Is Aloe Vera Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

Yes, aloe vera is toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists it as “Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses,” with vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea as the signs. The same entry adds that “the gel is considered edible,” and Merck places the compounds that cause trouble in the latex of the leaves.

What happens if a dog chews aloe

The ASPCA entry for aloe (Aloe vera, family Liliaceae) gives the Toxic Principles as “Saponins, anthraquinones” and the Clinical Signs as “Vomiting (not horses), lethargy, diarrhea. The gel is considered edible.”

Merck fills in the detail. The plant “contains anthraquinone glycosides (barbaloin, emodin) and chrysophanic acid in the latex of the leaves.” On ingestion, it “causes abrupt, severe diarrhea and/or hypoglycemia, with vomiting in some cases.” Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, which is one reason a lethargic dog that chewed aloe deserves a call to the vet rather than a wait.

The outlook is generally good. Merck says “most animals recover within 24–48 hours.”

What happens if a cat chews aloe

The ASPCA lists cats with the same signs as dogs: vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea. Merck’s description of the leaf latex isn’t species-specific, so the same advice applies. A cat that bit into a leaf has met the latex. The ASPCA’s edible-gel note is about the gel on its own; it isn’t a green light for a pet to chew the plant.

Signs to watch for

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea, which Merck describes as abrupt and possibly severe; Merck says vomiting happens only “in some cases,” so diarrhea alone still counts
• Lethargy: a pet that is unusually quiet, dull or tired

Merck also lists hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which only your vet can check, so a pet that seems weak or very dull should be seen.

What to do

1. Move the plant and check how much leaf is missing. Bring a photo if you call or go in.
2. Call your vet or a poison line: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (a fee may apply).
3. Watch the next day or two. Merck’s 24 to 48 hour recovery window is a guide, not a promise. Severe diarrhea, repeated vomiting or a pet that seems weak are reasons to be seen.
4. Skip home treatments unless the vet or poison line tells you otherwise.

Keep the numbers on the fridge with a pet poison emergency card, so nobody has to search for them while a pet is sick.

Safer plants to keep instead

If your aloe is on a low windowsill, move it somewhere your pets can’t reach, or give it away. For a houseplant the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to both dogs and cats, the spider plant is the easy choice. The snake plant is not a better swap: the ASPCA lists saponins there too. Neither is pothos, which the ASPCA lists as toxic because of crystals that burn the mouth. The puppy-proofing checklist is a quick way to find every plant at nose height.