breath in dogs can be a sign of various health issues, all of which are interconnected. Manuka honey can prevent gum disease by controlling the bacteria below the gum line that leads to inflammation, the first stage of dental disease. Researchers at the University of Zurich found that Manuka honey was effective at controlling several types of oral bacteria, with UMF16+ grade being necessary to control oral bacteria.
When choosing Manuka honey, it’s important to select the right grade. In 2009, researchers discovered that honey with more Methylglyoxal (MGO) has stronger therapeutic benefits. This is why there is a UMF grading system for Manuka honey, with UMF standing for Unique Manuka Factor. Honey with more MGO has a higher UMF value. For healing purposes, you should buy at least UMF10+. Higher UMF products are needed if your dog is combating a superbug or virus, with Manuka honey ranging from UMF5+ up to UMF28+. For infections like kennel cough, choose UMF20+ or higher.
Manuka Honey Dosing for Dogs: When using Manuka honey internally, start your dog off slow and use half of the dose below, increasing gradually. Under 20 lbs: 1/2 tsp twice a day; 20-60 lbs: 1 tsp twice a day; 60 lbs or more: 2 tsp twice a day. As your dog adjusts, you can slowly increase to the full amounts. Caution: Due to the high sugar content, do not give Manuka honey to diabetic dogs.
Don’t give Manuka honey to dogs under a year old. The bacteria in Manuka honey might be excessive for a puppy’s developing immune system.
Most adult dogs can take Manuka honey orally without problems. However, if you have concerns about whether it’s suitable for your dog’s individual needs, check with your holistic vet. References: Jenkins R, Burton N, Cooper R. Manuka honey inhibits cell division in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2011 Nov;66(11):2536-42. Mandal MD, Mandal S. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Apr;1(2):154-60. Anand Mohan et al. Effect of honey in improving the gut microbial balance, Food Quality and Safety, Volume 1, Issue 2, 1 May 2017, Pages 107–115. Almasaudi SB et al. Manuka Honey Exerts Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities That Promote Healing of Acetic Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:5413917. Schmidlin PR et al. Antibacterial potential of Manuka honey against three oral bacteria in vitro. Swiss Dent J. 2014;124(9):922-4. Atrott J, Henle T. Methylglyoxal in Manuka Honey – Correlation with Antibacterial Properties. Czech J. Food Sci.. 2009;27(Special Issue 1):S163-165.
