In the past few years, CBD (cannabidiol) has gained much popularity due to its remarkable effects on people’s health. CBD can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and even cancer symptoms when used appropriately. However, what’s less known is that CBD oil is good for dogs and can improve your furry companion’s overall quality of life.
Seeing your pet struggle and not live its life to the fullest can be sad and disheartening. Therefore, we’ve created this guide to help you understand the beneficial effects of cannabidiol on dogs’ lives. So, how do you use CBD oil, and what is it even? Keep reading if you want to discover how you can use the best CBD oil on the market to improve your canine’s life.
What Is CBD Oil
CBD oil is a natural oil extracted from the hemp plant.
Unlike THC, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects. Instead, it has been shown to have a range of potential health benefits, including reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and relieving pain.
People can take CBD oil orally, rubbed into the skin, or inhale it via vaporization. It’s also available in various formulations, including tinctures, oils, and edibles.
CBD oil is considered safe for most people and animals, though it can cause side effects such as dry mouth, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.
Is CBD Oil Good for Dogs
CBD oil is a popular natural remedy for various ailments in humans, but it’s also becoming increasingly prevalent as a treatment for dogs.
CBD oil is known to be safe for our furry friends, with few reported side effects. As more research is conducted on the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD oil for dogs, more pet owners will likely turn to this natural remedy to help their furry friends.
Benefits of CBD Oil
Let’s start with the benefits: what does CBD oil do for dogs?
Below, we’ll briefly present all the conditions CBD oil can help your dog with.
Allergies
Itchiness, hives, swelling, and nasal congestion aren’t unique to people, as dogs can experience allergy symptoms too. Whether it’s pollen, mold, or food, a dog’s immune system identifies these substances as threatening, causing an allergic reaction.
However, CBD effectively reduces the animal’s airway obstruction caused by an allergic reaction. Combined with anti-inflammatory effects that may decrease the itching sensation, CBD is an excellent alternative treatment for allergies.
Anxiety
Most studies that test CBD oil for anxiety focus on humans only, but the similarities between the canine and human endocannabinoid systems suggest that dogs can benefit from CBD oil, too.
Veterinarians often prescribe it to dogs who suffer from phobias, separation anxiety, and stress. Thunderstorms, trips to the vet’s office, visits from guests, and isolation are some of the situational anxieties that CBD oil can help with, especially if you already know that your dog is prone to experiencing any of them.
Arthritis and Joint Pain
Around 20% of dogs suffer from joint pain and stiffness due to their age and genetics. It starts as mild discomfort and turns into chronic pain. The pain affects the quality of your dog’s life by preventing it from doing things it enjoys.
Treatment includes exercise, weight management, steroid injections, pain medications, and surgery. However, it’s not suitable for all dogs and can be expensive for owners. Some high-quality CBD oil will ease joint pains and arthritis, as it has anti-inflammatory properties that alleviate pain.
Unfortunately, CBD oil alone does not cure this condition, but it reduces inflammation and pain, which makes your dog happy and able to run, fetch, jump, and play without much discomfort.
Cancer
CBD can fight cancerous cells. It boosts the immune system, stops cancerous cells from growing, and prevents new ones from forming. Giving CBD to your dog lowers its chances of getting cancer. CBD can also help dogs that already suffer from cancer by alleviating the symptoms of the illness and the adverse side effects of medication.
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough evidence to show whether CBD can treat cancer, but it makes patients’ lives easier.
CHF
While not a cure-all, CBD can reduce the chances of a dog developing congestive heart failure. CHF refers to a canine heart disease where the heart isn’t able to pump a sufficient amount of blood into the body.
When it comes to heart failures and diseases, CBD mainly helps reduce the intensity and frequency of seizures they cause, as well as pain management and calming inflammation.
Collapsed Trachea
While there is no cure for collapsed trachea, there are treatments available to help manage your dog’s symptoms and improve its quality of life. One such treatment is CBD oil.
CBD oil can help to reduce inflammation and coughing associated with the collapsed trachea, making it an effective treatment option for many dogs. If you’re considering using CBD oil to treat it, be sure to talk to your vet first. They can help you determine the best course of treatment for your pet.
Glaucoma
Besides humans, glaucoma also affects dogs, worsening their sight over time. Luckily, full-spectrum CBD oil for dogs can reduce swelling of the body responsible for the pressure that causes glaucoma. Eventually, CBD can lessen the effects of glaucoma and restore your pet’s sight.
Heart Murmur
If you’re considering some natural remedies for your dog’s heart murmur, CBD can help effectively treat some symptoms. There are no dangerous side effects to using it to bring some relief to the dog, nor there’s an associated “high” with it that might be harmful.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a genetic disorder caused by a poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, cartilage damage, rapid skeletal growth, etc. It’s a painful condition, but CBD can help ease the pain. The best CBD oil to treat hip dysplasia is the one that helps combat painful, inflammatory, and other discomforting symptoms of the disorder.
Hot Spots
This type of skin inflammation can be excruciating for your dog. Hot spots result from dogs giving too much attention to a particular skin patch—biting, chewing, scratching it. CBD is good for dogs with this condition as it can help with the physical and psychological consequences of hot spots, easing their anxiety.
Among the most popular dog breeds susceptible to this type of harmful behavior are German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Rottweilers.
IBD
One area where CBD oil has shown promise is the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. IBD is a chronic condition that affects the digestive system and can be extremely painful for dogs.
The good news is that CBD oil has been shown to help reduce inflammation and improve gastrointestinal symptoms in dogs. In one study, CBD oil significantly enhanced the quality of life in dogs with IBD. It’s also effective in reducing inflammation and improving stool quality in dogs with this condition.
Itchy Skin
A number of studies have confirmed that CBD can help reduce inflammation, which may be helpful in treating the itchiness associated with skin conditions like allergies and eczema.
In addition, CBD has been shown to have anti-itch properties. This means that it can help to soothe the itchiness caused by dryness and inflammation. When applied topically, CBD may also help to provide relief from localized itchiness.
Seizures
Around 5% of dogs suffer from seizures, and the primary treatment for this is a cocktail of anti-seizure medications. However, dog owners claim that this often fails and that the risk of side effects is too high.
Therefore, some turn to CBD oil to prevent epileptic seizures. Various scientific studies prove the efficiency of CBD oil in fighting seizures in people with epilepsy, and dogs that use CBD oil also experience fewer seizures—here’s one of the best formulas on the current market.
Are There Any Side Effects of Using CBD Oil
While CBD oil is generally safe for dogs, owners should be aware of a few potential side effects.
To minimize the risk of adverse side effects of CBD oil, you should carefully follow dosage instructions. There’s currently no conclusive scientific data on the side effects of CBD on dogs, but here are some assumptions based on its side effects on people:
- Dry mouth—In some cases, CBD can decrease saliva production.
- Lowered blood pressure—High doses of CBD can lower blood pressure. This can cause light-headedness even if a drop is small.
- Drowsiness—The calming effects of CBD sometimes cause drowsiness in pets.
Side effects are more common when CBD oil is taken in large doses or used for an extended period.
If your dog does experience any side effects after taking CBD oil, it is vital to speak to a veterinarian as soon as possible. With proper dosing and monitoring, CBD oil can be a safe and effective way to improve your dog’s quality of life.
When it comes to younger pups, it’s best to wait until they’re a few weeks old before administering CBD products to them.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog
Finding the proper dosage can be a bit tricky since different products have different concentrations of CBD. The dosage depends on the type of condition your dog has, its weight, and overall health. However, you should always follow the instructions and consult your veterinarian.
Suppose you’re using CBD for medicinal purposes and want to calculate the dosage yourself. In that case, there are some general guidelines (but we still recommend following the instructions printed on the product and consulting a professional).
Calculate the dosage according to your dog’s weight. An average dog should consume 0.2 mg of CBD per pound. So if your dog weighs 25 pounds, you should give them 5 mg of CBD. Naturally, you should use a different CBD oil dosage for different dogs.
Here are the standard dosages:
- 2.5 mg of CBD oil will provide a 75 mg formula;
- 5 mg of CBD oil will provide a 150 mg formula;
- 10 mg of CBD oil will provide a 300 mg formula;
- 20 mg of CBD oil will provide a 600 mg formula.
A 25-pound dog who needs 5 mg of CBD can consume 2 ml of the 75 mg formula, 1 ml of the 150 mg formula, or 0.5 ml of the 300 mg formula. Giving small pets the 600 mg formula is not recommended.
CBD treats from a reputable company usually come with serving size suggestions based on your dog’s weight. Typically, one dog treat has 5 mg of CBD, meaning that a 20-pound dog should get one treat per day for a regular dose. However, if unsure, you could still use the calculation method above or consult your vet for a professional opinion.
Types of CBD for Dogs
CBD is infused into a variety of products, but the most widespread is oil or tincture. This is the easiest way to control dosage and the most effective way of using CBD. This form is best for dogs that suffer from seizures, and other severe conditions, due to its fast action. You can give CBD oil to dogs orally by placing it on a treat or mixing it into their food.
Chewy treats are another popular option for introducing your dog to CBD. These kinds of treats are already mixed with CBD oil, which makes for easy consumption. Often, these are standard dog biscuits or soft chews, which are perfect for older dogs. These treats can be used to treat any condition, but it takes a bit longer for the CBD oil effects to kick in on dogs.
Besides the CBD treats for dogs, there’s another way for your pet to enjoy the benefits of CBD: topical medications (creams and salves). Salves and creams are great solutions if your dog has skin problems such as rashes and allergies. You can apply them directly to the affected area. Topical CBD is also brilliant for dogs and other animals that suffer from acute pains.
Key Takeaways
Dog owners would do anything to improve their pets’ lives, so if CBD oil is good for dogs, there’s no reason not to try including it in their daily or weekly routine.
Your dog doesn’t have to be sick for you to give them CBD. You could occasionally treat them to a CBD chewable or rub some oil into their fur to make it even more beautiful. However, if they suffer from pain, anxiety, or depression, just a few drops of oil might help them feel better.
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Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.
Thank you!