A Spoonful of Local Honey (Because My Dog Is Basically Allergic to Brisbane)

It’s Pollinator Week, so let’s talk about the little legends keeping your backyard alive, BEES, and why their honey has a spot in my dog cupboard.

Just two sweet tooths and one sticky jar.

Franklin’s Allergy Journey:

From Steroids to Sweet Relief

When we first brought Franklin home as a pup, he was a bundle of energy, and allergies.

He scratched, chewed his paws, and broke out in pimples and hives every other week.

The poor guy was constantly on steroids and Apoquel, and as much as those meds helped,

I hated the idea of him being on medication long-term.

So, I did what any worried pet parent would do: I went into full research mode.

I joined every dog allergy Facebook group I could find, borrowed stacks of books from the library, and even reached out to a couple of dog nutritionists for advice.

My feed turned into a non-stop scroll of itchy dogs, food swaps, and allergy hacks from pet parents all over the world. Between the group tips, expert advice, and a few wild suggestions I skipped entirely, I learned a ton about natural ways to support dogs with allergies.

That’s when I stumbled across the idea of using local honey for dogs.

The Buzz Behind Local Honey for Dogs

Turns out, local raw honey isn’t just delicious, it’s a natural way to help dogs with environmental allergies. Because it contains tiny traces of local pollen, a small daily lick can help your dog’s immune system “learn” to chill out when spring hits.

It’s like a mini, tasty version of allergy exposure therapy.

Franklin was my test subject.

I started with a tiny drizzle of local honey from the local apiarist, and over a few weeks, I noticed less paw chewing and more time napping in the sun.

No, it wasn’t magic, but it was a gentle, natural boost that worked alongside his new diet.

Local Cashmere honey, straight from our neighbourhood bees.

How I Give Honey to My Dogs

I keep it simple:

• A drizzle on a lick mat

• Swirled into dinner

• Sometimes frozen with yogurt in a Kong for a summer treat

  
  

⚠️ Important: Only for adult dogs, not puppies, not diabetic dogs, and never cats. Always use local raw honey, not supermarket syrup.

The Manuka Bonus

Around the same time, I also learned that Manuka honey is used in a lot of pet-safe balms because of its natural antibacterial power.

It’s amazing for minor cuts, cracked paws, or small hotspots, just make sure you’re using a pet-approved version, not the jar from your pantry.

Bees: tiny wings, big impact.

Supporting the Bees That Help Our Dogs

The best part?

Buying local honey means supporting the bees (and beekeepers) that keep Brisbane blooming.

No bees, no flowers, and no reason for dogs to roll around in the grass like maniacs.

A Sweet Little Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or a nutritionist, just a pet care pro who’s seen what worked for my own crew.

If you’re keen to dig deeper into natural dog health, I highly recommend Dr Karen Becker’s book, The Forever Dog, it’s full of solid, science-backed info (and not the woo-woo kind).