Aloe Vera For Dogs: How To Properly Treat Itchy Skin

November 26, 2022

Dogs, like humans, can experience itchiness and irritation on their skin for many reasons. Some may require a visit to the vet’s 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 Dog’s 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 pup’s 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 pet’s immune system.

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

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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, let’s 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 doggy’s skin.

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
Examine your dog to identify areas that are severely affected by the inflammation and trim away the fur on these spots carefully.
Soak a clean piece of cloth in warm water and rinse the spots gently.
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.
Repeat this process daily, preferably, two or three times a day until the spots have begun to heal.
To reap maximum benefits of aloe vera gel for your dog’s 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?

Yes, you can put aloe vera on your dog’s 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 dog’s skin to replenish it and boost fur growth.

Q: Is Aloe Vera Gel Safe For A Dog’s Skin?

Yes, aloe vera gel is safe for dog’s skin because it doesn’t 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?

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?

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?

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.

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Q: Can I Use Aloe Vera On My Dog’s Itchy Skin?

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.

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Q: Can I Put Aloe Vera On My Dog’s Dry Skin?

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

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If your pup’s 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 dog’s 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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