We all know that Pugs love eating their food and human food. But is it really good to give your dog honey?
Can Pugs eat honey? Yes, Pugs can eat honey if fed in moderation, it can be great for your pooch as it contains natural sugars that contain a wide variety of medicinal properties that can be a great health supplement for your Pug. Honey contains vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and K as well as other minerals such as calcium, manganese, iron, copper, and magnesium.
Honey contains many benefits for dogs, which we’ll cover in-depth in a bit. However, let’s look at the drawbacks above giving your pooch honey.
Related: Fresh Cooked Food For Pugs
Is Honey Safe for Dogs Or Is Honey Bad for Dogs?
Honey has been widely used in ancient medicine for over 3000 years. Our ancestries used honey to help treat wounds, burns, and even digestion. Today, people are still using it to help treat small bouts of diarrhea, acid reflux, antiseptic for small wounds.
But what about our canine friends? Well, the great news is that small doses of honey can be extremely beneficial for your four-legged friend!
As I mentioned above, honey can be great for dogs, if fed in moderation. Let’s take a look at the nutrients found in honey.
One cup (339 grams) of Honey contains:
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Calories | 1031 (4317 kJ) |
| Vitamin C | 1.7 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 279 grams |
| Iron | 1.4 mg |
| Folate | 6.8 mcg |
| Choline | 7.5 mg |
| Betaine | 5.8 mg |
| Phosphorous | 13.6 mg |
| Magensium | 6.8 mg |
| Selenium | 2.7 mcg |
| Water | 58.0 grams |
| Sugars | 278 grams |
(source)
Is Honey Safe for Pugs?
If fed in moderation and occasionally, it can be safe for them. As mentioned above, it contains small amounts of sugar some vitamins, and minerals that can be beneficial for your four-legged friend.
That said, like any other human food, it can also have some negative effects on our canines.
Honey is composed of various high sugar molecules such as:
- Sucrose
- Fructose
- Glucose
- Maltose
- Complex carbohydrates
Unlike humans, canines do not have the enzymes necessary to break down and utilize all the sugar molecules found in honey.
This is why it’s extremely important to only give them honey in small amounts. If your dog eats too much honey it can result in:
- Cavities and tooth decay
- Weight Gain: One tablespoon of honey contains around 64 calories. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but Pugs are prone to obesity and it’s important to monitor their calorie intake.
- Upset tummy
- Diabetes (if given in excessive quantities)
*Note: If your Pug has diabetes, discuss the use of honey in his/her diet with your veterinarian
Can Pug Puppies Eat Honey?
Avoid giving honey to puppies. Natural, raw honey may contain small numbers of Clostridium botulinum spores, which is commonly found in dust and dirt. The digestive systems in adult dogs (and humans) can process the spores through their bodies. However, puppies can become sick from ingesting the spores.
Wait until your puppy is at least 1.5 years old before using any type of honey treatments for dogs.
Now let’s look at all the amazing benefits of honey for dogs!
What Kind of Honey Is Good for Pugs?
Not all types of honey are created the same. Your favorite supermarket brand honey has been pasteurized with a heating and cooling process, which dilutes it with a high fructose level. This manufacturing process can quickly destroy the honey’s benefits.
Instead look for raw local honey, because of the high concentration of fresh nutrients. Raw honey also contains small amounts of local pollen, which can help with your dog’s allergies. You can search for local honey on this site.
Types of Honey for Pugs?
Manuka Honey KFactor – Raw honey from New Zealand, never pasteurized, Non-GMO honey which is great for dogs! It is also the honey that has the highest antibacterial properties in the world.
K9 Honey – All natural honey made specifically for dogs.
Basically, search for the darker kinds of honey such as:
- Tupelo
- Dandelion Meadow
- Sage
- Jarrah
- Honeydew
- Buckwheat
Before adding honey to your Pug’s diet, be sure to consult with your dog’s veterinarian.
Is Manuka Honey Safe for Pugs?
Manuka honey is a Non-GMO, raw, never pasteurized hone with an authentic flavor your dog will love.
The honey that comes from New Zealand and Australia is known as the healing honey. Manuka honey contains powerful chemical components such as; Leptosperin, Methylglyoxal, and Dihydroxyacetone that act gives the honey antiviral, antifungal, and antibiotic effects.
5 Benefits of Honey For Pugs
#1 Helps Alleviate Allergies
If your pooch suffers from environmental allergies, honey can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Like humans, spring, summer, and fall can trigger allergies in your dogs. If your Pug has allergies, they most likely suffer from some of the following symptoms:
- Hot spots
- Excessive licking (paws, belly)
- Scratching
- Hair loss
- Shaking their head excessively
- Red, irritated skin
- Rubbing their face on pillows, furniture, carpet, and etc
- Inflamed stinky ears
Before trying to treat your dog’s allergies with honey, it’s important to find out whether your dog is suffering from environmental allergies NOT food allergies.
To help your Pug with environmental allergies, feed your dog, raw local honey. Local honey contains small amounts of your area’s pollen.
The idea is to feed your pooch the local raw honey on a regular basis, which will eventually help doggie’s system, develop an immunity to the local pollen.
We always picked up local honey at our farmer’s market. Honey that is freshly collected from a beehive, won’t help your pooch with local allergies.
#2 Soothes Kennel Cough
Some dog owners have realized how to use honey as a kennel cough treatment from home. Honey is great for helping humans that are suffering from a cold or cough.
But it is also known to help your canine get relief from the dry, irritated throat that can be caused by bordetella aka “kennel cough.”
Manuka honey seems to be the best type of honey to help with kennel cough, as it has the highest antibacterial properties of any honey in the world.
The downside is that it is not cheap. You can expect to pay about 3-4 times the cost of what you would pay for local honey at your farmers market.
If your Pug is coughing a lot, then you may want to consider checking out K9 Honey, which is the first honey for dogs.
#3 Aids In Digestion
Pugs are known to eat pretty much anything like grass, poop, and etc. Honey can help alleviate a small upset stomach. In fact, there are several treatment plans that use honey to help cure upset stomachs in dogs.
It’s even known to help with small minor bouts of diarrhea, that can come from eating fresh grass.
Some veterinarians have used honey to help control small stomach ulcers. Honey contains antibacterial properties that can help remove the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.
If your pooch suffers from ulcers, consult with your veterinarian or holistic vet to seek treatment methods with honey.
#4 Boosts Energy Level
If you’re trying to get your Pug to exercise more or they are just getting older, a small dose of honey can help perk them up!
Honey contains sugar, and the sugar boots can give your pooch energy. Anecdotal evidence has shown that giving honey to older dogs can help them regain some of their former spunk and drive.
It’s also been known to help with arthritis in older dogs because it is a natural anti-inflammatory.
#5 Heals Wounds
Manuka honey is the best choice for helping dogs heal from burns, cuts, and scrapes. This FDA-approved honey can be used on both humans and dogs.
That being said, any type of raw honey can help heal your dog’s wounds. Note: If your dog has a deep or wide puncture wound, they should be examined by your veterinarian before applying any type of medication.
How Much Honey Can You Feed Your Pug?
According to the Honey Bee Conservancy, you should NEVER give your dog more than one teaspoon of honey per day. Too much honey can impact their health negatively.
Too much honey can cause your dog to gain weight and tooth decay.
Recommended serving sizes are:
1-10 pound dog 1/2 teaspoon per day
11-30 pound dog 1 teaspoon per day
31-50 pound dog 2 teaspoons per day
50+ pound dogs 1 tablespoon per day
How to Feed Your Pug Honey
All honey is thick, but the crystallized honey can make it virtually impossible to scoop out in small amounts. You want to avoid giving your Pug the supermarket brands that may be found in your cupboard.
Opt for the brands that I’ve shared, preferably the Manuka honey or K9 Honey.
Soften up the honey by using hot tap water. You may have to let the jar of honey sit in a pot of hot water for 10 minutes or longer.
Once the product is softened up, you can store the honey in your kitchen cabinet at room temperature.
Put a small amount (less than a tablespoon) and let your dog lick the spoon. Trust me, it won’t be hard to get your dog to eat raw honey.
Final Word On Feeding Pugs Honey
Honey has many benefits for both humans and dogs. I highly recommend feeding your dog K9 honey, the first honey for dogs! It is blended with pollen from nine geographic regions.
Mindy my black Pug suffered from spring allergies and we used honey to help her stop licking her paws so much.
Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll realize how beneficial honey can be for Pugs!
References and Further Reading
Honey Conservancy – Honey for Dogs (and Other Pets)
PMC – Manisha Deb Mandal, Shyamapada Mandal – Honey: It’s Medicinal Property and Antibacterial Activity