★ 4 min read
In this article, natural wound care with raw honey:
- How honey works to heal cuts, scrapes and wounds
- How to use honey to heal your dog and cat's wounds
- How to select honey for healing wounds
- Wounds and conditions that benefit from topical use of honey
- Cautions
- How to achieve optimal healing
How Honey Works to Heal Cuts, Scrapes and Wounds
Raw honey has been used to heal wounds for thousands of years. In 2000 B.C., ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to document use of raw honey for wound healing
When your dog or cat experiences a cut, scrape or wound raw honey applied to the affected area helps:
- Keep wounds clean
- Prevent and treat infection
- Reduce pain
- Reduce inflammation and swelling
- Prevent wound dressings from sticking to wounds
- Speeds healing
- Heals stubborn wounds
Raw Honey Kills Pathogens
Raw honey has potent antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic properties. Research has proven raw honey to be protective against at least 60 species of bacteria.
For example, to survive and thrive in your dog and cat's wounds, bacteria require:
- Low pH environment
- Nitrogen
- Water
Raw honey makes cuts, scratches and wounds an inhospitable place for bacteria.
Raw honey has a high acidity level. This deprives bacteria of nitrogen, which in-turn prevents bacteria from reproducing.Honey acts as an astringent, leaving bacteria with insufficient water to survive.
Natural Hydrogen Peroxide Speeds Healing
Natural hydrogen peroxide kills bad bacteria, and speeds healing of your dog or cat's wounds.
Natural raw honey contains glucose oxidase.
A small amount of natural hydrogen peroxide is formed when an enzyme in honey, glucose oxidase comes into contact with small amounts of body-fluid on the surface of wounds. Natural hydrogen peroxide is slowly released and:
- Acts as an effective, gentle antiseptic to dry out and tighten-up the skin.
- Kills bad bacteria.
- Does not cause inflammation or irritation of the skin.
Bad bacteria cannot survive exposure to natural hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, natural hydrogen peroxide helps speed healing.
Commercially produced hydrogen peroxide (pharmaceutical grade and food grade) available from pharmacies, is not the same as natural hydrogen peroxide. Commercially produced hydrogen peroxide kills bad bacteria, kills healthy cells, and seriously interferes with healing. In this article, learn more about how commercially produced hydrogen peroxide adversely impacts the body's ability to heal.
- Have many adverse side effects.
- Cause pathogenic microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungus) to become resistant to conventional treatments.
- Skin stays hydrated, supple and free of bacteria.
- Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in honey support growth of new tissue.
- Wound dressings don't stick to wounds and skin.
How To Use Honey To Heal your Dog and Cat's Wounds
- Gently apple a thin layer of raw honey to the clean wound site.
- Gently apply a generous amount of raw honey to the wound site.
- Make sure the honey flows into all reassesses of the wound.
- If possible cover the wound with a breathable dressing.
- For example, cover the effected are with cotton gauze and self-adhering medical wrap.
- Change the dressing at least one time a day.
- Apply more honey and cover (if possible), affected area with fresh cotton gauze, or gauze and self-adhering medical wrap.
- If you're not able to cover your dog or cat's wound with a dressing:
- You'll need to prevent your companion animal from licking the wound for a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Apply the honey to the wound two to three times per day.
- The healing process can take weeks, to many months.
- Continue to follow the steps above until the area of concern is healed.
How to Select Honey for Treating Wounds
- Organic honey, or;
- Wild honey harvested from pristine environments.
- The darker the honey the greater its health benefits.
- Medicinal grade Manuka honey, or;
- Kanuka honey.
Wounds and Conditions That Benefit From Topical Use of Honey
- Cataracts
- Cysts
- Conjunctivitis
- Eye Infections
- Styes
- Go to this article
- Abscesses
- Inflamed, infected gums
- Infected teeth
- Oral ulcers
- Mucositits
- Go to this article
- Abscesses
- Burns
- Bacterial infections
- Cuts
- Hotspots
- Infected wounds
- Insect bites and stings
- Irritated, inflamed skin
- Fungal infections
- Ringworm
- Scrapes
- Skin grafts
- Sunburn
- Surgical incisions and wounds
- Tick bites
- Trauma wounds
- Warts
- Don't apply crystallized honey to cuts, scrapes and wounds.
- The microscopic crystals are sharp and can irritate the skin
- Ingesting (licking) honey can interfere with blood sugar levels.
- If your dog or cat is hypersensitive to honey, don't use honey as a topical treatment.
- Raw honey can contain a small number of botulism spores.
- The spores are not an issue for adult dogs and cats.
- However for puppies and kittens less than 6 months of age, the immune system may be vulnerable to infection. Make sure your puppy or kitten does not ingest the honey.
- To avoid this issue, consider using Medihoney instead. Medihoney can be purchased from a pharmacy.
- Once your companion animal reaches 6 months of age, you can use the raw honey.
How to Achieve The Best Healing Outcomes
Raw unpasteurized, pure honey is an amazing, natural healing substance. But it's important to make sure your dog and cat's overall healing process is properly supported.
To ensure the best healing outcome a natural healing plan should be comprised of comprehensive dietary, supplemental and topical support.- Example of a raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet recipe:
- Go to this article.
- Bone broth recipe:
- Go to this article.
- Go to this article.
Foods that help naturally repel insects and parasites
- Go to this article.
- Go to this article.
- Go to this article.
- Go to this article.
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Important Note
1.0 Use of Foods, Herbs, Alternative Medicines:
Safe use of items and protocols in the article above, is your sole responsibility.
Foods, herbs and alternative medicines have health issue, condition and conventional drug interactions. Safe use of all substances and protocol are your responsibility.
Before you use any substance or protocol do your research. Check for cautions, contradictions, interactions and side effects. Do not use substances or protocols not suitable to your animal's individual circumstances.
If your animal has an underlying condition substances and protocols may conflict.
2.0 Definition of Holistic…
Food, herbs, alternative medicines are NOT ‘holistic’ they are a substance and MAY, or may NOT be ‘NATURAL’.
If you use a ‘natural’ substance (ie. an herb) you are using a natural substance, not a holistic substance.
Holistic is not defined by use of one or several substances. Holistic is an approach.
Definition of “holistic” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press
Adjective
"relating to the whole of something or to the total system instead of just to its parts"
"Holistic medicine attempts to treat the whole person, including mind and body, not just the injury or disease."
Holistic is a way of approaching life, and within that health, and well-being.
3.0 Expectation a natural substance remedies a health or behavioral situation.
A natural substance used to treat symptoms. But, if factors causing the underlying issue remain you do not have a remedy.
Remedy requires a comprehensive approach. It is necessary to identify root cause. Remove items that trigger, cause or otherwise contribute to issues. Holistic approach includes design, implementation to treat, remedy and maintain long-term health.
4.0 Leave a Comment
I review all comments and publish those deemed appropriate for this site.
I answer questions deemed appropriate when I have time to do so.
Wishing your dog and cat the best of health!
Karen Rosenfeld
Holistic Diet Nutrition Wellness Practitioner – Dogs and Cats
Holistic Behaviorist - Dogs
Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer
Email:
karen@ottawavalleydogwhisperer.ca
ottawavalleydogwhisperer@gmail.com