With ever rising vet costs, while gratefully acknowledging the absolutely essential nature of veterinary services, I have aligned myself with more and more pet owners who are turning to complimentary natural ways of supporting their dog’s health.
As an ardent advocate of antibiotics and chemical pain relief when needed, I am not going to tell you to work against your vet and their expertise. In fact in an ideal world you are both on the same post op care plan sheet for your pet.
No instead I am going to present just a few natural remedies that can be used alongside conventional big pharma care.
MANUKA HONEY For Dogs’ Skin
Skin Allergies in Dogs
My UK exempted pitbull like many bull breeds suffers from skin allergies and skin irritations.
In particular on her ears.
Persistent scratching has led to a haematoma, and subsequently, a benign lump forming in her ear canal – now both removed.
The haematoma and then the lump formed viscious circles of making an ever more itchy ear and so yet more scratching, to the pont that the lump itself started to bleed and every time our pittie girl shook her head (which was frequently) the entire downstairs of our house looked like a murder scene.
Thank God some years back we decided to go hard / wooden flooring throughout the whole of the downstairs.
Also never underestimate the vigor of dog head shaking. I never knew blood spats could get that high up our walls!
Manuka Honey Treatment
Post surgery, no amount of chemical cleaning really resolves the issue. Steroids work while our dog is on them but neither me nor our vet wants our dog on steroids long term.
Along with conventional methods I also researched natural remedies and found manuka honey for topical use.
The best manuka honey for dogs is that with a high MGO. Manuka honey with a MGO grade 500 or above contains plenty of a wonderful ingredient called methylgloxal (hence the initials MGO) which is where this particular type of honey gets its antibacterial properties from.
Standard runny honey loses a lot of this oomph factor at the processing stage due to hydrogen peroxide activity causing it to break down.
We won’t solve the itchy ears issue completely but applying manuka honey just as it is to the outside and a small amount to the outer part of the inside of her ear flaps really helps our girl by getting the irritation under control.
Leave the honey on for a few hours or ideally the best part of a day to give the MGO chance to work and then wipe off with simply a piece of kitchen towel soaked in clean water. She is then skin irritation free on her ears for a good few days.
At £21+ for not a large jar manuka honey doesn’t come cheap but it is still cheaper than on going steroids and doesn’t carry with it the potential long term use side effects. *
To be clear, an application of manuka honey is not a permanent cure for ear skin irritations. It Does assist in bringing the irritation under control but ongoing use is still important. It isn’t a one hit wonder.
Additional Oral Usage
Manuka honey can also be added to your dog’s diet. It is also very beneficial for dog gut health. Only a spoonful here and there is needed and not even every day.
I would add as both a caveat and endorsement, after researching manuka honey for dogs the above works well for our girl. It MAY not be appropriate in all cases and please always DO seek veterinary advice as your first port of call.
Other Complimentary Topical Care
I do intermittently also apply pure aloe vera, and aloe vera, tea tree and manuka honey skin creams to the inside and outside of her ear flaps. All appear to provide a soothing effect against irritation and prevent her scratching her ears.
It is something we have learnt to live with and just manage as best we can.
Future Articles
In future pieces I will write about:
- making turmeric golden paste – an amazing natural anti inflammatory that our 13 year old ‘working labrador’ absolutely loves;
- using dried violets steeped in boiling water to assist in fatty lumps growing any larger in senior dogs and;
- the safe use of garlic in a dog’s diet – no it isn’t poisonous in sensible doses unlike onion and leek.
Now heading off to wash off that manuka honey!
*Potential side effects of longer term steroidal use include:
- UTI’s – urinary tract infections – 30% of patients;
- Development of thin skin;
- Blackheads;Poor hair coat;
- Behaviour changes including aggression;
- Poor wound healing;
- Obesity – fat redistribution around the belly;
- Muscle weakness.
Sources VCA Animal Hospitals, Trudell Animal Health and PDSA.
