Medical-grade honey for rapid healing of 'lameness' in horses

Research indicates that medical grade honey can be used to promote healing in badly injured or arthritic joints in horses, says Dr Mac.

- Dr Mac

Horses gallop fast, often on dangerous surfaces and their joints are fragile. For many years, veterinarians were told that there was no hope for a joint where the joint fluid was badly infected and the surface of the joint was badly damaged. Euthanasia was suggested as recovery was unlikely, even with surgery and antibiotics. Badly damaged synovial surfaces were linked to a poor long-term prognosis and euthanasia was therefore considered. A recent paper has, however, described how surgery, followed by the use of medical-grade honey (MGH) within the joint capsule, has resulted in removal of infection and complete healing in three horses with severe lameness and infected synovial fluid, with or without external wounds.