Honey
CautionAKC calls honey safe for dogs in small quantities, but it is almost entirely sugar. Skip it for diabetic dogs, and never give raw honey to puppies or immunocompromised dogs because of botulism spores.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Diarrhoea
- Loose stool
- Vomiting
- Excess gas
- Weight gain
- Weakness
More about this food
Honey is not a poisoning. The American Kennel Club states plainly that honey is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. The word doing the work in that sentence is small.
Start with sugar. Honey is mostly fructose and glucose at about 64 calories per tablespoon. AKC warns that honey's high sugar content can lead to obesity if owners feed too much without adequate exercise and balanced nutrition, and says outright that honey should not be given to diabetic dogs. Adding honey to a dog already on insulin destabilizes the glucose control the dose was built around. AKC also notes that sugars can cause tooth decay and suggests brushing your dog's teeth after honey.
The second point carries more weight. AKC advises that raw honey should not be fed to puppies or to dogs with compromised immune systems because it may contain botulism spores. It is the same reasoning behind not giving honey to human infants under one year. Puppies whose immune systems are still developing, dogs on chemotherapy or long-term steroids, and frail seniors with chronic disease should not get raw honey.
In US kitchens the exposure is rarely a spoon of raw clover honey. It is honey-nut cereal, honey graham crackers, hot honey on wings, honey barbecue sauce loaded with salt and onion powder, honey-roasted peanuts, and baklava. Onion and garlic powder in a barbecue glaze is a genuine toxin, not a calorie issue. Watch the newer sugar-free honey substitutes too: when the sugar comes out, something else goes in, and the FDA advises checking the ingredient list for xylitol on anything labeled sugar-free or low sugar.
If you want to offer honey, use plain unflavored honey in very small amounts, about a quarter teaspoon for a small dog or half a teaspoon for a medium dog, and only occasionally. All treats together stay inside 10% of daily calories. If your dog ate a large amount of a honey product, keep the package and read the panel; if xylitol is listed, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately even without symptoms. Repeated vomiting, ongoing diarrhea, lethargy or wobbliness are also reasons to call rather than wait.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I give honey for my dog's cough?
- Find out what is causing the cough first. Canine coughs come from tracheal collapse, heart disease, kennel cough and other causes that honey does not touch. Small amounts of honey are described as safe, but a persistent cough needs an exam, not a home remedy.
- Is honey safe for a puppy?
- Not raw honey. AKC advises against feeding raw honey to puppies or immunocompromised dogs because it may contain botulism spores. A growing puppy needs a balanced puppy food, and honey adds nothing that formula does not already cover.
- My dog got into honey-roasted nuts. Should I worry?
- Worry about the nuts and the salt more than the honey. Nuts are high in fat and can trigger vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis, and macadamias are toxic outright. Read the package, then call your vet with the type of nut and the amount eaten.