Is Aloe Vera safe for our dogs?
Get the latest stories from Kent straight to your inbox with our twice daily newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  As summer heads our way and the weather begins to warm up, some of us will want to reach for help when suffering with sunburn. People have been using Aloe Vera to treat sunburn for years due to its cooling effect from the gel. Scientists have called it natures gift to humanity and its fondly known as the Wonder Plant. Although it does wonders for us humans, its known that the plant can actually harm dogs, with one case having killed a dog. Lets break down the confusion. Well, it is, and it isn't. While there are some great benefits for your dog from this plant, there's one part of the plant that is mildly toxic, but not deadly. If your dog eats a large amount of the plant's leaves, then they may experience:  Vomiting  Diarrhoea  Loss of appetite  Depression  Urinary changes  This is because the leaves contain saponins, glycosides, and other mildly toxic compounds for pets. Aloe Vera is a perennial, succulent plant from the Liliaceae family. There are over 500 different species of Aloe Vera. The most edible variety is aloe barbadensis. You can identify this species as they have long, triangular shaped leaves with serrated edges. Often sold in supermarkets, this is the plant to use for your dog. Aloe Vera contains many components that give it its various healing properties along with being rich in amino acids and minerals that your dog needs. These help to heal your dog inside and out. 6 ways Aloe Vera can help your dog  Soothes Skin Rashes and Irritation  Aloe vera has benefits that can help skin rashes heal faster and even cool the temperature of inflamed areas. You can use Aloe for:  heat rash  hot spots  sunburn  dry nose  flaky skin  eczema  bug bites. When applying Aloe Vera to your pet, try a small patch, wait a few minutes, and check for irritation or negative reactions. If there is no sign of irritation, apply the gel to the desired area. Reapply every few hours to provide relief when needed. Aids digestion  Aloe Vera is 98 per cent water and can be used in a variety of ways for your dogs gut health. It can improve bowel regularity and also help relieve short term constipation. Helps prevent leaky gut  The gut lining is a layer of cells with little spaces between. When the gut is inflamed, these spaces widen. As a result, protein, harmful bacteria and other particles leak into the body where they cause problems. Aloe Vera soothes the inflammation so the gut lining tightens keeping these particles in the gut, where they belong. Soothes swollen joints  Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce joint inflammation. Apply the gel directly to your dog's swollen joints to ease symptoms. Reduces urinary tract infections  Aloe Vera is great for reducing inflammation in the urinary tract which can lower the chance of your dog developing an infection. Expels Worms  The anthelmintic properties in Aloe Vera mean that it is able to expel worms and other parasites from your dog's body. This is a great way of treating your dogs for worms without using chemicals. How to use Aloe Vera with your dog  The toxic part of the Aloe Vera plant is the yellow coloured juice you'll see when you cut open a fresh leaf, called the latex. The clear or very pale greenish gel part is what you want to use. Apply a thin layer of the gel to the affected areas of your dog's skin. If you buy a gel, make sure it is 100 per cent organic Aloe Vera and has no added preservatives, sweeteners, or flavourings. For treating internal issues, you can scoop a teaspoon of the fresh plant, or gel and mix it into your dog's water. What to do if your dog ingests Aloe Vera  If your dog accidentally licks or ingests the plant leaves, carefully monitor their behaviour for potential side effects. Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog starts vomiting, has diarrhoea, or stops eating. Aloe Vera really is the wonder plant  Aloe Vera does live up to its reputation as a wonder plant that can be used for many things. With both external and internal benefits, it's great to have on hand at all times. If youre looking for a natural way to care for your dog or yourself, then an aloe plant may just be the answer. About the author:  Sarah-Jane White is an Animal Behaviour & Enrichment Expert. Her mission is to help pet parents use enrichment for a happy and fulfilling life together. She runs award-winning enrichment product business Ruffle Snuffle and her Top 10 'Life With Pets' Blog.