Can aloe vera help dogs itchy skin

Safely Using Aloe Vera For Dogs

This article discusses the many benefits of using aloe vera for your dog. It is a member of the lily family. There are about five hundred species of it, the most common of which is known as aloe vera. The plants are native to southern and/or eastern Africa but there are also some strains in the West Indies. Read more.

In North America and Europe, among other locales, aloe is used in landscaping to spruce up the appearance of a yard.

Therapeutic Uses of Aloe Vera for Dogs

Aloe is best used for digestive, skin and lymph problems. The most common use of aloe vera gel for dogs is as a topical skin application, as youre probably familiar with. Either fresh juice from aloe or a gel that has been commercially prepared features a pile of minerals, proteins, enzymes, and other goodies. The inner fleshy leaf is where all the nutrients are found for both internal and external use.

• Aloe vera is excellent for dogs with problems from acidic stomachs (acid reflux as known to humans). Give 10 minutes before each meal. See dosage below.
• Soothes the skin and soften it, helping treat minor scrapes, burns and other wounds your dog may encounter.
• Fleabites, sunburns and poison ivy harm can often be treated with aloe due to its cooling effects, while it is also sometimes applied topically after surgery to help treat incision areas and so on.
• Its also believed it may play a part in cancer prevention.
• Aloe is believed to be one of the better herbs for relieving acute arthritic pain in older dogs due to gout (metabolic disease).
• Relieves bladder sensitivity and irritation when the urine has a high acid count.
• For dogs whove had any kind of surgery, application of aloe vera gel can work wonders by reducing a great deal of irritation and inflammation. Dogs should be prevented from licking off any of the gel because it should be left on the wound or problem area as long as possible. SEE THE PRECAUTIONS BELOW.

Directions for using fresh aloe: Cut a leaf from the bottom of the plant and squeeze out the juice as shown in this example. Be careful NOT to contaminate the juice with the latex part of the plant.

We LOVE Georges 100% ALOE VERA FOR INTERNAL USE Its ALL NATURAL, TASTELESS, CONTAINS NO CITRIC ACID, NO REFRIGERATION NECESSARY

Plus, its made from the same variety of aloe plant that the Road Runner bird (not the cartoon) prefers to drink from, and we all know that our animal friends have a little more insight into whats good and whats not!

You can learn more here and check out testimonials from others. Georges also has topical gels and sprays as well.

Is Aloe Vera Gel Safe for a Dogs Skin?

• Dosage: Aloe juice can also be used internally as a way to handle irritations and minor problems along the digestive tract. You want to start it slowly so that your dog can get used to the taste, but the brand that I recommend above is tasteless. I use this myself.
• General maintenance dosage: 1 teaspoon of Georges Aloe Vera Liquid per 10 pounds of body weight daily.

Preventative Measures

There may be cases in which some dogs have allergic reactions to aloe. Side effects include reddening of the skin or the formation of some sort of allergy rash. For this reason, its best to test any aloe gel on a small area of the skin first to see what, if anything, develops.

For the most part, however, aloe is considered safe for dogs. What dog owners do need to be aware of are the topical creams and other products that claim to use aloes (not aloe).

Aloes represent a sticky sort of latex extracted from the skin of aloe leaves. This material has been linked to digestive issues, including severe diarrhea.

Look for products that use the INNER FILLET ONLY like Georges and do not contain the latex part of the leaf, which is not recommended for your dog.

Is Aloe Vera Safe for Dogs? Reasons to Use

As covered above, there are a number of topical and internal applications for aloe. It is a generally safe option for keeping the skin free from irritation and mitigating the effects of rashes and other concerns.

The internal properties have also proved beneficial, with some owners using a bit of aloe juice for irritations of the digestive tract (nausea, diarrhea), bladder irritation, cancer prevention and the pain of arthritis.

Of all the different herbs, aloe is one of the safest and most reliable for dogs. Its applications are significant and its benefits are considerable, making it a terrific option for your four-legged friend.

References: Herbs for Pets by M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford & Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats by CJ Puotinen

Aloe Vera For Dogs: How To Properly Treat Itchy Skin

Dogs, like humans, can experience itchiness and irritation on their skin for many reasons. Some may require a visit to the vets clinic, while others can easily be remedied at home.

Aloe vera has become a favorite of many dog owners when it comes to tackling skin issues in their four-legged friends. The plant boasts a host of vitamins and impressive antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that aid in the treatment of skin conditions in dogs.

Read on to find out how you can use aloe vera for dogs with itchy, irritated skin.

What Makes Your Dogs Skin Itch?

First off, pup owners must understand that itching is not a disease, but a sign of an underlying condition. Usually, the main causes of itching in dogs are allergies, parasites, and infections. Sometimes, factors that contribute to dry skin like fatty acid deficiencies and cold weather can also cause your dog to scratch or lick her skin.

Your vet will perform a thorough examination to find out the underlying cause of your pups scratchy skin. Parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites are the first possible causes that your vet will seek to eliminate.

Why You Should Use Aloe Vera For Dogs

The gel extracted from the leaves of aloe vera has great antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that cause a soothing effect on the skin. It also contains prostaglandins that help reduce inflammation, minimize allergic reactions, and accelerate the healing of wounds.

Apart from prostaglandins, the gel also contains acemannan, a polysaccharide that helps boost the immune system and fight skin issues. You can, therefore, use aloe vera gel for dogs with skin infections, allergies, and other health conditions that suppress your pets immune system.

Hot spots, stings, and bites? Aloe vera is cool to the touch and applying it to your pups skin will relieve discomfort almost instantly. Click this link for more on the benefits of aloe vera for the skin.

Related: Aloe Vera Seeds

How To Use Aloe Vera For Dogs With Itchy Skin

The most recommended way of using aloe vera for dogs with scratchy, inflamed skin is topical application. However, some experts argue that ingesting aloe vera juice may also help alleviate skin issues. We will explore this further in a minute but first, lets see how you can use aloe vera externally on your dog.

Aloe vera gel is the safest part of the plant to use on your dog. Here are quick steps on how to prep and apply aloe vera on your doggys skin.

1. Obtain aloe vera gel. Whether you are making your aloe vera gel at home or purchasing a bottle from a drugstore, make sure the product is 100% pure aloe gel. View our complete guide on how to make aloe vera gel
2. Examine your dog to identify areas that are severely affected by the inflammation and trim away the fur on these spots carefully.
3. Soak a clean piece of cloth in warm water and rinse the spots gently.
4. Smear aloe vera on the spots mildly. For extra relief, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil to the aloe gel.
5. Repeat this process daily, preferably, two or three times a day until the spots have begun to heal.
6. To reap maximum benefits of aloe vera gel for your dogs itchy skin, bath your dog with a shampoo infused with aloe twice or thrice a week. Apply aloe vera gel to the spots after she is dry.

Experts recommend aloe vera gel for dogs with scratchy skin because it alleviates itchiness quickly. Used properly, the inflammation usually goes away within 7 days tops.

Related: How To Make Aloe Vera Gel

Oral Consumption Of Aloe Vera

Just like humans, dogs can eat aloe vera. However, as we mentioned in the previous section, the safest part to ingest is the translucent gel contained in the inside of the leaf.

The yellow sap-like liquid that oozes when you cut the leaf rind, also known as the latex, is not safe for your dog to ingest. It should be avoided, as it contains saponins and aloin that have powerful laxative properties, which can cause serious health problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and urinary problems. Though rare, ingesting aloe latex can also cause tremors in dogs.

If you are going to feed your dog aloe vera, therefore, give her pure products that have been processed properly for consumption. The aloe gels and inner fillet juices sold in supermarkets and drugstores, for instance, do not contain the potentially dangerous chemical compounds, saponins, and aloin.

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When To See A Vet

Mild itching is usually not a sign of a serious health condition and should therefore not be much of a concern. But if your pup starts to show other symptoms like depressed mood, restlessness, or loss of appetite, or if the itchiness gets too severe that the skin starts to break, you should make a trip to a vet clinic ASAP.

The underlying cause of chronic itchiness must be treated to prevent the open wound from becoming more severe or developing skin infections. Depending on what is causing the scratching, your vet may recommend off-the-shelf medication, a prescription, or medicinal bathing products.

FAQs

Q:Can I Put Aloe Vera On My Dog?

A:

Yes, you can put aloe vera on your dogs fur and skin to soothe irritation and heal skin issues. Aloe vera is rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and amino acids that also penetrate your dogs skin to replenish it and boost fur growth.

Q:Is Aloe Vera Gel Safe For A Dogs Skin?

A:

Yes, aloe vera gel is safe for dogs skin because it doesnt contain as harsh ingredients as most of the over-the-counter dog skincare products we have these days. Used right, it can help solve a wide variety of skin issues in pets.

Q:Is An Aloe Plant Poisonous To Dogs?

A:

No, used topically, aloe vera plant is not poisonous to dogs. However, the latex of the plant contains laxatives that, when ingested, can cause vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, tremors, anorexia, depression, change in urine color and other health problems. It is therefore important to keep the plant out of reach of curious dogs.

Related: Aloe Vera For Acid Reflux

Q:Will Aloe Kill A Dog?

A:

No, though ingesting aloe vera may have serious side effects on a dog, there is no study so far that suggests that the plant can kill a dog. However, dogs with underlying health conditions like liver and kidney problems should not eat aloe vera, as it may worsen these ailments.

Related: Can You Eat Aloe Vera

Q:Can Dogs Lick Aloe Vera Gel?

A:

Yes, dogs can lick aloe vera gel, as this part of the plant is considered safe for oral consumption. But you should make sure that the gel is 100% pure and not mixed with the laxatives-containing latex.

Related: Aloe Vera For Cold Sores

Q:Can I Use Aloe Vera On My Dogs Itchy Skin?

A:

Yes, you can use aloe vera gel for dogs with itchy skin to alleviate burning and irritation. This is because, aloe vera has been found to contain antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that help soothe and treat itchy, inflamed skin.

Related: Aloe Vera For Rash

Q:Can I Put Aloe Vera On My Dogs Dry Skin?

A:

Yes, you can use aloe vera to treat your dogs dry skin. The plant is an excellent moisturizer that adds water content to your dogs skin and keeps it hydrated. Its analgesic properties also help accelerate healing of cracked, dry skin.

Globo Surf Overview

If your pups itchiness is not too serious, you can use aloe vera to relieve it. With incredible anti-inflammatory and healing properties, aloe vera will help diminish pain and irritation in your dogs skin quickly. Always consult your vet before using homemade skincare regimens on your dog, and discontinue the treatment if the symptoms persist.

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