Are epsom salts safe for our dogs and cats?

We have all heard about the healing benefits of epsom salts. While not the same type of salt as what we eat, these salts are used for aches and pains. In fact, the apparent theory behind soaking in these salts is that it will help pain associated with arthritis, joint pain, bruises, and more.

But just because epsom salts might be a human friendly soak, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a pet friendly option. So we did some digging, because we wanted to know if epsom salts could be hazardous to our dogs and cats.

Obviously we are not going to let our pet drink water with epsom salts in it (if it isn’t good for us, it certainly isn’t good for them), however, that doesn’t mean we can’t help our pups with their own aches and pains and let them have a soak.

So the question we have is whether or not epsom salts are safe for our pets as a pain relieving soak.

If used correctly, can we soak our pet in an epsom salts bath?

According to Authentica Pets, the answer is actually a yes, they are pet safe when they are used properly and carefully. Specifically, they say that,

"External use only and if used correctly, Epsom salts is safe. Once diluted the Epsom salts get absorbed into the skin and the magnesium sulfate begins its work of supporting bodily functions.Avoid feeding your pet Epsom salt."

That all works for us. And it makes us feel better about even using this product on ourselves around our pet. After all, sometimes you need a foot soak in an epsom bath!

And yes, pets get many of the same benefits as we do from these soaks, including reducing stiffness and aches and pains. But an added bonus of one of these soaks is that it is “good for helping treat flea infestations and as a flea preventative.”

We are here for this and we may just have to stock up on extra salts just in case.

Did you know that epsom salts were pet safe? Have you ever used them on your dog or cat? We want to know.