Castor oil is a substance that has been used for centuries. Its healing properties can relieve constipation, hair loss, fungal diseases, and most surprisingly, it is capable of eliminating non-cancerous tumors, growths, warts and cysts. Castor oil does not come from an animal, but rather from the seeds of the castor oil plant, Ricinus commuis in Latin.
Castor oil as a very common ingredient used in a wide variety of things, such as in soap making, for lubricants, hydraulic and break fluids, paints, dyes, inks, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, etc. A food grade category of castor oil is the most beneficial not only for human, but for dog health as well under certain applications. Not every use that castor oil has for humans will be the same for dogs.
When it comes to our pets, castor oil is effective for soothing and treating skin problems, for repelling fleas in ticks in combination with essential oils, and for treating tumorous growths or cysts.
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Benefits of Using Castor Oil on Your Dog.
Castor oil is a common ingredient in many things. As a concerned pet owner, it’s completely normal for you to be skeptical in using something on your dog that is also used in car motors, perfumes, and paint. Let us reassure you that castor oil is safe for dogs, but as with any other treatment, it should be used properly and for the right reasons. Castor oil can provide the following benefits for your dog:
- Stimulates immune system.
- Helps treat mange and other skin conditions.
- Eliminates skin fungus.
- Soothe allergic reactions on the skin.
- May improve dry and irritated skin.
- Fights inflammation.
- Repels fleas and ticks in combination with essential oils.
If you’re using castor oil packs, the benefits are the following:
- Helps reduce and/or dissolve tumors, wars, cysts, and other growths.
- Relieves lymph drainage and decreases swollen lymph nodes.
- Improves overall health.
- Accelerates toxin removal.
So, is Castor oil good for dogs?
Castor oil is good for dogs, especially in treating skin conditions and using it for benign growths. It’s a great repellent of fleas and ticks as well, when you combine it with the proper essential oils.
The website Castor Oil Uses provides a comprehensive explanation of the effectiveness of castor oil:
“Castor oil primarily contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid component that is notable for its many healing benefits for the human body. Ricinoleic acid possesses the ability to draw toxins and other poisonous components out of the tissues, thereby restoring the health of parts of your body that have been infected.”
Be careful to not allow your dog to ingest castor oil because it is an effective laxative, and it should not be used internally since dogs digest this oil in a very different way than humans do. As with any other new substance, introduce your dog to castor oil slowly and watch carefully for any side effects or adverse reactions. Also consult with your vet before using castor oil.
Dangers/Risks of Using Castor Oil on Your Dog.
Generally, castor oil does not present many risks or side effects for humans. One could say the same about dogs, but dogs tend to be more sensitive to substances than humans are. With all the various uses that castor oil has, besides healthcare, its normal for a dog owner to question if castor oil is safe for dogs.
Here are the following possible side effect for the usage of castor oil:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Allergic reaction or rash
So, is Castor oil safe for dogs?
Castor oil should be safe for your dog unless he/she has some sort of sensitivity, therefore the above mentioned symptoms will appear. Castor oil should never be ingested orally because dogs digest it differently than humans. Monitor your dog closely while using castor oil, and do not let them ingest it if it’s applied to their skin. It’s also best to take in consideration that you should provide your dog with top quality, cold-pressed, food grade castor oil to get the most out of the benefits this oil provides. Make sure you consult with your veterinarian first to determine the proper usage and dosage for castor oil on your pet.
How to Use Mineral Oil for Your Dog.
To properly administer castor oil for your dog you must first consider which issue you’re trying to address. Keep in mind that I am not a veterinarian and that you should always consult with your pet’s healthcare provider first before trying to use castor oil.
For skin care, the website Oilypedia states the following:
“The reasons of skin discomfort in dogs may be various from allergies, fungal diseases to ticks and environmental agitators such as mold, pollen or dust. Castor oil may help your dog if it suffers from:
- Allergy
- Dry and irritated skin
- Inflammation
- Fungal diseases
- Fleas and ticks
According to Dr.Karen Becker castor oil is a good natural remedy for ticks and fleas removal. To help your dogs with castor oil you may massage the oil into dogs’ coat or add some castor oil to your pet shampoo. You may combine the oil with tea tree oil for fleas removal but remember that tea tree oil is not recommended for all dogs.
Castor oil is very thick oil and it is always recommended to blends it with other oils, for example, olive oil. This makes the oil mixture lighter and easier for application. You may bathe a dog in a bathtub. First of all, wash the dog with warm water and then massage the oil blend onto the dog’s coat. It is not easy to remove castor oil from the coat so you may rub it only into the skin. Rinse the oil after 30 minutes of application. Shampoo the coat if necessary. Repeat the procedure as castor oil needs time to have the result.”
For removing bumps, growths, or warts, PetHelpful provides the following chart:
My Castor Oil Regimen for Removing Bumps
| I gave my dog this treatment and his bump shrank until it was gone. | Notes |
| 1. Pour some hot water into a bowl. The water should be extremely warm, but not burning-hot. Heat plays a major role in this treatment. | Heat plays a major role in this treatment. |
| 2. Sit the dog on your lap. Dunk a couple of cotton balls into the water. Squeeze out the excess and lay them on the tumor. Hold until the cotton begins to cool. | If your dog does not like this be gentle and talk to him as you’re doing it. |
| 3. Dip more cotton balls into the water. Squeeze out the excess and pour some castor oil onto the warm cotton. Apply to tumor. Leave in place until it begins to cool. | |
| 4. I repeated this treatment ten times, three times a day, for one week. | By the end of the fourth day the tumor began to shrink. At the end of the week it was completely gone. |
If you want to dissolve a cyst or benign tumor on your dog, then you need to use a castor oil pack, or apply the castor oil directly on the area and cover with a bandage. Castor Oil Uses tells us, “castor oil packs allow the oil to be more quickly absorbed into the body through the skin and to deliver its healing properties straight into the body’s tissues.
Castor oil packs are usually made by soaking a piece of flannel in top quality, cold-pressed castor oil. They are placed over an affected organ or area of the body while a hot water bottle or any heat source is put on top of them.”
Some people claim that mixing castor oil with aloe vera gel or oil will help the absorption of the oil as well as give an immune system boost. It’s also recommended to not use castor oil on cancerous growths since it has been reported to possibly aggravate them more.
Always consult your veterinarian first before trying to use castor oil on your dog. This way you can determine best how to use it and for how long as well.
FAQ
- Why should I use castor oil for my dog?
Castor oil can be used on your dog to replace synthetic chemicals in other common treatments for the skin, for pest control, and even for treating tumors, warts, cysts, and other growths. In the long run, those synthetic medicines and/or products can be greatly harmful for your dog, therefore resorting to a more natural remedy such as castor oil doesn’t seem so bad. It also has no life threatening side effects, so your dog should be safe while you’re using it.
- Are there any side effects to feeding my dog castor oil?
If you feed your dog castor oil, you will provoke diarrhea and/or vomiting. While castor oil is good for constipation on humans, it is not recommended to internally administer castor oil on dogs, mainly because their digestive system processes this oil differently. The other side effects of using castor oil are mainly attributed to special sensitivities that your dog may have, also to the quality of the oil you are using.
- Can give my puppy castor oil?
While castor oil is a generally safe oil when used properly, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian first before using it on puppies under 10 weeks of age. Most healthy puppies will not have any of the ailments that require the use of castor oil anyway.
- Can I use castor oil on my pregnant dog?
Castor oil is a labor inducing oil so it is definitely not recommended to use on pregnant dogs, especially if they haven’t reached the full term phase of their pregnancy. Talk with your veterinarian to consider an alternative natural treatment for your dog’s needs. Once she has delivered, you may use castor oil for whatever she may need.
- How do I use castor oil for my dog?
Castor oil should only be used topically. While using it, take extra care to cover up the area or not allow your dog to lick itself. You can use it while bathing your dog, or as a massage oil mixed with another oil such as olive oil, or with aloe vera gel. You can also apply it directly onto a problem spot, where there is a growth, tumor, or cyst. Always cover this spot with a bandage. You may also use a warm compress to aid this treatment, as with castor oil packs. You may have to repeat this treatment for up to a week, and up to twice or three times a day. Make sure you consult with your veterinarian first before you go forward with using castor oil on your dog.
Conclusion
The usage of castor oil for treating skin condition and various growths in dogs has been tried and true for many pet owners. It’s a generally safe oil as long as it is not ingested by your dog. The side effects of the usage of castor oil are minimal, however it is best recommended to use castor oil for a targeted problem. You should also monitor your dog’s progress closely and provide rest periods from the castor oil treatment you decide to use.
Allergies, mange, flea and tick infestations and just plain dry skin can be healed with the use of castor oil. But what concerns pet owners most is to witness unknown growths on our pets. Castor oil is great for this, and serves as a holistic way to approach a problem that can be subject to surgery, or treatment with antibiotics or other synthetic prescriptions otherwise. There has been great effectiveness in the use of castor oil packs, or just plain castor oil applied topically to growths on dogs. This page on Earth Clinic shows a number of pet owner testimonials regarding the use of castor oil on their dogs for treating cysts and tumors.
Under the proper dosage and administration, castor oil can help your dog in a natural and cost effective way. Be sure to consult your dog’s veterinarian to properly determine the usage of castor oil before you proceed to give it to your dog. This way you will ensure your dog’s safety, happiness, and overall health!
