I'm getting conflicting advice on the internet (not a surprise really!) so am turning to my friends on the forum to see if any of you know the answer. Pongo gets occasional rough black scabs on the skin under his thick ruff of fur (round his neck). They don't seem to bother him (except when I examine and pick at them!) but on occasion they've turned into raw sores. The first time that happened the vet diagnosed moist dermatitis (pyoderma) and gave me fusiderm gel - which I think is an antibiotic and anti-inflamatory. It worked well. Since then, when any of the scabs look like they are going raw I've used fusiderm on them and they've cleared fairly well. I'm not hugely comfortable with the idea of keeping using antibiotics on him on a regular basis (surely can't be good thing?). We've just come back from a holiday in the Canaries, and out there bought some pure Aloe Vera gel (it's a local product sold everywhere). I know that it is highly effective on on human eczema and dermatitis and I've used it on myself for itches and bites in the past. So, I thought, maybe try it on Pongo? And that's where my confusion starts, because of course I wanted to check first that it won't do him any harm so I turned to google. Some hits (from apparently reputable vet sites) recommend aloe vera as a treatment for skin conditions in dogs. But some hits (also from apparently reputable vet sites) say that it is toxic to canines! Don't you just love google. Can anyone here untangle it for me? Has anyone else used it on their pups? Rosie x
No idea, but sorry, I will comment anyway. Do the sites that say it's toxic say so for external use? Or only if he swallows it? How much do they say is toxic? Some things are fine in small doses, even beneficial. What kind of collar does Pong wear? Nylon is notorious for staying wet and harbouring bacteria. Is that where Pongo has irritation? Does Pongo wear a collar all the time? My dog no longer does, I only put it on when we are going out. I just did a quick google and found topical use of aloe vera on a spot the dog cannot lick is fine. INgested is the big problem. Aloe Vera is a substance that some people cannot use, not even topically. I'm one, It reacts on me and causes a red, raw, itchy spot. Much to the dismay of a lady at work who started selling the stuff, Alloette I think the product line was called.
I don't think it's toxic but it doesn't always help. My last lab had skin problems most of his life and when I tried aloe vera it made it marginally worse. I'd go with your vet's advice.
Isn't google a wonderful tool. I've had a quick look and one site recommends for use on skin allergies, but consult a vet first. Apparently you can get aloe vera in a liquid form to add a few drops to their food daily and that dogs are unlikely to lick off the gel due to it's natural astringency. I would check with the vet first and follow their guidance.
