DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The information contained in this site is for educational and informative purposes ONLY and is NOT advice. Also, this website and the information contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Please refer to our Disclaimer Policy for more information.
Last Updated on November 30, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
IS ALOE VERA SAFE FOR DOGS
Is aloe vera safe for dogs? Yes and No. The reason for this answer is that it depends on what part of the plant is used. There are several species of the Aloe Vera Plant, (A. barbadensis) is the most common. Aloe is a demulcent and vulnerary plant, this means that this plant is primarily used for relieving inflammation, irritation or healing wounds. Aloe is also known for having laxative effects on the body.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING ALOE VERA FOR DOGS
ALOE FOR DOGS WOUND HEALING
Aloe vera gel is used traditionally on humans to speed up the healing process of sunburns and minor scrapes and cuts. One of the benefits for using aloe vera for dogs is that you can use the aloe vera gel on your dog’s skin as it has been proven to speed up the healing process and improve collagen strength. 1Heggers, J. P., Kucukcelebi, A., Listengarten, D., Stabenau, J., Ko, F., Broemeling, L. D., Robson, M. C., & Winters, W. D. (1996). Beneficial effect of Aloe on wound healing in an excisional wound model. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2(2), 271–277. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.1996.2.271
Both aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel have proven skin healing benefits for dogs 2Drudi, D., Tinto, D., Ferranti, D., Fiorelli, F., Pozzo, M. D., & Capitani, O. (2018). Aloe barbadensis miller versus silver sulfadiazine creams for wound healing by secondary intention in dogs and cats: A randomized controlled study. Research in veterinary science, 117, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.10.010
ALOE FOR DOGS SKIN CONDITIONS
Another benefit of using aloe vera for dogs was discovered in a research study on dogs with staphylococcal pyoderma, aloe vera extract was found to be more effective than gentamicin.3Kamr, A., Arbaga, A., El-Bahrawy, A., Elsify, A., Khaled, H., & Hassan, H. (2020). The therapeutic efficacy of Aloe vera gel ointment on staphylococcal pyoderma in dogs. Veterinary world, 13(11), 2371–2380. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.2371-2380 Staphylococcal pyoderma is a bacterial skin infection in dogs and aloe vera possess certain anti-microbial and skin protective qualities.
ALOE VERA JUICE FOR DOGS DIGESTION AND STOMACH ISSUES
Another potential benefit to using aloe vera juice for dogs is that it is known to be soothing for Gastroesophageal reflux disease better known as GERD. This disease can cause heartburn or acid reflux. In randomized blind study, where aloe syrup, omeprazole or ranitidine were given. The effects of the aloe were a contender against both omeprazole and ranitidine.
Aloe was regarded at being safe and effective treatment at reducing the symptoms of GERD, such as reducing regurgitation, flatulence and belching. 4Panahi, Y., Khedmat, H., Valizadegan, G., Mohtashami, R., & Sahebkar, A. (2015). Efficacy and safety of Aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 35(6), 632–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30151-5
WHAT PART OF THE ALOE VERA PLANT IS USED FOR DOGS
There are three notable parts to the aloe vera plant. This can be described as the fillet, leaf and latex. You will hear the fillet described as the gel, the juice or the meaty inner part of the aloe plant. Not all of these terms are correct. 5Añibarro-Ortega, M., Pinela, J., Barros, L., Ćirić, A., Silva, S. P., Coelho, E., Mocan, A., Calhelha, R. C., Soković, M., Coimbra, M. A., & Ferreira, I. (2019). Compositional Features and Bioactive Properties of Aloe vera Leaf (Fillet, Mucilage, and Rind) and Flower. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 8(10), 444. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8100444
While the latex is actually the layer in between the green outer leaf and the meaty, gel, fillet layer. The latex layer is known for containing anthraquinones and a major constituent in the latex layer is aloin. The latex layer is also known for having tumor promoting activities 6Guo, X., & Mei, N. (2016). Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews, 34(2), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826 Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects – PMC (nih.gov) as well as having laxative effects.
“Recently, Aloe vera whole leaf extract showed clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in rats, and was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a possible human carcinogen.”7Guo, X., & Mei, N. (2016). Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews, 34(2), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826 Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects – PMC (nih.gov)
HOW MUCH ALOE CAN A DOG INGEST
This aloe vera juice for dogs is the product I personally used on my furbabies;
Amazon.com: Aloe Vera Juice Organic No Preservatives – 16 oz – Liquid : Health & Household
This is by Lily of the desert and the reason I chose this product is because they claim their products are aloin free right on the bottle meaning it has less than 1ppm, they are certified Organic, preservative free and inner fillet right on the label. You want to be careful when choosing aloe juice that there are not extra ingredients added to the juice and that it does NOT say Whole Leaf on it as they do have another product that is whole leaf.
The dose of aloe vera juice for dogs that was for my 80-pound fur kid, was 1 oz or 29 ml divided into morning and night servings about 30 minutes before I gave her food. They recommend on the bottle between 1-2 ounces as a serving. I started initially with 0.5 oz servings for a couple days to make sure there were no adverse effects and it was well tolerated.
IS ALOE VERA SAFE FOR DOGS AND WHO SHOULD NOT USE IT
Just as there are benefits for using aloe vera for dogs there are also certain dogs that shouldn’t use aloe vera such as dogs that are pregnant or lactating. You should use with caution in fur kids with liver issues, heart issues as it has been known to cause low potassium long term. 8Guo, X., & Mei, N. (2016). Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews, 34(2), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826 Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects – PMC (nih.gov)
Dogs with kidney issues or dogs that are allergic. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting anything new in your furbabies life as other pre-existing conditions or medications or other herbs not necessarily listed here could cause adverse effects.
HOW TO USE ALOE FOR DOG PAWS
I have used aloe both internally and externally on my fur kids with great success. One method that I have used most recently was actually buying the whole aloe leaf from the grocery and making fresh aloe gel for dogs, along with my paw balm recipe found in this article here > WHY DO DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS WITH HELPFUL SOLUTIONS and applying both twice a day. I noticed softer skin before the week was even over but for about 3 weeks, I kept applying it and all the dry, cracked and chapped lizard skin and paws went away and the hair grew back from where the constant licking made it disappear and the licking stopped as soon as the chapped lizard like skin went away.
Now to prepare the aloe vera leaf, I cut the aloe for dogs into about 3-inch sections and wrapped the rest that I wasn’t using immediately in saran wrap and put it in the fridge. The remaining part that I cut I put in a glass to allow the aloin to drip out of the plant into a container for about 30 minutes or so and then flipped over to the other side to make sure there was no more latex in the plant.
Then I cut the green parts off the sides and ran my knife in between the aloe vera gel and the green outer part,like I was skinning a fish. Sometimes it’s easier to cut the sides and the back and use a spoon to scoop out the rest, but as its very slimy and slippery, even that can be difficult.
Then I rinse the aloe for dog paws in water and throw it in the blender. It will foam up in the blender some but if you let it rest for about 5 minutes the bubbles and foam will settle and then you can put in an airtight container and put in the fridge or use immediately on your dog. When I make aloe for dog paws, I only make enough for a 2-3 day batch as aloe for dogs can spoil quickly if not refrigerated and sealed.
If that sounds like too much work for you, believe me I get it! Then there is another option I bought, as I was literally buying 2-4 jumbo aloe vera leaves a week.
The other thing I alternated using which isn’t slimy at all and already done for you, that I use topically on my furbabies skin as it is organic and contains no aloin so if they accidentally lick it then it shouldn’t cause digestive upset, is;
If you are interested in aloe vera for dogs because of its wound healing properties, then check out our other articles on the amazing benefits of honey.
