Barbados Aloe

Yes, Barbados Aloe is classified as potentially toxic to cats. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal irritation, and the plant should be kept out of reach of curious cats.

The most common signs are vomiting (sometimes frothy) and diarrhea, usually appearing within 30 minutes to 12 hours of ingestion, followed by lethargy and refusal to eat. A red or brown tinge to the urine — caused by anthraquinone metabolites — is a characteristic later sign. Tremors are uncommon but have been reported with heavier ingestions.

Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and rinse gently with water if you can. Do not induce vomiting at home — call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for instructions before giving anything by mouth. For a known large ingestion, call before symptoms appear, since earlier care leads to materially better outcomes.

Signs typically begin within 30 minutes to 12 hours after ingestion. With supportive care, most cats recover within 24–72 hours; outcomes are best when treatment starts within the first 4 hours of ingestion.

Yes, Barbados Aloe (Aloe barbadensis) is potentially toxic to dogs. The plant contains anthraquinone glycosides that irritate the digestive tract and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and in some cases tremors or changes in urine color.

Most dogs develop vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours of ingestion, often accompanied by lethargy or loss of appetite. Watch also for red or pink urine — the latex in aloe contains pigmenting compounds — and, rarely, tremors. Uncomplicated GI signs typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours with supportive care.

Remove any remaining plant material from your dog's mouth and offer fresh water. Do not induce vomiting at home — Pet Poison Helpline specifically warns against giving hydrogen peroxide or other improvised antidotes without speaking to a professional first. Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 and have the plant's name (Aloe barbadensis / Aloe vera) ready.

The toxic compounds — anthraquinone glycosides — are found in the latex layer just beneath the outer leaf skin, not in the clear inner gel. However, the whole plant should be kept away from dogs since it is difficult to separate the latex from the rest of the leaf during chewing.