Is Barbados Aloe Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)

Monitor for vomiting/diarrhea over 12-24 hours; most cases are self-limiting. Contact a vet if diarrhea persists or a large amount was eaten.

The toxic component in Barbados Aloe is saponins and anthraquinone glycosides in the latex layer.

Part-specific risk: The clear inner gel is less toxic than the latex layer just under the skin.

Aloe's toxicity is concentrated almost entirely in the yellowish latex layer just beneath the skin, not the clear gel most people associate with the plant's skin-soothing reputation — this is why a pet licking a broken leaf can react even though topical aloe gel is considered pet-safe on unbroken skin.

Scientific name

Aloe barbadensis

Family

Aloaceae

Also known as

Barbados Aloe, Medicine Plant, True Aloe

Typically found

both