Aloe vera juice is known to have a lot of health benefits, and many people drink it because of its healthy properties.
And whenever we know that something is good for you, we tend to think about whether or not it’s good for our dogs.
It’s only natural, we want our dogs to be healthy.
Since aloe vera juice has been known to help with certain conditions in humans, we’re obviously going to wonder if it does the same for our dogs.
But is it even safe for our dogs to consume in the first place, and does it have similar effects as it does in humans?
Let’s find out…
What is aloe vera juice and how is it made?
Aloe vera juice is a liquid derived from the aloe vera plant that is used as a whole food supplement and can be consumed to receive numerous health benefits. It doesn’t taste that bad, and is easily mixed into other things to give it a better flavor. This juice is made from the aloe vera plant, by crushing the leaves of the plant and then taking to steps to filter it in order to purify it.
Is aloe vera juice safe for dogs to consume?
The answer to this question is thankfully, yes. Yes dogs can drink aloe vera juice and be totally fine. As always in life though, there are exceptions to the rule. Not all aloe vera juices on the market are created equal, and a lot of the cheaper options are low quality and therefore filled with extra things like chemicals and sugar that aren’t good for your dog. You can avoid these things by giving your dog fresh juice from an organic aloe plant instead of the store bought alternatives.
What nutrition does it provide a dog?
Aloe vera contains a lot of nutrients including vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, E, and B12. It also contains minerals such as calcium, copper, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. In addition to these things, aloe vera also contains other nutrients that serve specific purposes for your dog. Lignin and anthraquinones stimulate digestion and combat constipation. Saponins serve as an antiseptic, salicylic acids act as exfoliants, and out of the twenty amino acids that aloe vera juice contains there are eight out of ten essential amino acids for dogs.
Can aloe vera juice help sick dogs?
Aloe vera juice has a lot of healing properties so the answer to this is yes, although it does depend on what exactly you’re trying to heal. Aloe vera juice in its purest state is antibacterial so it can be rubbed on a wound to prevent infections. It can help soothe skin irritations as well, such as eczema, hot spots, bites, or stings. And one of the more surprising things that aloe vera juice can help with is actually relieving pain caused by teething. Just rub some of the juice on your puppy’s gums.
Since aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory properties and helps balance digestion, it is also thought to help with some symptoms of pancreatitis although it can’t be substituted for the official treatment.
How much aloe vera juice should I give my dog?
The best way to know how much aloe vera juice you can give to your dog is by discussing it with your vet. And before you give your furry friend their first full dose of aloe vera juice you should start out even smaller in order to make sure they aren’t allergic. It’s always best to test for an allergy before fully introducing something new to your dog’s diet. In general you should keep the quantities small, and keep your dog’s size in mind when deciding how much you want to give. The smaller the dog, the smaller the amount that should be given. A good rule of thumb is to not give your dog more than a teaspoon of aloe vera juice per ten pounds of body weight. Anything can cause digestional issues in dogs if given in large doses.
How easy is it to buy aloe vera juice?
Although it is cheap and easy to find aloe vera juice in stores, both in person and online, it is not suggested to give these to your dog. During the manufacturing process there are a lot of additives that get put into the juice that can be harmful, or at the very least not helpful, to our dogs. For this reason it suggested that you squeeze the juice out yourself, using an organic plant. Just don’t give your pup any part of the leaf that contains latex.
If you do want to give your dog store-bought aloe vera juice then you can get it from Amazon which sells a variety of organic options. It will be about $20 for a 500ml bottle.
Aloe vera juice alternatives:
You might not think it, but juicing is actually something that can prove extremely healthy for dogs. Depending on what type of juice you give them it could provide a lot of nutritional benefits for them. For instance, apple juice can reduce a fever and quench thirst. Beet juice can aid the liver, purify the blood, and help treat constipation. Celery juice can heal wounds, while pineapple juice has anti-inflammatory properties much like aloe vera juice.
Aloe vera juice vs aloe vera gel – what is the difference?
The two main differences between aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel are that they’re made out of different parts of the plant and are meant for different uses. Aloe vera juice is made out of the green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel. And aloe vera juice is meant to be taken orally, while aloe vera gel is better suited to be applied topically instead.
Help my dog swallowed aloe vera gel –
The best thing you can do if your dog has ingested aloe vera gel is take it to the vet immediately. Since aloe vera gel is made from the inner skin of the aloe vera leaves, it contains the part with latex in it. This part of the plant works as a laxative in dogs causing them to have a lot of diarrhea which can cause them to become dangerously dehydrated. It also contains saponin which is something that is toxic to dogs and children alike. It can be so toxic that it turns out to be fatal in some cases if it causes a breakdown of red blood cells. So if your dog has eaten aloe vera gel or the aloe vera plant itself then you need to take it to the vet immediately.
How can aloe vera gel help my dog?
Aloe vera gel can bring relief to certain skin conditions such as hot spots or eczema much like aloe vera juice can. Applying the gel to spots that are bothering your dog can be quite effective, but because ingesting the aloe vera gel is toxic for your dog you have to be careful when using it on them. So if you’re planning on using aloe vera gel to help your dog then you need to keep your dog from licking the gel off after you apply it.
Can dogs use human aloe vera gel?
The kind of aloe vera gel that we would use on ourselves could contain saponins that are dangerous for our dogs, so it’s not the safest option for them. There are lotions and sprays that are created specifically for pets and don’t contain the dangerous saponins. These products probably won’t be purely aloe vera, most companies will add other things such as vitamins, chamomile, etc. But all of the things added would of course be safe for dogs as well, and probably beneficial in their own way. As always as with anything with your dog, just make sure to check the ingredients on your chosen product and consult with your vet.
Can Dogs Drink Aloe Vera Juice?
In conclusion, not only is aloe vera juice safe for your dog but is also extremely healthy for them. As long as you make sure to give the juice to them in safe and vet approved dosages, and they have no allergies to it then it can be a great addition to a whole food diet. Aloe vera gel can be toxic to dogs though because of the saponins it contains, so you should be careful where that is concerned. And finally, you could consider adding different types of juices to your dog’s diet as well because depending on what type of juice you select it could be equally helpful to your pup.
