CBD For Dogs 101
CBD For Dogs 101
CBD | CBD 101 | CBD For Dogs | CBD For All
With cannabidiol (CBD for short) products proving to be very useful to many people, the obvious next step would be to see if they could be of help to our loving companions. Our furry friends are significant to us, and many consider them a part of their family, so a lot of people jump at the chance of finding something that would make their pet’s life easier and better. However, making sure if products are safe first, trying them is mandatory, so always consult the vet before buying or using any products on your dog.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol and is extracted from either the psychoactive plant marijuana, potentially dangerous to dogs or the much better and safer alternative, hemp plants.
Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana Plants
The chemical in marijuana that causes the plant to be psychoactive is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), usually absent or has a deficient hemp concentration. For these reasons, hemp is usually the primary source of CBD extraction to ensure safety.
THC and other chemicals present in marijuana would not be safe for your dogs, so most products are made from hemp. Still, you can never be too cautious, so make sure to double-check that the CBD in the product is extracted from hemp and not marijuana, just in case.
Types of CBD
There are 3 main types of CBD, each with its benefits. These are: full spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
Full-spectrum hemp/CBD includes all the different cannabinoids present naturally in hemp. Broad-spectrum is similar, including most natural chemicals except THC. Isolate, however, only contains pure CBD.
Check with your dog’s vet before deciding, but Broad-spectrum is usually seen as having the best of both worlds. It has many natural cannabinoids, which ensures something called the ‘entourage effect’ like in full-spectrum, while also lacking any THC like in the isolate.
What is the Entourage Effect?
The entourage effect is the effect that should be caused by using products with multiple cannabinoids like CBC and CBG instead of just CBD. This increases the effectiveness of the product.
Certificate of Analysis
A certificate of analysis shows the chemicals composition of the product you plan to buy.
Sadly, the industry’s CBD side is still unregulated, so be cautious when buying products for anyone, especially your pets.
Any CBD product should have a certificate of analysis (COA) on the website. If it doesn’t, ask for it before purchasing. If they still deny giving it or don’t have one, do not trust their products.
What to Keep an Eye Out For
Many brands and companies scam and say there is more CBD in a product than there is, so check if the number written on the product is the same as that shown on the COA.
The lab where the testing had been carried out should be a third-party testing lab, not affiliated with the company selling you the product.
Another thing to look out for is the amount of THC present. If you are buying a full spectrum, it can be a maximum of 0.3% or 0.2% depending on your area’s local laws, but no more than that. If you are planning to buy a broad-spectrum or isolate, the THC concentration should be 0.00%.
Benefits and Side Effects of CBD for Dogs
Although research is still a little lacking in this department, CBD has been shown to have many benefits and only a few side effects, which aren’t usually too serious.
Benefits of CBD
- CBD could have anticonvulsant properties that help prevent seizures, and it is very effective in dogs. It can be useful for dogs suffering from epilepsy disorders that aren’t responsive to other medicines.
- CBD is a brilliant pain killer and is especially useful for dogs with chronic pain. It could relieve pain associated with many conditions like cancer and fractures.
- CBD has strong anti-inflammatory properties, which could help prevent diseases like arthritis and diabetes.
- CBD could reduce your dog’s stress and anxiety. Dogs are very prone to anxiety, and if you leave them alone for more extended periods of time, their anxiety can worsen. CBD could calm them down when they are scared, and it could also help them deal with phobias.
- Some researchers conclude that CBD could be used as a supplement for your dog’s overall well-being instead of just as a medicine. This is because it aids in producing certain chemical compounds that promote nerve cell development in the brain and keeps your dog healthy.
- CBD indirectly activates specific receptors, which by a long chain of events lead to antiemetic effects. It controls and decreases nausea and vomiting while also encouraging a good appetite.
- CBD has shown signs of slowing tumor growth, but that has not yet been 100% guaranteed.
Side Effects of CBD
Using CBD in the proper dosage will minimize any potential side effects that exist while relatively minor.
- CBD has been shown to decrease saliva production, which causes dry mouths and makes your dog more thirsty than usual.
- The calming effect used to help with anxiety could also lead to drowsiness in high dosages.
- A small temporary drop in blood pressure when taking a high dosage isn’t uncommon. Although it is small, some light-headedness may arise.
How to Give CBD to Dogs
There are 3 main ways to give your dog CBD: CBD pet treats, mixing CBD oil into their water/food, and using tinctures.
Mixing CBD oil into their food or water bowl is as simple as it gets, but you can never be sure how much of it made it into your dog’s system and how much stayed in the bowl.
Giving dogs CBD pet treats is the easiest method and is pretty accurate, too. Tinctures, although challenging to use since they need to be dropped onto your pet’s gum line for maximum absorption, are the most accurate. So, if your dog doesn’t mind having its mouth held open for a bit, this would be the best way to give CBD.
Dosage
Just like humans, each dog has a perfect dosage. The variation in size, weight, and other factors all play into it. The bigger your dog, the more it would need.
It is mandatory for your dog’s safety that you keep regular checkups with the vet to make sure you don’t give either too much or too little or if any product has ingredients your dog may be allergic to.
When given a range to choose from, pick the smallest possible dosage, and work your way up if necessary.
If there is little to no improvement by a specific dosage, increase it slowly and steadily. Frequently check your dog’s health and mood throughout the procedure of deciding the correct dosage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to overdose on CBD?
Although there is no life-threatening issue for giving too much or too little, there could be chances of diarrhea or drowsiness. On top of that, giving the wrong amount would also block your dog from being able to take advantage of all the properties of CBD.
Can CBD make my dog high?
No, even in full-spectrum products, the concentration of THC (the substance responsible for the high you feel when taking marijuana) is too low to have any mind-altering effects.
Is CBD legal?
As long as the CBD is extracted from hemp, yes, it is legal. If it was extracted from marijuana, then no.
This is for both ‘human’ CBD products and ‘pet’ CBD products.
How long until the CBD kicks in?
This depends on your pet, your pet’s size, injection method, and what you are trying to treat.
Anxiety and stress usually decrease in about 30-60 minutes, while chronic pains may take 2-3 weeks since you have to figure out the best dosage as well.
On what conditions would CBD be recommended?
If your dog has arthritis, pain – chronic or other types, seizures, aggression, and anxiety, they can be treated using CBD.
Can the vet give prescriptions?
As of now, your pet’s vet cannot prescribe any CBD products or tell you what dosages to use due to federal and state laws.
Can I use CBD for humans for my dog?
No, not only would the required dosage be different, but so would the concentration of substances in ‘human’ CBD compared to ‘dog’ CBD.
Can I use ‘pet’ CBD for humans?
Technically speaking, yes, you can, mainly when it is high-quality CBD. Whether or not there would be a positive effect (if there is an effect) would be very little and not of many benefits.
Is CBD addictive?
No, CBD has been proved to have no addictive qualities.
Are there any withdrawal symptoms if I stop giving my dog CBD?
CBD does not make dogs build a dependency on it, so there would be no withdrawal symptoms.
Can CBD expire?
Yes, it’s usually good for a year or two before its compounds start to break down and decrease the product’s effectiveness.
What is the best way to store CBD?
The best way to store CBD would be to make sure the container is sealed correctly and tucked away where it is not under any direct heat and direct light. Keeping it in a fridge would help expand its lifetime.
So, what are you waiting for? Get CBD for your dogs and improve their health!
Check out: Tranquil Store Isolate Pet Oil Drops
