If you’re a proud pet owner, this scenario might not sound uncommon to you: whether it’s 4th of July fireworks or a late-night thunderstorm, your dog has a tendency to get a bit spooked. You’re either left consoling the poor pooch as she hides under the bed or chasing after her to calm her down as she runs rampant and barking like crazy around the house. Not only can this get stressful for you and your loved ones, but it can cause long-term patterns of anxiety within your pet.
When looking at ways to mitigate this, you’ve probably seen many pet wellness trends and theories come and go – CBD for pets being no exception. The reality is that CBD oil can go a long way when keeping Fido calm, or when you’re just looking for a less intense solution to pet pain or anxiety medication.
Understanding the ins and outs of why CBD is good for many pets and how it works can seem like a complex task. To help you figure out if CBD is right for you and your furry companion, we’re outlining all the details for you in this article: from dosage to dog treat types!
How does CBD work?
CBD oil, a derivative of the cannabis plant, is a liquified extract that comes from the plant’s trichomes. Called Cannabidiol, CBD is a compound that’s known to have many medical benefits without any psychoactive effects. Essentially, because CBD oil does not have THC (short for Tetrahydrocannabinol), it does not produce any mind-altering feelings. So, you don’t have to worry about your dog feeling “high” or experiencing any worrisome changes in personality.
The benefits of CBD for pets
Most frequently, pet owners have looked to CBD for help with keeping their pets calm in stressful situations. Luckily for pet owners, reports from the American Kennel Club show that “CBD is also used because of its anti-inflammatory properties, cardiac benefits, anti-nausea effects, appetite stimulation, anti-anxiety impact, and for possible anti-cancer benefits.”
While definitive data on CBD is still being gathered about its precise effects and statistics, many pet owners have reported that CBD helps their furry family members with anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Some reported benefits of CBD oil for dogs by SitStay.com include:
- Help with preventing arthritis
CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help prevent arthritis by lowering and reducing swelling in dogs’ joints.
- Reduction of seizure risk and severity
If your dog suffers from seizures, some dog owners report that CBD can help reduce both how intense they are and how long they last, significantly bringing down stress for you and your pup.
- Soothes anxiety
The unique compounds found in CBD work through the Endocannabinoid system, producing calming effects and stress relief.
- Helps fight against cancer
Among some of the positive effects reported is the ability for CBD to have positive effects against cancer, such as fighting tumor cell growth and improving positive cell growth.
- Increases appetite
If your dog is feeling sick or nauseous and avoiding food, CBD can help him regain his appetite and keep his meals down.
Ways to give your pet CBD
At this point, if you’re ready to test-drive introducing CBD to your pet’s routine, you’re probably wondering what the best ways of doing so might be. Just like for humans, there are a few different ways to administer CBD for your dog.
While some topical treatments such as soaps and lotions are out there, most users (especially first-timers) like to stick to CBD forms that can be given to your pet orally. By far, the most popular and easy way to give your dog CBD is via oil – this can come as a liquid medicine in a tincture that you can simply add to their food.
There is also the tried-and-true method of wrapping a medicine in a treat: this way, your pet won’t get put off by flavor or texture. Many options for pre-dosed CBD-infused treats are out on the market and come in all shapes and sizes.
If you choose to give your dog CBD that isn’t pre-dosed in a treat, knowing what CBD dose to give your pet is an important step. Experts recommend dosing gradually, and “starting with 1 mg per 10 pounds of body weight twice a day—and monitoring your pet’s reaction.”
Possible side-effects of CBD on pets
The American Kennel Club writes that just like any other medicines, CBD might have a few possible side effects to watch out for. While these are unlikely, keeping an eye on your furry companion – especially when giving them CBD for the first time – is a good practice.
According to AKC, here are a few possible side-effects of CBD to watch out for:
- “Dry mouth: Research has shown that CBD can decrease the production of saliva. For dogs, this would manifest as an increased thirst.
- Lowered blood pressure: High doses of CBD have been known to cause a temporary drop in blood pressure. Even though the drop is small, it might create a brief feeling of light-headedness.
- Drowsiness: Dog owners have used CBD to treat anxiety. The calming effect of CBD can also cause slight drowsiness, especially when using higher doses.”
We’ll note, though, that ‘overdosing’ on CBD has not yet been reported, so as a general rule of thumb, start with a small dose and monitor your pet closely to see how they react.
Making sure your pets’ CBD products are safe
Once you’ve decided to make the leap to try CBD, take all the necessary steps to make sure the product you’re using is lab-tested and below the .3% THC content to be usable as CBD. CNet writes that, “one way to avoid potentially harmful ingredients is to only use products that come with a certificate of analysis, or COA (the batch number on the COA should match the number on the product’s label or packaging).” COAs are test results typically issued by labs that verify a CBD product’s potency and ingredients.
The Tree of Life Seeds difference
Not only does Tree of Life Seeds carry a veterinarian-formulated line of CBD products specifically for your pet, but we make sure that our products contain only the top quality, broad-spectrum CBD oil. Formulated with phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) hemp oil, both our pet CBD drops and chews give you options to choose from to help your furry friends out with everything from pain and inflammation to promote overall health and wellness.
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