Honey

116 foods contain this ingredient

Sweetener

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About Honey

Honey is a viscous sugar syrup made by bees that appears in some pet treats and foods as a natural sweetener and texture binder.

Honey is used in pet foods and treats primarily as a natural sweetener and binder, supplying simple carbohydrates for quick energy but contributing negligible protein, fiber, or essential vitamins. Raw honey contains antioxidants and may have mild antimicrobial or prebiotic effects, but because it is high in sugar and can worsen obesity, dental disease, or diabetes—and may carry microbial contaminants—use should be limited (and avoided in very young or immunocompromised animals); consult your veterinarian before offering honey to pets, especially cats (which are obligate carnivores and gain little benefit) or diabetic animals.

Related ingredients

Manuka Honey

Derived from: nectar processed by honeybees
Primary role: natural sweetener and binder in treats

Why it's used

Formulators use honey mainly for palatability and to bind treat mixtures, since it is composed largely of simple sugars and contributes little in the way of protein or essential nutrients. Some raw honey also carries antioxidant compounds, which is part of why it appears in treat marketing beyond its sweetening function.

Common concerns

Botulism spores in very young animals Honey can harbor Clostridium botulinum spores; in human infants under 12 months this is a documented risk because the immature gut lacks the flora to suppress spore germination, a parallel that leads many veterinary sources to advise against honey for very young puppies and kittens.
Sugar content and metabolic conditions Because honey is mostly simple sugar, repeated feeding is discussed in connection with weight gain, dental disease, and blood glucose management in diabetic animals.

Also relevant

Cats are obligate carnivores that lack a functional sweet-taste receptor and do not perceive sweetness, so honey offers them little of the palatability benefit it provides for dogs.

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