Benefits of Aloe Vera in Dogs

Aloe vera is a plant that's always been considered medicinal, used by humans since written records exist for countless ailments. Aloe vera can also be used on animals like dogs, though always under supervision and without exceeding the recommended amounts.

We can use pure aloe vera, without additives, which we can buy at any store or pharmacy, and we can also use aloe vera obtained straight from the plant ourselves, since it's really simple. Let's look in detail at all the uses and benefits aloe vera has for dogs.

Aloe vera to treat dermatitis in dogs

The main use of aloe vera in dogs is for skin care, to treat any type of dermatitis. Whether it's dermatitis caused by food allergies or flea bite allergy, insect bites, hair loss, skin irritated by old wounds or in the process of healing, and so on. In short, it's ideal for treating any type of dermatitis regardless of its cause.

This is because aloe vera naturally contains components that are very beneficial for the skin. Let's go over aloe vera's properties in detail:

• Aloe vera has an antibacterial effect, so it will prevent the skin from becoming infected, even in cases with small wounds caused by scratching, very common when there's itching.
• Aloe vera contains natural anti-inflammatory components, which help reduce skin inflammation and irritation, and with it, dermatitis symptoms.
• Aloe vera is very hydrating and moisturizing, effectively soothing dermatitis and the itching it causes the dog. This reduces scratching and the wounds it causes.
• Aloe vera promotes skin regeneration, so any damaged or wounded skin will heal faster and more safely, since it also has an antibacterial effect.

Aloe vera is a topical treatment for relieving dermatitis symptoms, but it's not a cure for it. In other words, if the dermatitis is caused by a food allergy, the underlying cause of the dermatitis will need to be treated, in this case, the food allergy. The cause of dermatitis should always be determined by a vet, who will also prescribe the appropriate treatment to resolve it.

Aloe vera has been shown to be very effective at relieving symptoms in cases of atopic dermatitis, flea bite dermatitis, and allergy-related dermatitis.

How to apply aloe vera to a dog's skin?

We can apply a bit of aloe vera gel to the dog's irritated skin two to four times a day. We'll spread it over their skin and massage it in gently. It's important that when we apply aloe vera to skin affected by dermatitis, we keep an eye on our dog to prevent them from licking the area and ending up eating the aloe vera. Otherwise it won't have any effect on their skin, so they won't get its benefits.

If we notice our dog licking the spot where we've applied aloe vera and we can't control it, we can use an Elizabethan collar for an hour after applying the gel, or place gauze over the skin so they can't lick the aloe vera.

Aloe vera also helps heal a dog's paw pads

Many dogs end up burning their paws with the summer heat, something extremely painful for dogs. It's worth remembering that dogs' paw pads are very sensitive to cold and heat, and can get burned very easily.

Aloe vera also helps improve a dog's burned paw pads, helping regenerate the affected skin and heal any wounds caused by the heat. Dogs suffering from pododermatitis can also benefit from using aloe vera to improve their symptoms.

A good trick to prevent your dog from burning their paw pads is to place your hand on the ground and keep it there for at least five seconds. If it doesn't burn you, then it's safe for the dog to go for a walk.

How to use aloe vera on a dog's paws

Just like in the previous case, we can apply a bit of aloe vera gel to our dog's paw pads two to four times a day. Since dogs tend to lick their paws constantly, we'll need to keep an eye on them or take measures like an Elizabethan collar or bandaging their paws, to prevent them from licking the aloe vera.

Using aloe vera for a dog's health

Aloe vera is also used to improve dogs' intestinal health and to support certain organs if they're damaged, such as the liver. It's also used to treat hormonal imbalances, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and many other conditions and disorders.

In this case, the plant's juice is used in small amounts, but a vet should always supervise the dosage, since each dog will need a larger or smaller amount depending on their size and condition. Not to mention that too much can cause digestive problems instead of helping. That's why we should never give aloe vera to our dog on our own, without veterinary supervision.

Some of aloe vera's most notable benefits are:

• Improves loss of appetite / anorexia
• Reduces cold symptoms in dogs and helps fight them
• Reduces vomiting and nausea in dogs
• Effective for liver detoxification
• Useful in cases of hormonal imbalance

How to get natural aloe vera

The simplest and safest way is to get it from a pharmacy, vet clinic, or store, always looking for pure aloe vera without additives — in gel form for dermatitis use, and in liquid form for internal use. We can also get aloe vera ourselves straight from the plant.

To do this, simply pull off a leaf from the plant, preferably one of the ones closest to the ground, since they're the oldest and contain the most nutrients. We'll trim off all the edges of the leaf (including the spiny part) and keep only the interior of the leaf, which we can also see by making a cross-section cut.

This way we'll see a sort of white gel, called parenchyma, which we use for topical application. If we crush the plant's pulp, we can also make use of it, including the juice it releases.

Is aloe vera toxic to dogs?

Aloe vera isn't considered a deadly or toxic plant for dogs, however improper use can lead to health problems in our dog. When cutting the plant's leaves, a yellowish liquid may come out, which we should never use, since it can be harmful to our dog.

Also, using a higher dose than indicated by our vet can lead to serious digestive problems like diarrhea and vomiting. So we should always follow the instructions given to us and never exceed the recommended amount. For topical use there's no toxicity risk, as long as we make sure the dog doesn't lick the gel applied to the affected area.