Using Sugar or Honey to Treat Pet Wounds

The use of honey to treat wounds has been used since 2000 B.C. in humans, however it wasn’t till the twentieth century that there has been scientific evidence for its success. Honey is used throughout the world as a cheap alternative to treat human wounds and is being found to have great results. Here are some examples of how honey and sugar can be used to treat our pets wounds.

Honey (unpasteurized)Benefits:

• Antibacterial action- hydrogen peroxide production and lowering the PH- Honey has high concentrations of glucose oxidase which is turned into hydrogen perioxide or H2O2 (Inhibine) and gluconic acid. Although H2O2 can often be toxic to all cells including the bodies healthy rebuilding cells, the H2O2 in honey is 1000x less potent than H2O2 solution used in antiseptics. This allows the H202 to destroy the bacteria with out harming the healthy cells. The gluconic acid produced in the reaction is used to lower the PH of tissues which also has an antibacterial effect.
 
• Healing stimulation- The low levels of the hydrogen perioxide have been shown to stimulate angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) and the growth of fibroblasts (cells used to repair damaged tissue). Angiogenesis allows more oxygen to be brought to the damaged tissues which significantly increases healing time.
 
• Antioxidant effect- honeys high levels of antioxidants protect the tissues from free radicals released by bacteria.
 
• Deodorizing action ( removal of bad smells)- honey has a high concentration of glucose which bacteria uses and converts to lactic acid instead of using amino acids which become malodorous compounds. This decreases the smell associated with infected wounds

Sugar- (granulated)

• Hyperosmotic effect- When sugar is placed on a wound it draws water and lymph from the healthy tissue underneath. Lymph is the bodies highway that allows rebuilding and protective cells such as Macrophages to be transported to damaged tissues. Sugar allows these cells to be sucked into the wounds through osmosis (distribution of fluids from areas of high concentration to lower concentrations) to help fight bacteria in the wounds.
 
• Anti-bacterial effect- Sugar decreases the water content in wounds. All bacteria need a certain amount of water to survive defined as “water activity”. It was found that most bacteria (E. coli, pseudomonas, Klebsiella etc.) growth was inhibited due to lack of water.