Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)
Extract from the aloe vera leaf, used topically in shampoos, wipes, and skin products to soothe irritation and moisturize. The clear inner-leaf gel is well tolerated on skin. The distinction that matters is ingestion: whole-leaf aloe contains latex compounds — anthraquinones such as aloin — in the outer leaf, and the ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to dogs and cats when ingested, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Since pets groom topical products off their coats, a leave-on aloe product is a plausible ingestion route, not just a skin-contact one.
What it's doing there
Soothing / moisturizing agent.
The concern
Safe as topical inner-leaf gel, but ingestion of aloin-containing whole-leaf material causes GI upset in dogs and cats. Labels rarely specify which fraction is used, so the actual risk can't be determined from the ingredient name alone.
How sure are we
Moderate. There is reasonable information available, but less of it, or less agreement than we would like.
Note: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses (saponins, anthraquinones) if whole-leaf is ingested; the ASPCA notes the gel itself is edible.
How this affects a score
This ingredient is functional and unremarkable. It neither raises nor lowers a product's score. See the full formula →
Products containing Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)
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This application is intended for educational purposes only. Scores are generated using publicly available product information and are not veterinary advice. We are not veterinarians. Always consult your veterinarian regarding medical decisions.
A high score does not mean a product is right for your pet, and a low score does not mean it is dangerous. An individual animal can react to an ingredient that scores well here, and a product with a mediocre score may be exactly what your vet recommends.
The score reads ingredients one at a time. It cannot account for how ingredients interact with each other, with other products you use, or with your pet's medications and conditions. Two ingredients that are each fine on their own may not be fine together. A score is a starting point for questions, not a substitute for professional judgment.