If you have a pet dog, it is common to look to find topical treatments and solutions that can generally make them happier. Improving a canine’s quality of life takes a lot of work and no shortage of effort to get it to work. For example, many dog owners today will choose to give their dogs some castor oil. Should you, though? Can you use castor oil on your dog?
Castor oil is a form of oil that is produced by taking and using the beans of the castor plant itself. This is very useful as it can provide lots of skin benefits to a human. It can make your skin look and feel better, and it can also combat problems with your skin. This is why castor oil is such a common ingredient in soaps, dyes, and lubricants.
It is one of the best ways to look after and care for your skin and your hair. But what about your dog, though? Should you really be giving your pooch castor oil?
Can you use castor oil on your dog?
The simple answer is that yes your dog can make use of castor oil without a single issue. Put castor oil on a dog and they will be entirely safe to use the product. However, you CANNOT use castor oil orally. Oral intake of castor oil introduces our bodies to a toxic substance known as ricin. When applies topically to the skin, though, this does not have the same threat or impact.
You should not take castor oil orally yourself, either, as it can quite literally be fatal. If you want to give your dog castor oil, it has to be done in a topical way that is not going to interfere with the dog. It is safe to use, though, if you apply it topically.
Why should I use castor oil on dogs?
Castor oil comes with a whole range of positive effects and benefits that any dog will be able to benefit from when applied topically. The main and most prominent benefits of using castor oil on a dog include:
- Killing off and preventing fungal infections from being able to grow, spread, or worsen
- Reduce the risk of irritants like fleas and ticks coming along to annoy your beloved dog
- Combat allergies and make sure your dog does not have to live with annoying skin irritation
- Reduce hair and fur loss and make sure that your dog can retain a shinier, better coat
- Promote healthier and longer-lasting fur that shines in the sun and looks refreshed
- Minimise joint pain and make day to day life for your dog a whole lot more comfortable
- Reduce inflammation and irritation of the skin whilst offering a natural moisturizer
As you can see, then, castor oil for dogs is not something you should worry about. So long as you use cold-pressed castor oil with your dog, ensuring that they do not lick the oil in any shape or form, you can give your dog a lot of benefits whilst avoiding the risk.
Of course, as ever, go and speak to your veterinarian to make sure that they are happy with the use of castor oil. For some dogs, another solution might be more recommended.