Aloe vera in Pets

Aloe vera latex acts as a strong laxative in pets, while the clear gel is milder. Learn the difference, the signs to expect and when to call your vet.

What It Is

Aloe vera leaves have two parts: the clear inner gel used in skin products, and a yellow latex just under the skin. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that the latex contains anthraquinone glycosides (barbaloin, emodin) and chrysophanic acid, which act as strong laxatives. The purified gel is much less of a concern.

Where Pets Come Across It

Potted aloe on kitchen windowsills, garden aloes in dry climates, and aloe-containing products. Dogs bite into the fleshy leaves.

Which Animals Are Affected

Dogs and cats; also listed as toxic to horses. The Merck Veterinary Manual includes aloe among the ten plants most often involved in reported pet exposures.

Published Toxic Dose

No owner-usable mg/kg threshold is published. Signs depend on how much leaf skin and latex was eaten. The calculator does not attach a risk level.

Signs and How Soon They Appear

Vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and occasionally red-tinged urine, usually within several hours. Large amounts can cause dehydration.

What to Do Right Now

Offer fresh water and watch for vomiting and diarrhoea. Call your vet if your pet is small, ate a lot of leaf, has repeated diarrhoea, or seems weak. Do not induce vomiting at home. Products made from purified gel usually only cause mild upset if licked.

Aloe products and garden aloes

Besides potted aloe vera, many households have aloe in drinks, after-sun gels and laxative supplements. Decolourised gels have most of the latex removed, but 'whole-leaf' products and some herbal laxatives contain the anthraquinones that cause diarrhoea. Check labels if your pet has chewed a bottle or tube, and bring the container to the vet. Outdoors in dry climates, large garden aloes such as Aloe arborescens and Aloe ferox contain similar compounds and have spiny leaf edges. Do not apply aloe products to a pet's skin unless your vet recommends a specific one; pets lick off what you apply. If you want a pet-safer windowsill succulent, the ASPCA lists Haworthia species as non-toxic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

• Pet Poison Helpline: Aloe Vera
• ASPCA: Aloe
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals

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