The best introduction to the subject is David Urch's book “Aloe Vera Natures Gift – Aloe in Veterinary Practice” , which is a thorough examination of Aloe Vera and its use with animals. It is available from Amazon and the chapter heading and index can be viewed here.

For more Veterinary research reports see here

The book provides vets and animal owners with practical advice on how to use Aloe Vera to treat a wide range of animal ailments. Over 200 conditions which affect the cat, dog and horse are discussed, as well as some of the common diseases of cattle, sheep, goats, children's pets, snakes, lizards, fish and birds. Each disease is described clearly with step-by-step instructions on how to use Aloe Vera preparations effectively, together with recommended doses. There is also guidance for owners on first-aid and animal care.

Urch writes that Aloe Vera acts on the

"These systems have two properties in common -  they either have epithelial cells or the response involves the immunological system.  A number of workers, including Dr Peter Atherton, have concluded that aloe vera actually works on epithelial tissues (a layer of cells covering the body-the skin-or lining a cavity connected with it) and the immune system to produce its beneficial effects.  This has been borne out by my experience in a large number of clinical cases I've worked with in my practice."

Urch’s reports of his work with dogs and horses are particularly interesting.  He has noticed a general health improvement in animals when the gel is included in diets, typically after about six weeks on the gel he has noticed that the animals treated have thicker shiny and better quality coats, have nails which grow faster and are of better quality, and are brighter in themselves and more full of life.

"A classic example is seen in old arthritic incontinent bitches.  These female dogs are often spayed when they are quite young.  As they get older they put on weight, exercise less and often develop signs of osteoarthritis.  This causes them pain and they are often therefore very reluctant to get up.  This causes them to put on more weight-they get stiffer, and they are stuck in a vicious cycle of pain, decreased exercise, increased weight.  This finally leads to urinary incontinence.  I have now seen from myself in a number of cases a dramatic improvement over six weeks or so when these bitches are given gel at a rate of 60-80 mils per day added to their diets.  Initially they are keener to get up in the mornings and go out for a walk.  This in time terms their muscles and they lose some weight.  The overall effect of this is that urinary incontinence improves."

In treating Equine Post Viral Lethargy Syndrome (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome of Horses), Urch has seen an 83% success rate in several hundred cases, about which he writes the following: 


Equine Post Viral Lethargy Syndrome (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome of Horses).

During the early 1980s, veterinary practices were presented with an ever increasing number of horses that had suddenly become dull and lethargic and could not perform the work they were required to undertake. Most showed very few clinical signs of disease. One consistent factor was that on blood testing, all showed an abnormally low white blood cell count (Ieucopaenia).

Symptoms

This condition was first noticed in fit competition and race horses. Suddenly they showed persistent poor exercise tolerance and were more lethargic than normal. Most had a normal appetite. Clinical examination frequently revealed enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw between the mandibles (sub-mandibular lymph nodes), a body temperature that was 1 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit below normal - most frequently between 97.5 and 98.5°F (normal body temperature is approximately 1OO°F). Some of the horses had suffered initially from' lying-up' or spasmodic colic. However, once these problems had been resolved, these horses were still not right. Blood samples taken from them at this stage revealed the leucopaenia.

Some cases, where the owners did not appreciate that the horse was ill and continued to work them, showed signs of hind leg inco-ordination - becoming recumbent and paralysed. The outcome for these cases was unfavourable and many were put to sleep.

Blood samples from all cases consistently showed the leucopaenia and frequently a reversal of the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio with a neutropaenia (decrease in neutrophils) and a lymphocytosis (increase in lymphocytes). Some showed a decreased red cell count but not all. An increase in the number of monocytes in the blood was also evident in some cases. In a few cases the blood sample also showed an increase in both muscle and liver enzymes.

Most cases showed no concurrent clinical signs that could be associated with an upper respiratory tract virus infection. This syndrome was most common in horses over 6 years of age and affected all sexes of horse equally.

Treatment of Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome

Conventional drug therapy: previously, rest had been advised for these cases and over a period of time, some returned to normal. However, an increasing number were remaining dull and lethargic. A number of drugs were then employed to try and stimulate the immunological system back to normal. Drugs such as levamisole and isoniazid were used, but with limited success - typically about a 40% success rate. Many of these horses were off work for over a year and some never returned to their previous performance.
A number of cases were also given hyperimmune serum intravenously in the form of a preparation called equinume IV. Three injections were given over a six-week period. Several of the horses went off their food and developed fever during this treatment Overall, it proved only slightly more effective than levamisole and isoniazid.  Horses that showed signs of anaemia were given iron and vitamin B 12 preparations by injection and orally.

Treatment of PVLS using Aloe Vera

An article by Peter Green, published in the Veterinary Times in 1996, reported considerable success in treating horses with PVLS (post viral lethargy syndrome) with Aloe Vera. After reading the article, I started to treat these cases in the same way.

Over a number of years I have treated several hundred cases of PVLS using Aloe Vera, achieving a success rate of 83%. The cost of this treatment has been approximately half that of traditional drug therapy.