Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become an increasingly popular supplemental treatment for humans suffering from pain, anxiety, epilepsy, cancer and numerous other health issues. It’s extracted from cannabis plants but contains little to no THC, so it doesn’t get users “high”. As CBD has grown in popularity over the past decade, more and more dog owners have begun using it for their pets.
CBD interacts with receptors throughout the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates a wide array of functions and maintains homeostasis. Dogs have this same biological system and so cannabis-derived CBD has the potential to deliver therapeutic effects for many canine health concerns. Especially issues found in aging dogs like chronic pain, arthritis, seizures, cancer symptoms and stress relief.
However with an unregulated CBD market, pet owners must educate themselves on the benefits of CBD oil for dogs, potential side effects and mainly how find and administer high quality, pet-safe products. Working with a veterinarian knowledgeable in cannabis applications can further ensure your dog receives maximum benefits from CBD while staying safe.
This complete guide will explore the research behind CBD use for dogs, the best delivery methods, recommended dosages, what to look for when selecting a CBD hemp oil for your canine companion and more.
CBD Oil Benefits for Dogs
While research into cannabidiol for pets lags behind more robust human studies, current veterinary research and overwhelming consumer testimonials point to numerous potential benefits of CBD supplementation for dogs. These include:
Pain Relief
CBD has been found in studies of mammals to reduce inflammation and interacts with pain receptors throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. This can lead to significant pain relief from chronic issues like joint pain and arthritis. Research also found reductions in pain behaviors and improved mobility in dogs given CBD twice daily.
CBD for Dogs: The Safest Way to Ease Your Pup’s Anxiety and Pain
Anti-Seizure
Dogs prone to experiencing tremors, tics, spasms from a seizure condition may gain relief with CBD according to veterinarian reports. However most evidence is anecdotal to date. CBD shares similar anticonvulsant mechanisms and neuroprotective effects to some anti-seizure drugs without the harsh side effects. More clinical trials are underway.
Anti-Inflammatory
By interacting with the body’s ECS system, CBD has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects reducing chronic inflammation contributing to joint pain, inflammatory bowel disease, skin reactions, autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.
Anti-Anxiety
For high strung, anxious or phobic dogs CBD hemp oil may help reduce nervous behaviors like separation anxiety, travel nerves, aggression, obsessive tendencies and reactions to loud noises like fireworks or thunder through serotonin receptor and hormone balancing in the brain.
Cancer Symptom Relief
While not an outright cure, CBD can help mitigate some symptoms pet’s experience with cancers like nausea, wasting, pain and loss of appetite per anecdotal reports. The anti-inflammatory effects may slow disease progression. More research is still needed into proper CBD cancer protocols.
With such a diversity of potential effects through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, CBD could provide multi-directional benefits for all types of dogs. But more research into exact applications for different breeds and sizes will uncover specialized cannabinoid therapies for inflammation, seizures, anxieties and pain related to chronic conditions.
Is CBD Oil Safe for My Dog and What Are the Side Effects?
To date, available research suggests CBD hemp oil is quite safe for most dogs with very mild side effects reported like drowsiness and gastrointestinal upset when introduced at doses too high. It’s considered non-toxic.
However, possible side effects to keep in mind when giving your dog buy CBD oil include:
Dry Mouth – CBD binding to receptors in salivary glands can inhibit production temporarily leading to increased thirst. This resolves once the dog consumes water to hydrate.
Drowsiness – Especially when taking higher than needed doses of CBD, dogs may experience periods of drowsiness. Typically relief sets in once dosing aligned properly with sensitivity.
Dizziness – Occasionally lower blood pressure from CBD creates temporary lightheadedness. sitting/lying positions prevent losing balance. Proper hydration also helps.
Gastrointestinal Issues – Digestive upset like vomiting or diarrhea can result when introducing CBD oil, especially at very high doses. This usually resolves in 24-48 hours. Gradual dosing prevents most stomach irritation.
Monitor side effects when starting CBD oil regime. Seek veterinary guidance adjusting dose down if mild side effects emerge then disappear in few days. Seek immediate vet care for collapse, severe GI issues. Once the optimal dose established, side effects reduce over time.
While quite rare, CBD does interact moderately with some pharmaceuticals so discuss using CBD with your veterinarian if your dog takes any prescription medicines like blood thinners, heart medications, steroids or seizure drugs. Adjustments may be required to their dosing.
Choosing a High Quality CBD Hemp Oil for Dogs
Since the booming CBD oil industry remains unregulated at this time, doing your due diligence selecting a brand that offers top grade, properly extracted oil for pets is paramount. Be wary of obscure brands making unfounded claims. Vetting manufacturing processes can ensure your dog receives clean, potent CBD oil to maximize benefits.
Here’s what to look for in a quality CBD oil for dogs:
Organic USA Grown Hemp – Hemp absorbs from the soil so clean US grown hemp ensures fewer impurities or toxins get extracted into oils. Imported hemp often less regulated.
CO2 Extraction Process – Supercritical CO2 extraction pulls the widest diversity of beneficial plant compounds like terpenes and maintains purity compared to cheaper solvent based methods.
Third Party Testing – Reputable CBD firms batch test through independent labs checking for cannabinoid potency, residual solvents, pesticides and heavy metals with published Certificates of Analysis.
THC Free – Dogs sensitivities to THC differs but full spectrum CBD oils risk GI upset, confusion or over-sedation. Isolate CBD oils remove THC entirely for sensitive pets.
When sourcing CBD oil for your dog, be wary of low cost hemp oils or tinctures likely to cut corners in production practices. Seek brands dedicating resources into optimizing quality and purity throughout the supply chain. This ensures your dog receives maximum therapeutic benefits from consistent, high value CBD.
Choosing the Best Method to Give Your Dog CBD Oil
CBD oil for dogs comes in various formulations like traditional oil tinctures, flavored chews, treats, pills and topical balms. Each delivery method has pros and cons to consider when choosing the optimal way to administer CBD for your dog. read more
CBD Oil Drops/Tinctures – The most common way to give CBD is via oil tinctures for fast absorption when placed under the tongue then swallowed. Easy to adjust doses by monitoring drop amounts. Flavored oils help appeal to dogs. The downside is administering drops can be messy and difficult to ensure proper doses mixed with food.
CBD Dog Treats – Treats offer effortless dosing and appeal to pooches with tasty offerings infused with CBD. However it’s harder to adjust doses and guarantee accurate CBD consumption if dogs decide to not finish treats.
CBD Chews – Similar to treats, these fruit flavored or savory CBD infused chews simply cut to size to achieve target doses. Their shelf life exceeds treats. Again, dogs may spit them out altering intended dosing.
CBD Capsules – Precise doses come via CBD pills yet impossible to split for smaller dogs. Hiding capsules in food tricky. Also effects may manifest slower passing through digestive tract for absorption. read about prices
CBD Topicals – Creams, balms and salves allow direct application to localized pain, arthritis and skin conditions without entering bloodstream. Dosing challenges arise calculating surface area covered and depth reaching joints.
While most veteran pet owners opt for the highly adjustable yet messy CBD tinctures/oils, treats often appeal best to initially introduce dogs to CBD. Combining oil drops with treats can optimize accurate dosing and easy delivery dogs enjoy.
Determining the Correct CBD Oil Dosage for Your Dog
Since CBD gets metabolized differently between species and even individual dogs, there’s no universal dosage chart set in stone for how much CBD oil to give your dog. General guidelines say 0.05 to 0.25 milligram CBD per every 1 pound bodyweight is typical for effects to emerge while remaining subtle.
However factors like the concentration/potency of CBD oil used, dog age, breed size and health goals impact effective doses – starting very low then titrating up slowly monitoring effects. Chronic issues may benefit from consistently higher yet safe doses that moderately acute anxiety or pain uses.
As a rough guide for an average size dog, estimate:
5-25lbs – Start with 1.5mg-5mg CBD per dose, 2x daily
25-50lbs – Start with 5mg-10mg per dose, 2x daily
50-75lbs – Start with 10mg-15mg per dose, 2x daily
Over 75lbs – Start with 18mg-30mg per dose, 2x daily
One trick to dosing CBD Oil for dogs – estimate 1 drop of standard concentration 500mg formula equals ~0.25mg CBD. From there calculating dose by drop amounts becomes easier. Boost drop amounts every 3-7 days if greater effects desired.
Remember to choose weaker concentration shop 100-300mg CBD oil for very small or senior dogs requiring doses below 5mg. Go slowly and monitor for desired benefits and any side effects. Tracking symptoms daily at set times with a journal can clarify effective dosing over a 2 week period when first starting out.
How Long Does it Take for CBD Oil to Work in Dogs?
Patience goes a long way when introducing CBD oil to your canine companion’s wellness routine. Effects from CBD are cumulative and subtle – unlike psychoactive THC that triggers immediate sensations.
It can take consistent daily supplementation with CBD oil for 2 to 6 weeks before optimal therapeutic effects start to unfold related to inflammation control, pain relief, anti-anxiety and seizure activity according to veterinarian guidance.
For acute issues like short term limps or anxious behaviors, you may notice initial changes more quickly in the first 1 to 2 weeks. However, by 4 weeks positive impacts on chronic conditions often surface assuming proper dose aligned according to vet suggestions.
Due to the cumulative effects of supplementing dogs with CBD oil for an extended period, sticking to a consistent daily schedule avoids sporadic dosing where benefits fluctuate. Maintaining stable blood levels of CBD oil compounds allows dogs to overcome health issues’ threshold for noticing marked improvements. Be patient!
What’s the Best Way to Give CBD Oil to Dogs? Masking the Taste
While some dogs don’t mind or even enjoy the natural flavor of CBD oil concentrates, others balk at first taste if too bitter or earthy. Masking the taste or scent by mixing oil into favored foods eliminates refusal while allowing easy delivery.
Edible Mix-Ins to Mask CBD Taste
- Peanut Butter – Thick PB coats the mouth disguising bitterness
- Yogurt – Sweet probiotic paste overpowers CBD flavor
- Honey – Sticky honey fully overwhelms then soothes taste buds
- Applesauce – Fruity applesauce contrasts with grassy tones
- Ice Cream – Cool creamy texture camouflages oil richness
- Broth – Savory broth makes oil slip down easily
- Canned Pumpkin – Seasonal pumpkin spices subdue CBD
When using edible mix-ins to encourage dogs to take CBD oil, stick to small amounts needed to coat rather than offering an entire treat which risks overeating. Too many high calorie mix-ins lead to unhealthy weight gain. Disguise then wean off add-ins.
Exploring Different Types of CBD Products Available for Dogs
As the popularity of CBD has grown, we’ve seen an explosion of CBD pet products emerge beyond just traditional hemp oils and tinctures. Topicals, specialty treats and targeted formulations now cater to canine’s wide ranging therapeutic needs. We’ll explore the benefits of the major types of CBD products for dogs owners can consider.
CBD Dog Treats
Masking CBD’s natural flavor profile within tasty bite-sized treats makes orally ingesting cannabidiol easy and appealing for pups. From hemp infused biscuits to fruit jerky type chews, treats supply steady premeasured CBD doses dogs eagerly devour. Their shelf life exceeds traditional pet treats. Just monitor overeating calorie-dense offerings.
Water Soluble CBD Oils
By emulsifying cannabidiol into nano-sized particles using emulsifiers, water soluble CBD formulas create stable oil/water mixtures increasing bioavailability and efficiency. This allows steady absorption sublingually or mixed into drinking water for picky pups. Effects may come on faster.
CBD Topicals and Balms
As regulation expands, we’re seeing more specialty topical CBD rubs, sprays, gels and creams formulated explicitly for pets to target sore joints,inflamed skin conditions and superficial tissue layers. Applied locally to the site of arthritis pain, itchiness or surface tumors, topicals provide soothing concentrated relief without internal uptake.
CBD Pills & Capsules
For owners struggling with getting dogs to take tinctures, pills and capsules offer hassle-free precise dosing of CBD with rapid diffusion when swallowed. Contents are fully protected against oxidation in the digestive tract. However without taste benefits, capsules often get spit out if dogs are clever chewers.
CBD Powders & Isolates
Pure isolated CBD extracts tested free of THC get processed into powder or crystalline form for versatile mixing into food, existing supplements or directly into the mouth. Flavorless and odorless CBD isolate powders contain the highest concentrations per gram for efficient high dosing. read about CBD pain relieving
With CBD pet products continuing to diversify, it opens up more opportunities to tailor cannabidiol delivery to each dog’s preferences, sensitivities and health objectives. Continued research into improved skin, digestive and nasal membrane permeability for CBD also promises specialized remedies.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Using CBD Oil for Dogs
- Is CBD oil also called hemp oil for dogs?
Sometimes yes. CBD oil can be derived from both hemp and cannabis plants. But CBD hemp oils minimize the psychoactive THC compounds, so hemp-based CBD oils remain non-intoxicating and legal in most states without requiring a medical marijuana license. - Can I give human CBD oil to dogs?
Technically you can but it’s not ideal. The best CBD oils for pets contain added dog safe flavorings and establish proper cannabinoid ratios and strengths for smaller species. Without safety testing data, using human formulations risks GI upset if ingredients overwhelm. - Does CBD oil calm dogs down or make them hyper?
In most cases, CBD oil elicits calming effects by modulating anxiety causing stress hormones and neurotransmitters without sedating. Rarely some dogs experience a short boost in energy from cumulative activation of the endocannabinoid system when starting CBD. Adjusting dose down tempers hyper behavior if noted. - When is the best time to give dogs CBD Oil?
Consistently timed doses ensure stable blood levels for chronic issues. However, an hour before situations causing short term anxieties, pains or seizers can allow preventative effects to emerge around peak blood concentrations. Morning and evening doses bookend coverage. - What’s better for dogs – full spectrum or CBD isolate? If your dog easily tolerates oils and shows no sensitivity to THC, full spectrum oils provide complementary cannabinoids and terpenes working synergistically with CBD for kids at lower strengths. For sensitivities, extremely high dosing, avoid THC risks or using alongside pharmaceuticals, isolates avoid interactions.
- Why does quality and sourcing matter for CBD pet products?
Hemp acts as a bioaccumulator sucking up soil contaminants if sourced from questionable growing regions. Toxic pesticide and heavy metal residue can extract into finished oils without strict oversight of crops. Choosing USA regionally sourced CBD from reputable brands ensures safety. - Can I give my dog CBD oil purchased from dispensaries?
Legally speaking, CBD oils dispensed in medical and recreational dispensaries get derived from cannabis strains, not federally legal industrial hemp plants. Their higher THC content not tested for pet safety requires licenses in legal states. Vet-designed hemp CBD formulas prove safest without paperwork.
Key Takeaways on CBD Oil and Your Dog
Discuss introducing holistic CBD supplementation with your veterinarian especially if your dog takes any prescription medicines or has severe health issues. While studies confirm CBD’s safety for mammals and pets, veterinary oversight ensures proper applications for your dog’s age, breed and condition for maximum benefits.
Administering CBD oil for dogs often takes patience and experimentation starting from lowest suggested doses and titrating up weekly while tracking progress/side effects. Documenting behavior patterns around the same times daily allows you to pinpoint optimal dosage regimens and timing for your dog’s needs.
Consistency also proves vital to witnessing meaningful improvements to chronic inflammatory-based conditions, seizure disorders, recurring anxieties or arthritic stiffness. It can take 4-6 weeks noticing benefits. Mimicking endocannabinoid deficiencies with external CBD allows dogs enhanced comfort.
While more veterinary trials on CBD treatment protocols get underway, thousands of happy pet owners report significant enhancements to quality of life in older dogs or those struggling with pain, low appetite, nausea and stress when using CBD oils, treats or capsules.
Judiciously sourced USA hemp-based CBD supports pet health with few risks under veterinary guidance. Just screen for best value quality tested organic ingredients ensuring purity and potency for your pup.
Conclusion
CBD oil derived from hemp offers a promising supplemental treatment for dogs suffering from pain, anxiety, seizures, and other health issues. By interacting with endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body, CBD can target the root causes of inflammation, imbalance the nervous system, digestrive issues and more.
While research on CBD for pets still trails human trials, current studies confirm its safety and efficacy for mammals. Thousands of positive testimonials report major enhancements in quality of life for dogs taking CBD oil after struggling with chronic conditions.