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Epsom salt can help to heal wounds, alleviate pain and even reduce stress.
But is this chemical compound, magnesium sulfate, beneficial for dogs too?
Here’s the deal:
Epsom salt is safe, but only if you prevent your dog from drinking the bath water they’ve been soaking in.
Learn more about using this excellent natural remedy on your animal…
Epsom Salts Can Come In Handy For Dogs (external-use only)
It’s best applied to specific areas of the body.
Play it safe by not fully immersing your dog in a full bath. The goal is to greatly reduce the likelihood of ingestion.
To be clear:
Epsom salts are most beneficial, and safe, if you soak specific injured areas of your dog’s body. The same goes for dry or itchy and/or cracked paw(s).
Do that for minor wounds or dry skin and you’ll see improvement!
FYI: Winter months are when Epsom salts are most soothing. This is true for both people and their dogs.
For Canine Constipation?
We do not recommend using Epsom salts if your dog is constipated.
The reason?
They’d have to ingest a lot which is a no-no. While it works as a laxative, a bout of diarrhea could result or worse!
Excessive Epsom salt consumption can cause your dog to have metabolic alkalosis (elevated pH levels) which could be quite serious.
Pro Tip: Try another home remedy — use pumpkin instead of magnesium sulfate.
Other Benefits For Pets
Epsom salts are great for your dog’s sore muscles, and for speeding up the healing of cuts or scrapes.
Another application would be treatment for anal gland issues.
Try Epsom salt if a pet dog is seen scooting a lot. It may do the trick!
And it could even be preventative for flea infestations.
Your dog’s stress levels may decline as well. After all, Epsom salt has an ability to soothe.
Warning: Just like with apple cider vinegar, magnesium sulfate is not to be ingested internally.
Some Tips for Dog Use
Epsom salts are typically added to bath water.
It really works! Skin irritations and dryness often improve after enough exposure.
Do this:
Soak your dog’s problem areas, or repeatedly apply a sponge, a few times daily. Allow the Epsom salts to do their magic for at least 10 minutes each session.
Go with half a cup for each gallon of warm water, but you don’t have to be super precise with the solution.
And there’s no need to rinse off the treated area afterwards.
Epsom salts are not highly toxic. Some licking is unlikely to cause harm.
Fact: Salt, in poultice form, is commonly used to treat horses for painful hoofs and muscle soreness. It’s a winner.
The Bottom Line
Epsom salts also work for dogs.
This time-tested remedy helps to reduce dermatitis and other skin conditions while increasing moisture.
Try it for dry paws, minor wounds and even anal sac problems.
Just ensure that your dog doesn’t eat any Epsom salt or drink water its been soaking in.
I’m currently soaking my 17 year old Chihuahua in epsom salts for his arthritis.
I know from experience that epsom salt works very well. I got a cut on my foot from glass in a creek causing an infection to set in. I had a pink line from the bottom of my foot clear past my knee before my mother took control. We lived 47 miles from the nearest town, no vehicle, in the 1940’s in a very rural area of Washington state. I was 5 years old. I wouldn’t be here today if my mother hadn’t known about epsom salts.
Do I have to rinse the epsom salt off the dog?
Can I use an epsom salt solution on my dog’s feet every day? We walk our dog and want to rinse her feet when we get home. Is that OK for her?
For my dog, yes. He could lick the salt off his feet and that could make him sick.