CBD Oil for Dogs – Does It Really Work?

Cannabidiol a substance that is present in plants in the cannabis family (marijuana and Hemp). The most exciting aspect of CBD from both plants is that the levels of THC differ. THC is the substance that is known to elicit euphoric feelings. You will get the answer to your question as to does CBD oil works?

“Is CBD oil good for dogs?” Yes, it works because CBD oil works on receptors in the endocannabinoid system and interestingly dogs to just like humans have this system. These receptors are located in the CNS (brain and spinal cord), body organs and immune cells in different parts of the body.

Products made from Hemp contain THC levels of less than 0.3% and will not lead to any psychoactive effects. On the other hand, products made from marijuana will exert a euphoric effect after consumption.

Most of the CBD products in the market are made from Hemp since marijuana is illegal in most states and countries. Thus if your dog gets a dose of CBD oil, they’ll not get any psychoactive effects. These products will calm the dog besides providing pain relief.

Buying CBD Oil for Your Dogs

CBD oil for dogs comes in different types. The best option for a pet owner is to experiment with what works best for their pet. Typical forms of CBD oil for dogs include:

Dog treats: For most dog owners, treats containing CBD oil is the simplest way to administer CBD oil to your dog. CBD dog treats come in different flavors, sizes, and dosages. Since dogs love treat, you’ll find it easy to administer CBD oil to your pet.
Topical: Administering CBD oil to your dogs in the form of topical is ideal if your dog is suffering from skin conditions such as allergies or rashes. You apply the topical directly to the dog’s skin to offer fast relief from pain and inflammation.
Capsules: If your dog is used to capsule as medication, then it’ll be easy to administer CBD oil in the form of capsules. The best method of administering CBD oil to dogs is by hiding the capsules in the dog’s treats or food.
Tinctures: Tinctures are considered to be the purest form of CBD oil. They are CBD oil in oil droppers, and this form is directly administered to the dog’s mouth. Tinctures are absorbed into the bloodstream faster than any other type of CBD oil.

How to Determine CBD Oil Dosage for Dogs

The dosage of CBD oil varies on the size of the dog and the condition to treat. Since we have many CBD oil products for dogs in the market, you’ll hardly miss the dosage instruction on the packaging. Most of the products have a specified amount of CBD oil specified ion the label.

On the other hand, if you prefer using CBD oil, you must know how to measure the dosage.

The best way to administer CBD oil to your dog is by starting with a small dose and then increasing the dosage gradually as you monitor your dog’s reaction to the product as well as if you can see the desired effect.

Points to Note When Shopping for CBD Oil for Dogs

Purchase your products from a vendor that stocks a variety of CBD oil products. If the seller has several options, you can change to a different product if your dog doesn’t respond well to a particular type of CBD oil.
Purchase the products from a reputable seller. The best result is derived from high-quality ingredients. Make sure the products are certified to be organically grown besides having THC levels that do not exceed 0.3%. Additionally, high-quality CB oil products are manufactured through a CO2 extraction method.
Buy adequate amounts of CBD oil for your dog. As you go shopping, you must recognize that bigger dogs need higher doses that puppies thus purchase a product that will last your pet a reasonable period.
The dosage depends on the CBD oil product. For example, tinctures contain a higher concentration of CBD when compared to CBD treats. But fortunately, most products have labels of the amount of CBD in the product.

Flavored vs. Non-Flavored CBD Oil

Choose a product that your pet will like. For example, if your dog loves flavored treats, then you can purchase flavored CBD oil products for the dog.

Medicinal vs. Therapeutic

The amount of CBD to administer to your dog will vary on the condition to treat. Dosage for therapeutic cases such as pain, anxiety, and inflammation is lower compared to medicinal usage for more severe conditions like cancer and epilepsy.

CBD Oil Overdose in Dogs

For the best result and to avoid any side effects, never administered CBD oil derived from marijuana to your dog. If your dog suffers any signs of CBD overdose, you should rush them to the vet for care and treatment. Products that do not contain ant THC are the best for pets.

According to information from the FDA, these are the signs and symptoms of CBD overdose in dogs:

Depression
Vomiting
Tremors
Lethargy
Agitation
Excessive drooling
And any other suspicious behavior after administering the products

Are CBD Oil Products Safe for My Dog?

Since CBD oil is a recent introduction to pets, there is still debate on its efficacy and safety in dogs. But all in all, CBD oil is a low –risk product for pets. Just like in humans, no significant side effects have been linked to CBD oil overdose.

If your dog ingests more than the recommended dose, they may experience diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth and dizziness.

If you want to minimize the effects of CBD oil, it’s essential to make sure you source your products from a reputable seller. Poor quality CBD oil may contain impurities and contaminants that can harm your dog.

If you administer CBD in the form of treats, make sure they are under lock and key.

Safety Measures When Administering CBD Oil to Your Dog

Besides the points we have covered above, you should avoid administering CBD oil products to your dog when they are under medication. Before administering CBD to your dog, talk to your vet for advice. CBD oil may lead to interactions with other drugs leading to unwanted side effects.

Hemp vs. Marijuana oil: What’s the Difference?

Before getting deeper on information about CBD oil for dogs, it’s essential to know the difference between CBD oil extracted from Hemp and that from marijuana plants.

Though both plants come from the same family (the Cannabis sativa family), CBD oil form both plants differs in several aspects. The main significant difference between the two is the level of a substance known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In human beings, this is the substance that results in the “high” feeling associated with marijuana. CBD oil derived from marijuana plants have a very high concentration of THC and will confer psychoactive effects on the user.

Fortunately, CBD oil derived from Hemp plants has very minimal levels (˂ o.3%) of THC; thus, it’ll not result in any psychological stimulus.

In Which Cases CBD Oil Helps Dogs

Since the use of CBD oil for humans and animals is gaining popularity, more and more research is done to establish the real benefits of this plant and the appropriate dosage for the various conditions.

Just as CBD has found much use in humans; it is also helpful to dogs. Research is offering promising results for the following conditions.

1) Treating Seizures and Epilepsy

Evident from pet owners have shown CBD oil to be effective in treating and managing seizures and epilepsy. At a high dose, CBD oil helps manage seizures in pets. It reduces the occurrences of the seizures, and it has been effective in some cases in completely eradicating them.

2) Pain Relief

Pain relief ranks as one of the most significant uses of CBD oil in both pets and humans. If your dog suffers arthritis, CDB will assist in relieving pain and inflammation associated with this condition. It’ll work on the aching joints and afford faster healing for your dog.

3) Reducing Anxiety

Anxiety is an awful experience for humans as well as for pets. Dogs suffer anxiety and depression due to a variety of reasons, such as when the owner leaves/ dies or a fellow pet dies.

Depression may also occur in particular diseases affecting pets. When your dog is in anxiety, it will show strange behaviors such as pacing, urinating and chewing and destroying objects.

4) Treating Dog Allergies

The body reacts naturally to foreign substances in the form of an allergic reaction. A majority of allergies in dogs are a result of pollen, foods, mold or any other elements. Once these substances get in the dog’s body, the body will respond by releasing histamines.

Recent studies have established that CBD oil can signal the immune system not to release histamines. Thus CBD may work to reduce inflammation that results in itching in your pet.

5) Boosting Appetite

Nausea and other digestive problems are a leading cause of loss of appetite in dogs. Thou you may not understand why your dog doesn’t want to eat, administering CBD oil can assist in relieving pain and other digestives issues.

6) Preventing and Fighting Cancer

Just like us, dogs can suffer from cancer. The main symptoms of cancer in dogs include chronic pain, nausea &vomiting, and loss of appetite. CBD will assist in countering these symptoms and improving the quality of life for your pet.

Small doses of CDB on a dial basis can assist in preventing and killing cancer cells in pets by boosting immunity, inhibiting metabolism in cancer cells, besides it has anti-tumor properties.

7) Assists in Treating and Managing a Variety of Disease in Dogs

A majority of conditions manifest signs and symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and chronic pain. CBD will assist in relaxing the dog and assisting in pain relief.

7.1) CBD Can Assist in Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Research that has been done in the animal has shown that CBD is effective in restoring normal intestinal motility and preventing colitis in inflammatory bowel disease. CBD also has anti-bacterial activity and is effective against infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

7.2) Reducing Cases of Autoimmune Disease and Chronic Inflammation

CBD can reduce and decrease the production of inflammatory cytokines that lead to hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, and allergies. It can also work to reduce chronic inflammation and inflammatory macrophages. CBD is a potent antioxidant with significant benefits to both men and pets.

8) Improved Cardiovascular Health

Studies have shown CBD to be effective in improving cardiovascular health in animals and human beings.

It works by maintaining regular heart rates and minimizing damage to bold vessels. Additionally, it can reduce blood pressure and increased heart rate that is linked to depression and anxiety.

Legality and Safety of CBD Oil

Though research on CBD is still ongoing, the product has been linked to many health benefits in both men and pets. The product appears to be safe since no major side effects have been linked to this disease.

Most CBD products today are derived from Hemp and are legal in all the states. Remember its only CBD products made from marijuana that are controversial.

Since Hemp-derived CBD has a very low level of THC, it’s safe for your pets. More and more pet owners are tapping on the immense potential of this herb to improve the health of the pets.

Tips for Picking the Best CBD Oil for Your Dog

To make sure you get the best results from CBD products, you must make sure you purchase your products from a trustworthy source. Consider the following when shopping for CBD oil for your pet.

1) Choose Organic Products

Organic products are the best since they are cultivated without the use of pesticides and insecticides. Hemp plants grown using pesticides will have traces of these compounds in them and can be harmful to your dog.

2) Avoid Cheap CBD Products

High-quality CBD products are pure and are manufactured in line with industry set standards.

When shopping for CBD products for your dog, avoid extremely cheap products; they may be contaminated or have impurities. Organically grown and processed CBD is expensive due to the costs associated with the processes.

3) Request for Lab Reports

Quality CBD products must go through strictly laboratory analysis to confirm the concentration of THC in the product besides ruling out the presence of contaminants and impurities. The THC levels in the product must be less than 0.3%.

4) Consider Using Tinctures

Though CBD treats may work well for pet owners, tinctures should be the preferred way to administer CBD oil to your pet since they are easily absorbed in the body besides being the purest form of CBD oil.

How to Administer CBD to Your Dog and Get the Best Results

Though you can cop-administer CBD oil with traditional medication for synergistic effect, this should only be done under the guidance of a vet. This may lead to drug interactions that can harm your pet.

Research on the correct dosage for various conditions is in progress; thus, dogs in most case are by experimenting.

1) Expect The Best

You should have a realistic expectation when put your dog on CBD oil. These products have the potential to treat and manage a variety of health conditions in dogs.

If you source the products from a reliable supplier, you should expect reasonable results after administering the product to your vet.

After experimenting on dosage, you’ll know the optimum dosage and the frequency for your pet. For example, you can settle on a dosage of 2mg of CBD thrice a day for pain relief for your dog.

2) Engage Your Vet

Though Hemp-derived CBD products are legal in all states, it’s essential to talk to your vet before administering CBD to your pet. This is critical, especially if your dog is on medication or suffering from any disease.

Taking to your vet is the best way to avoid any harmful effects on your pet. If your vet doesn’t have sufficient knowledge on CBD products for pets, consider online expert advice from websites dedicated to this course.

You’ll get vital information on dosage and possible drug interactions.

3) Choose CBD Products Cautiously

Since the CBD industry is still in its infancy stages and it’s highly unregulated, you may not know the source of the product and its quality.

To be safe, only purchase your products from reputable vendors. Whether you’re buying these products locally or online, ensure the manufacturer adheres to good manufacturing practices, or they have certification from the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC).

These elements are an indication that the manufacturer produces quality CBD products.

4) Third-party Lad Testing

As per the industry standards, quality CBD products must undergo testing by three independent labs to confirm their potency and purity.

Ask the vendor for certificates of lab analysis. If they adhere to the industry set standards, they’ll find no difficulties displaying the certificates.

Most CBD manufacturers will display these certificates on their websites.

5) Monitor Progress

Though you shouldn’t expect any significant side effects from using CBD products, after administering the product to your dog, monitor the progress.

If you note any strange reactions, you should notify your vet for advice. CBD is metabolized in the liver, just like the pharmaceutical drugs that if the dog is on medication, drug interactions can occur.

6) Dose Gradually

If it’s the first time to introduce CBD oil to your pets, you should approach the matter gradually.

Though most CBD products made for pets have directions on dosage, you should administer low doses in the initial stages as you monitor the reactions and the desired effect.

The dosage will vary based on a number of factors including the size of the dogs, the type of CBD product and the disease to treat.

7) Store Products Appropriately

If you store the CBD products in the wrong way, they may lose their potency— cannabinoids are prone to degradation.

CBD treats and oils should be stored in the dark away from sunlight. High temperatures and extremely low temperatures can affect the chemical composition of these products.

The ideal way to store CBD products is in a clean, dry place and preferably under lock and key. If you don’t know how to store the products, you can talk to your supplier for advice.

For real-world results from past owners, check these videos:

Conclusion: CBD Oil for Dogs

Though research on the use of CBD oil on pets is still in progress, already gathered information has shown promising results on the benefits of CBD in the treatment and management of common ailments in dogs. If you’re planning to use CBD oil for your pets, it’s vital to share the information with your vet.

CBD products have elicited minimal side effects, but it crucial to use the products cautiously to avoid any side effects resulting from overdose or contamination. If you are in doubt if CBD oil works for dogs, then consider the said benefits and feedback from pet owners using these products.

References

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