As parents of a furry friend, you can never let your guard down. These adorable creatures will get their paws into anything. But can dogs eat castor oil? Is it safe to let them consume it or will it be poisonous for them? Let’s find out.
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As pet parents, we all tend to be worried about every little thing our pet consumes and may end up consuming when we are not around.
Certain quantities of castor oil are fed to pets and are even recommended by naturopathic vets, but extreme amounts of it can be extremely dangerous to your fur baby. You need to be careful of the amounts you are feeding him.
Castor Oil is undoubtedly a wonder product, and many have reaped benefits from its use. It has proved itself as a wonder tonic time and again.
While it is good for humans and dogs, its oral consumption may not benefit pets. This article will discuss whether dogs can eat castor oil and castor beans.
Is Castor Oil Poisonous for Dogs?
Castor oil is good for dogs and is recommended by many veterinary doctors for topical application. However, oral consumption of the same can be harmful to pets. Castor oil is known to contain Ricin. Consuming Ricin orally is harmful to both humans and dogs.
The CDC terms Ricin as a poison that you can find in castor beans naturally. Chewing and swallowing castor beans allows the Ricin to release, which can cause injury.
When castor oil is manufactured, the remaining waste is called “mash”. Ricin is a part of the mash. Ricin is a glycoprotein that works by getting inside the cells of a person’s body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need.
This hindrance in making their protein causes the cells to die. Eventually, this causes harm to the entire body and may even lead to death.
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Can You Put Castor Oil in a Dog’s Ear?
Well, this is one of the umpteen home remedies on the internet. A pet parent shares their story where they mention their dog was infected with ear mites. They used castor oil to clean their dog’s ear flap.
Does Castor Oil Remove Warts on Dogs?
Dog warts are skin infections caused by a virus. Castor oil is a natural remedy for these warts and is quite popular among pet parents all over.
It is easily available at a drug store near you and is an economical way to execute dog wart removal. Moreover, administering it is fairly simple too.
One can apply castor oil directly on the wart using their fingers or cotton swabs. It can reduce the irritation the wart is causing to your pet and reduce its size. Also, it will prevent the dog wart from any further infections since the dog won’t scratch it.
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What Happens if a Dog Eats a Castor Bean?
If you eat castor beans with the outer shell intact (ie, you have to swallow the bean not eat it), then you are probably safe from getting Ricin poisoning. However, pets are likely to end up chewing and then swallowing castor beans which will allow the Ricin in the beans to release.
As per petpoisonhelpline.com, within a few hours of swallowing a significant amount of Ricin, a dog is likely to develop drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea, which may even become bloody. Also, the dog may experience severe dehydration, low blood pressure, and respiration failure.
Other symptoms of ricin exposure can be seizures and blood in the urine. This may eventually cause the liver, spleen, and kidneys to malfunction and completely stop working in some cases, which leads to death.
If your dog has become poisoned with ricin, he can die within 36 to 72 hours, especially if the cause of ricin toxicosis was direct ingestion.
What if My Dog Eats Castor Oil?
If your dog has licked castor oil, the conditions may or may not be so severe. However, if it has consumed a considerable quantity of it, one must seek advice from a veterinary expert.
Castor oil has a laxative effect and owing to the same, your dog may experience problems such as diarrhea upon ingesting castor oil. If your doggo has a sensitive stomach, you need to be even more careful and monitor him if he vomits or develops diarrhea.
If it exhibits the same for more than 24 hours, there are chances that the dog can get dehydrated.
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Can Dogs Take Castor Oil Orally?
Firstly, one must check that the castor oil they plan to use for their doggo is high quality and 100% pure, and not adulterated. Depending on the nature of the ailment, one may also try CBD oil, coconut oil, or olive oil.
If your pet suffers from dehydration, it is likely because their diet does not have enough water. Increase the amounts of fresh and raw foods in their diet, and reduce the processed food.
How Much Castor Oil Should I Give My Dog?
A naturopathic veterinary expert would ideally be the best person to give you advice on whether your four-legged friend can take castor oil orally. We highly recommend you visit one if your pet is sensitive.
The quantity of castor oil for your pet depends on the ailment you are looking into treating and their size. Small quantities of castor oil have been used for treating constipation in pets. It is advisable, to begin with as little as half a teaspoon, depending on your pet’s size.
If your pet is very little, give it one to two drops. Pet parents can give half a teaspoon to medium to large-sized pets.
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A Few Final Words
One must see a veterinary doctor at the earliest if their pet has consumed castor beans or is showing symptoms of ricin exposure. Castor oil, on the other hand, can be administered in small quantities.
Considerable amounts of the same can also be harmful, and if your pet shows unusual symptoms, it is best to see a veterinary expert.
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