Honey

Why we love honey at Cooka's ♥

Honey, often called the 'gift of the gods', is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Bears love it and so do we, but is honey also good for our fur-families? Yes it is and here are the top reasons!

Allergy buster If your fur-child gets seasonal allergies, honey may be helpful, as it contains trace amounts of flower pollen. When your pup eats a spoonful of pure honey the pollen gets ‘introduced’ into your dog’s system, which helps to create antibodies. So once Spring arrives and the air is filled with pollen, these antibodies can help to prevent an autoimmune response. Local honey is best choice, as it contains the pollen that is specific to your area. Pollen also contains quercetin – a bioflavonoid with natural occurring antihistamines. Skin Healer If your dog suffers from skin problems, like hot spots, eczema or small bites and scrapes, then topical applied honey can be a great way to help soothe and heal. Did you know that unpasteurised raw honey has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties? Not only because its low moisture content makes it difficult for bacteria to strive, but honey also produces low levels of hydrogen peroxide. This natural antiseptic sanitizes without harming. Honey can also help to reduce pain and inflammation and the enzymes in honey help stimulate healthy skin growth. To make sure your pup doesn’t lick away the magic potion, best to bandage the effected area.

No more Cough We all know about the soothing feeling, honey can give us in flue season. And it is just the same for our dogs. If your dog has caught a kennel cough, then honey is a great way to provide relief. Digestive aid Does your friend have trouble with digestive issues, like indigestion, constipation and diarrhoea? A daily spoon of honey can be an effective way to help with these tummy upsets. Honey contains both prebiotics and probiotics, which play a big role in healthy digestion.

Weight control Sounds strange? But as Studies have shown, eating honey can slow down the hunger response. Honey is considered a simple sugar, but it breaks down differently than normal white sugar, as it requires less insulin and is absorbed gradually into the bloodstream. Which means it may slow down digestion and the conversion of glucose. If your dog easily puts on weight, try adding a bit of honey to the daily meal. Pollen And how about Bee Pollen? Bee pollen is actually the food of the worker bees. Pollen supports energy, digestion and the immune system and is also known to scavenge free radicals. Some canine athletes are fed bee pollen to improve their strength and stamina and some pet-parents give it to their dogs as an all-purpose supplement (we do at Cooka's). Propolis Propolis is a natural antibiotic. It has been used to take care of infections for thousands of years and also has cancer inhibiting properties. Like honey, propolis can be applied topically to help heal wounds.

Royal Jelly Royal jelly feeds the bee larvae. It also can transform a worker bee into a queen bee, hence the name royal jelly. Royal jelly is a great way to give our dogs more endurance and stamina and it may even help with depression and anxiety. Interested to add honey to your dogs diet? Don't forget - even though is is like medicine, it still is a sugar and must be used wisely.

Small dogs – ¼ tsp daily
Medium dogs– ½ tsp daily
Big dogs – 1 tsp daily
Very large dogs – up to 2 tsp daily

Important note: Always buy honey locally to be sure to get most benefits from it. It should be raw and unfiltered. At Cooka's we buy the honey from the local beekeepers of Sintra. To find out if your honey is real (yes, there is even fake honey) check this video.