I adopted Bane when he was about eight months old. He is five now. A couple of years ago, he survived emergency surgery for a twisted spleen, and I thought that would be the worst thing we would ever face. But then one afternoon, three large American Staffordshire terriers broke through the fence next door and attacked him in our yard.

I was not home at the time. I was having lunch with friends and came back to a nightmare. Bane had deep, traumatic wounds across his leg, chest, and neck. At the emergency vet, they told me his size, at 112 pounds, was probably what saved him.

After the attack, part of the skin on his chest became necrotic from the trauma. The vet had to surgically remove the dead tissue, leaving a massive open wound that could not be closed right away because of
infection risk.

The wound was so large I was terrified of infection. I knew I could not manage it alone. Thankfully, my friend, a veterinary technician with more than 20 years of experience, stepped in and suggested Manuka honey.

Another friend had used New Zealand Honey Co.’s honey for her own health and told me how well it had worked. That gave me the confidence to order it for Bane. I did some research and that is how I decided on UMF™ 24+ MGO 1122+.

I took the first week off work to stay home with Bane, but I was still afraid to change the dressings on my own. The wound was so large and raw. My vet tech friend came over every day for six weeks to help.

We gently cleaned the wound with an iodine and water solution, then applied a layer of the Manuka honey before bandaging. Later, Bane’s leg started swelling because the bandage was restricting circulation, so we left the wound uncovered. I continued applying a thin layer of honey every time he came back inside.

I even made a towel harness to help keep the wound protected from flies and dirt.

Week by week the wound kept shrinking. From an area about twelve inches long, it is now down to around three inches. Eventually the vet added a few stitches to help the skin edges come together.

My vet tech friend took pictures every day to show her colleagues, and they were shocked by how well it was healing. Using Manuka honey gave me peace of mind because I was so worried about infection or insects getting into the wound.

Before this, I had never heard of honey being used on a dog wound. I truly believe the Manuka honey is what kept Bane’s wound from getting infected and let it
heal. If I had not tried it, I do not know what we would have done.

If your dog ever has a wound like this, talk to your vet about Manuka honey. It made me feel like I was doing everything possible for him.

Bane suffered from catastrophic wounds after a dog attack, leaving him with a large open area after necrotic skin was surgically removed. Through weeks of daily care with New Zealand Honey Co.’s UMF 24+ Manuka honey, alongside veterinary support, Barbie was able to protect the wound, keep bacteria away, and encourage healthy tissue growth. Over six weeks, the wound shrank dramatically and continued healing.

We are so thankful to Barbie for sharing Bane’s inspiring story with us. If you are looking for a natural remedy to assist your dog’s wound recovery, New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka honey could help. Explore our product range online or learn about the specific UMF grades to see which product is right for your pet.

We do not recommend the use of Manuka honey as a replacement for seeking professional veterinary help. Always consult
veterinary professionals in an emergency.