A Scoping Review of the Evidence for the Medicinal Use of Natural Honey in Animals.
Authors: Vogt Nadine A, Vriezen Ellen, Nwosu Andrea, Sargeant Jan M
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Evidence for Medicinal Honey Use in Animals Whilst honey's therapeutic reputation extends back millennia, the modern veterinary evidence base remains surprisingly limited. Researchers conducted a comprehensive scoping review across five major databases, identifying 397 articles encompassing 436 primary animal studies—yet only 47 were published veterinary research, with the remainder drawn from biomedical literature using rodent models. The veterinary studies examining honey's clinical applications in horses, dogs, cattle and cats were predominantly case reports or series (n=23), with just eight controlled trials identified; most investigations focused on wound healing, though some examined gastric ulcers, infections and metabolic conditions, and the vast majority employed non-medical grade honey (n=412) rather than standardised medicinal formulations. Despite widespread anecdotal enthusiasm for honey in equine and small animal practice—particularly for wound management—the authors highlight a critical evidence gap: the current veterinary literature lacks the rigorous, controlled trial data necessary to establish efficacy with confidence. For practitioners considering honey-based protocols, this review underscores the distinction between historical use and contemporary clinical evidence, emphasising the urgent need for high-quality comparative trials before honey interventions can be confidently integrated into evidence-based protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Current veterinary evidence for honey is weak—mostly case reports in dogs and horses; before adopting honey protocols, seek controlled trial data specific to your species and condition
- •Wound healing is the most researched application, but veterinary-specific evidence remains limited; medical-grade honey may differ from non-medical products, so clarify formulation in any studies you review
- •This scoping review identifies a major evidence gap: the field needs rigorous controlled trials in equine and cattle practice to move beyond anecdotal use
Key Findings
- •397 articles reporting 436 primary research studies on medicinal honey in animals were identified, with biomedical research (n=350) vastly outnumbering veterinary studies (n=47)
- •Veterinary literature consisted primarily of low-evidence case reports/series (n=23) rather than controlled trials (n=8), limiting clinical applicability
- •Wound healing was the most commonly examined indication across all studies, with honey derivatives and medical-grade formulations representing only 8% of interventions studied
- •High-quality controlled trials in veterinary species are substantially lacking, preventing evidence-based assessment of honey efficacy in equine and other clinical practice