Aloe
CautionThe ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to dogs. The trouble is the yellow latex just under the leaf rind -- anthraquinones and saponins -- causing vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. The clear inner gel is considered edible. Call your vet if a plant was chewed.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
- Drooling
More about this food
Aloe is one of the most common houseplants there is, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists Aloe vera as toxic to dogs. The toxic principles are saponins and anthraquinones, and the recorded signs are vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea. The same entry carries one important qualifier: the gel is considered edible.
That qualifier is the whole picture. Slice a leaf crosswise and there is a layer of yellow latex between the green rind and the clear gel. That layer concentrates anthraquinones such as aloin, which are stimulant laxatives that irritate the bowel and drive strong diarrhea. Saponins irritate mucous membranes on top of that. A dog who chewed a leaf off the windowsill ate the rind and that yellow layer, which is a different exposure from the filleted inner gel in a bottled drink.
Signs usually stay gastrointestinal. Nausea and vomiting within a few hours; diarrhea starting around 6 to 12 hours and often watery. Some dogs go flat and stop eating. In a small dog, a senior, or a dog already on medication for something else, the diarrhea itself is the problem, because the fluid loss brings dehydration and electrolyte trouble. Dry tacky gums, a scruff of skin that is slow to fall back into place, and difficulty getting up are signs that dehydration is setting in.
Human aloe products are not automatically dog-friendly either. Aloe drinks carry sugar, flavoring and preservatives, and sugar-free versions occasionally use xylitol, which causes rapid hypoglycemia and liver injury in dogs -- read the label. Topical aloe gel becomes an ingestion the moment a dog licks the spot, and many commercial gels contain alcohol and fragrance.
Sort out what was actually eaten. If a potted plant was chewed, look at the remaining leaves to judge how much is gone, note the weight and the time, and call your veterinarian, the ASPCA APCC at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Keep fresh water down and never take it away. Do not reach for human anti-diarrheals; let the clinic decide. Do not induce vomiting at home. And move the pot somewhere the dog cannot reach.
Frequently asked questions
- He chewed the tip of an aloe leaf. Emergency?
- A nibbled tip most often produces drooling or a mild upset stomach and nothing more. Keep fresh water available and watch for vomiting and diarrhea over about 12 hours. If he got through several leaves, or the diarrhea turns watery and he goes flat, call your vet -- dehydration is the risk.
- I gave him a little bottled aloe juice. Is that a problem?
- The inner gel itself is considered edible by the ASPCA, but bottled drinks add sugar, flavoring and preservatives. If it is a sugar-free version, check the label for xylitol: even a small amount is an emergency, so call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435. Otherwise, water and observation for stomach upset.
- Can I put aloe gel on my dog's skin?
- Better not. Dogs lick what you apply, so a topical becomes an ingestion, and many drugstore gels contain alcohol and fragrance. If the skin is red or itchy, having a vet identify the cause gets you further than treating it at home.