Can dogs or cats eat honey?

Honey has a reputation for being a healthy alternative to sugar and other sweeteners. But is honey ok for our pets to eat? Honey is generally considered safe for healthy adult cats and dogs, but there are a few things to be aware of.

We’re going to look at this sweet treat in more detail, covering all the dos and don’ts of offering your pet honey.

Honey is not toxic for adult dogs, so it is safe for them to have a little, as an occasional treat. However, don’t forget that it is a concentrated form of sugar and will add extra calories to their diet. This may lead to weight gain over time. For this reason, we wouldn’t recommend giving your dog honey regularly.

There are also a few instances when honey should not be given to your furry family member:

• Puppies - Honey should not be given to puppies. This is because honey can contain botulism spores, which, if ingested, can develop into neurotoxin-releasing bacteria. Adult animals and humans with a developed immune system can handle this, but young animals (and human babies) may be at risk of illness. While botulism is rare, it can be serious, so it’s best not to take any chances.

• Overweight dogs - While considered ‘healthy’ by many people, honey is a concentrated source of calories with little nutritional health benefit for dogs.

• Dogs with health conditions - Care needs to be taken when offering unwell dogs honey. There is a small risk of botulism in dogs with compromised immune systems. Dogs with diabetes also need their blood sugar levels carefully controlled, and honey is not recommended as a snack, as it could cause spikes to occur. However, it may be useful in a diabetic emergency scenario. If your dog is experiencing a low blood sugar episode (hypoglycaemia) then honey may help to correct this but speak to your vet for advice first.

Let’s look at a few other honey specifics:

Can dogs eat manuka honey?

Manuka honey is often used as a topical treatment to help with healing. It has valuable antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, with many vets incorporating it into their wound care. Manuka honey is not toxic if eaten, with some people believing that it may even help their pet’s digestion if consumed, though any evidence on this is anecdotal.

Can dogs eat porridge with honey?

We don’t recommend feeding your dog porridge with honey. This will be high in sugar, which may lead to stomach upsets and weight gain over time.

Can dogs eat raw honey?

Raw honey is unprocessed and unheated, which usually means it retains more beneficial nutrients and pollen. However, it also carries a small risk of containing botulism spores, so it must never be given to puppies or immunocompromised dogs.

Can dogs eat Honey Nut Cheerios?

Don’t feed your dog processed human snacks like Honey Nut Cheerios. These aren’t toxic, but they are unhealthy for pets, adding extra calories with little nutritional benefit.

Can dogs eat local honey?

The rules for local honey are the same for honey generally - we don’t recommend feeding it to your pet regularly. It may contain small amounts of local pollens, but feeding your dog local honey doesn’t mean you will cure them of their allergy issues.