Is aloe vera gel toxic to dogs
Is Aloe Vera Poisonous to Dogs? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreAloe vera, belonging to the family Aloaceae, is one of the most popular medicinal plants prized by humans for its myriad health benefits, from wound-healing abilities and advantages for dental hygiene to wrinkle reduction. But as a dog parent, you may wonder: can dogs benefit from aloe vera in the same way as humans? Is it safe for them? The short answer is that aloe vera is toxic for dogs to eat but is safe to apply to the skin if handled correctly.
In this article, were going to take a closer look at this plants toxins and how to turn aloe vera into something good for your furry companion.
Is Aloe Vera Poisonous to Dogs?
If you break an aloe leaf, youll notice two things: a white sap around the edge (this is the latex the plant generates) and a clear or greenish slime in the middle (this is the material used to make the gel). The gel is not poisonous, but the latex can cause many problems.
Aloe latex acts as a purgative substance (it is a substance that usually causes diarrhea to empty the intestines). Fortunately, the plant has a terrible taste, but if your dog still consumes too much, they could experience mild stomach upset. In more severe cases, the toxin can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The toxicity of this plant is considered mild to moderate. The main risk lies in dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea. The more aloe your dog consumes, the more concern you should have.
Causes of Aloe Vera Poisoning in Dogs
Aloe vera poisoning can result from eating one large dose of the plant at a time, repetitive exposure, or both. This may happen when dogs:
- Swallow aloe vera leaves
- Consume products with aloe vera gel, latex, or supplements
- Have continuous exposure to aloe products
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Aloe Vera
Make an appointment with your vet immediately if youre afraid your beloved dog may have ingested some aloe plants. Typically, the worst that can happen to them is mild stomach discomfort. However, it can become serious based on how much your dog ate in relation to their size and tolerance. Your vet will provide you with detailed instructions.
Symptoms of Aloe Vera Poisoning in Dogs
In mild cases of aloe vera poisoning, vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms. However, if your dog consumes enough aloe to cause severe illness, you can expect the following:
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Changes in urine color
- Lethargy
- Tremors ( rare)
Even if your dog doesnt show any signs of toxicity yet, its still crucial that you schedule an appointment with your vet promptly if you suspect theyve consumed the plant before the poisoning worsens.
What Will the Vet Do for Your Dog?
Your vet will decide on the most suitable option for your dog based on the amount of aloe vera they have ingested, when they ate it, and the signs they are showing. To remove any remaining aloe in your dogs stomach, the vets may induce vomiting or perform a procedure called a gastric lavage. They may also place your canine on IV fluids to prevent dehydration. Once your four-legged friend is at home, monitor them carefully and make sure to go to all scheduled follow-up appointments.
Are There Any Benefits of Aloe Vera for Dogs?
Your furry companion will benefit from aloe vera if you use the right part of this tropical succulent in the right way. The plant can be used on dog skin and is reported to have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties. However, you must use this plant with caution and never allow your dog to consume it. It tastes bitter so most dogs will be deterred from licking the gel, but if youre not confident, its best to avoid using aloe vera products unless they are canine-specific.
Can You Put Aloe Vera on Your Dogs Hot Spots?
Aloe vera is believed to ease the pain of hot spots, but its best to take your dog to the vet if they have this condition. Although the plants anti-inflammatory benefits may be helpful, hot spots can be painful and may need the assistance of a vet to get them under control first. Once there, you can talk with the vet about using the gel from the plant.
How to Apply Aloe Vera on Dogs
Aloe vera gel has many applications. For example, you can use a thin layer of pale greenish gel to treat your dogs flaky skin, bug bites, or eczema. If you are utilizing aloe vera straight from your home plant, you must be mindful of the toxicity and other compounds in the leaves. After you cut out the leaf, youll see a clear gel inside and a yellowish liquid surrounding the gel (this is the latex layer you must remove).
On the other hand, if you are wary of using aloe gel from a home plant, get a safe product designed especially for canines instead. The market has many liquids, sprays, and lotion products available without the latex found in the leaf.
Other Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs
As it turns out, there are a ton of plants that are safe for humans to use but dangerous for dogs. Your dog should never, under any circumstances, have access to the following plants:
- Both the leaves and berries of English ivy
- Castor bean or castor oil plant
- Cyclamen
- Dumbcane
- Hemlock
- Mistletoe
- Oleander
- Thorn apple or jimsonweed
- Yew
Contact your local vet or the Animal Poison Control Center ASAP if you think your animal might have eaten something poisonous.
Conclusion
Dogs who consume aloe vera may become sick and suffer from vomiting and diarrhea as the primary signs. You usually have no idea whether the plants your dog chooses to taste are harmful or not unless you are a vet or a botanist. Therefore, you should pay attention to your dog when you are out for a walk to keep track of what they are eating.
We hope youve gained enough knowledge from reading this article to know about the toxicity of aloe vera, how to act appropriately if your dog accidentally consumes the plant, and how to apply it correctly for their benefit.
Featured Image Credit: casellesingold, Pixabay
Is Aloe Vera Safe For Dogs? Benefits Of Aloe Vera for Dogs
Aloe Vera has become very popular (and is still getting more traction) as humans use it as a natural treatment for various problems.
A lot of us use aloe vera to relieve sunburn. But did you know that it can also be used for cuts and abrasions?
But the question pet owners are also asking is: Is aloe vera safe for dogs?
As a rule, if we're trying to introduce a new food, supplement, or medication to our pups, it's best advised to consult with your vet first.
Every dog is unique. After all, some dogs might be allergic to some plants.
We also know that dogs are naturally curious animals.
And sometimes, they can get a little too curious and may eat something they shouldn't. So, is aloe vera one of them?
This blog will discuss everything you need to know and whether or not aloe vera is safe for dogs.
We'll discuss possible health benefits and other possible side effects Fido can get from this plant.
But before going into the juicy stuff, let's first tackle what aloe vera is.
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is a succulent plant and a member of the Liliaceae family. There are about 500 species of this plant, but only a few are edible.
The most common edible variety is the aloe vera that we know now, Aloe barbadensis miller.
It is long, triangular, and has fleshy leaves with serrated edges.
Over the years, aloe vera has gained massive popularity for its benefits in beauty, health, and other medicinal properties.
It's usually used to help soothe wounds, burns, and other human skin problems.
An aloe vera leaf has three layers: An inner gel that contains 99% water, and the rest is made of glucomannans, amino acids, lipids, sterols, and vitamins.
The middle layer contains anthraquinones and glycosides. Lastly, the outer layer is also called the rind.
We have been enjoying the benefits of aloe vera for centuries now. But can our dogs join in on the fun?
Is Aloe Vera Safe for Dogs?
If you plan to give Fido aloe vera, you must contact your vet first. Ask your vet if they can recommend it for your dog's specific condition.
Also, it's best if you just pick aloe vera products that are specifically made for dogs.
For instance, there are now aloe vera gels that are made for pets, such as Aloe Life's Animal Aloe Pet Safe Digestive Aid & Skin Treatment Gel.
You can also buy aloe vera as a spray, like the Espree Aloe Hydrating Spray for Pets, which helps hydrate and condition dry skin in dogs.
But if you have the real thing, you should know how to harvest and use it.
It is generally safe for our dogs but can be toxic when you don't know which part of the aloe plant to use.
So, what part of the plant is safe?
The therapeutic and safe part of the aloe plant is the gel or the inner leaf juice. This is safe for internal and topical use as it offers various benefits.
Aloe juice is also great and nutritious for dogs. It contains antioxidants and gives anticancer actions in the body.
If you plan to give your dog aloe juice, ensure that the juice is:
- organically grown aloe vera
- free of artificial colors and flavors
- made only from the inner fillet, not from the whole leaf.
Can Aloe Vera Be Toxic To Dogs?
When used properly, aloe vera products are generally safe. They also have plenty of benefits if used correctly.
But never, ever let your dog eat the leaves of the aloe vera plant.
The leaves have saponins, glycosides, and other toxic compounds for pets.
Depending on how much aloe vera leaves your dog eats, it can experience side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, depression, urinary changes, and more.
Unfortunately, large amounts of these leaves can cause tremors, although rare.
The raw aloe vera gel and liquid extracts from the plant are the two only forms of aloe vera that pet owners can utilize.
Common Topical Uses of Aloe Vera on Dogs
Aloe vera's juice or gel has excellent healing properties.
It is commonly used to heal minor wounds and relieve irritations.
Here are several examples of the most common ways pet owners topically use aloe vera on dogs:
Itch Relief
Fresh juice or aloe vera gel for dogs that you can buy online can be applied to irritated skin caused by various skin problems like hot spots, eczema, mange, and lupus.
It brings fast relief to fleabites and poison ivy. In addition, it can also help reduce the itch on wounds after surgery.
Acne Cure
For young puppies that have acne on their skin, try applying aloe vera on the skin! The gel cools and relieves the skin and helps eliminate bacteria.
You can try and put aloe vera gel on your dog's acne several times a day after washing his face.
Sunburn treatment
A lot of us have been using aloe vera to treat sunburn. But did you know that it can also work on our dogs?
The soothing property of the aloe gel is so great it can even treat sunburn on your dog's skin. It can also help with cracked paw pads.
Puppy Teething Pain Relief
Aloe vera gel can also be used to soothe teething pain in puppies.
Try and freeze some aloe vera juice in a small paper cup. Once frozen, you can peel back the paper cup and rub the frozen juice on your puppy's gums.
This will try to soothe and provide comfort for their gums and will numb the pain quickly.
Wound Dressing
Aloe is also usually used topically as a skin dressing for treating minor burns and wounds.
The juice or gel (depending on what you have) can be applied once or twice daily to cover the wound lightly.
Allow it to dry and let it stay for as long as possible.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Dogs
You can use aloe vera safely in its two forms: aloe vera gel and juice.
Topical use of aloe vera for dogs is safe and offers several benefits to their well-being.
Aloe vera is a great natural remedy for skin irritations such as rashes, burns, frostbite, and psoriasis.
The juice from the leaves can also be squeezed to get the purest form of aloe vera juice for your dog.
Aloe contains enzymes that can help treat itchy, irritated skin and reduce inflammation.
In addition, Aloe vera has around 75 other healing properties, which include:
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- Vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline
- Minerals (calcium, copper, magnesium, potassium, and zinc)
- Anthraquinones (commonly used to relieve constipation)
- Lignin (helps stimulate digestion)
- Saponins (has a cleansing and antiseptic effect)
- Salicylic acids
- Amino acids
- Fatty acids
- Sugars
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Antioxidant
- Aids stimulate the secretion of bile
- Helps treat ulcers
- Helps battle the irritation from insect bites
- Helps maintain the immune system
- Helps with warts
- Helps relieve the effects of asthma
Here are a few examples of other ways Aloe can Help Dogs:
Relieve Skin Irritation and Rashes
When applied topically, Aloe vera stimulates circulation to create a cooling effect that soothes swelling and helps treat skin rashes.
Aloe vera has antimicrobial properties to fight infections or irritated skin by eliminating harmful bacteria.
Aloe can also help relieve painful hot spots, eczema, and flaky skin. It can help soothe heat rash, sunburn, or bug bites. Aloe vera can also help moisturize a dog's dry nose.
Aloe helps with Digestion
A dog's gut health can also benefit from aloe vera in many ways.
For starters, it is 98% water, which can help increase water content in your dog's bowels to improve regularity.
Aloe stimulates muscle contractions to help with stomach upset and short-term constipation. It can also help with treating a dog's gastrointestinal tract due to its prostaglandins.
Lastly, aloe contains digestive enzymes that help break down food. It will put less stress on the gut, which aids with better digestion and absorption of essential nutrients for your pup.
Aloe Soothes Leaky Gut
Aloe can help relieve inflammation so the gut lining tightens up, which blocks the yeast, bacteria, and other harmful particles from getting through.
Many issues, such as allergies, yeast, arthritis, digestive problems, and liver and kidney issues, can cause a leaky gut.
Aloe Improves Joint Health
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and can help alleviate joint pain. New research suggests that drinking aloe juice helps with arthritis.
Try and apply aloe vera gel directly on swollen joints like a lotion. This can help alleviate symptoms without any side effects of other medicine treatments.
Aloe Soothes Urinary Tract Infections
Some bladder problems in dogs are caused by inflammation, even without any bacteria.
And I hope you know that aloe can help with inflammation by now.
Aloe produces a substance that coats the urinary tract, which reduces inflammation.
Aloe Helps Eliminate Worms
On the other hand, aloe can also help remove worms due to its anthelmintic properties.
It has the ability to eliminate parasites such as worms from their body.
It can also help lower the production of parasite eggs to prevent new ones from growing.
How to give a dog Aloe Vera
If you plan to give aloe vera to your dog, it's best advised to consult with your vet first.
Your vet can tell you whether or not it is safe for Fido, and he can guide you on how to properly administer it to your dog.
How to give Aloe Vera to Dogs Topically (Gel)
The most common way to give aloe vera to dogs is topically or with an aloe vera gel. It is usually used for minor scrapes, burns, bug bites, and more.
Apply aloe gel twice daily to help relieve irritated or inflamed skin, rashes, insect bites, etc.
It's best advised to use high-quality aloe vera gel. Always check the product for harmful properties.
If you plan to give your dog aloe vera orally, use extracts or juices.
Just ensure that the aloe vera is diluted with liquid, like broth, that can be mixed with their meals.
Dogs can get vitamins, minerals, and more from adding aloe vera as a daily supplement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my dog licks aloe vera?
There are only certain parts of aloe vera that are safe for dogs. The plant has a chemical called saponin, which is toxic to pets and children.
It can cause excessive vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood sugar.
How much aloe can I give my dog?
Generally, the recommended dosage for aloe vera is one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily.
Why is aloe vera good for dogs?
Aloe vera has antimicrobial properties that help prevent irritated or inflamed skin infections by eliminating harmful bacteria.
Studies also show that aloe gel helps slow the growth of excess yeast and clear up skin problems.
Is Aloe Vera Safe For Dogs? Before You Go
Yes, aloe vera is safe for dogs, and it offers plenty of benefits to dogs. You just have to know which part of the plant to use.
Aloe vera's gel or juice is safe for dogs. It can help relieve itchy, irritated, burned, or inflamed skin.
Humans have been using aloe vera for years now, and it's still gaining popularity. It's great to combat sunburn and for minor wounds and burns.
Fortunately, dogs can also enjoy these excellent benefits.
Aloe vera is known to be good for the skin, but it can also help your dog's coat.
Aloe vera has a hydrating power, soothing nature, and antibacterial properties. Your dog's coat will be smooth and shiny.
Remember that it's best to consult with your vet first if you're introducing something new to your pet.
Ask them for guidance and recommendations on what aloe vera is best for your pup.
Does your dog often stick his snout to things it doesn't belong in?
If he's always curious and eats things he's not supposed to eat, read our recommended articles below about what's safe and what's not for our pups!
