The idea of CBD for dogs might be a completely alien one to you. However, research shows that your furry friends could potentially benefit from the addition of CBD!
In fact, CBD could potentially improve your dog's quality of life. You probably want the best for your best four-legged friend. Therefore, you might have seriously considered adding CBD to their diet.
Before you make the leap to pet-friendly CBD, though, you might have some questions. Today, we'll tell you all about how cannabidiol oil can benefit your dog.
Disclaimer: If you're thinking of adding CBD to your canine companion's wellness routine, we'd recommend consulting with a veterinarian, or a canine healthcare specialist. This will help establish how much CBD your furry friend should take.
How Can CBD Oil Benefit My Dog?
Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD could potentially improve your furry friend's quality of life. In fact, many people turn to CBD to help their dog with a host of conditions. For example, anecdotal evidence points to CBD helping with anxiety, arthritis pain, and aggressive behaviours in pets.
Much like humans, your dog has an endocannabinoid system (ECS). Therefore, CBD could interact with its ECS. This could lead to the ECS having better control over your dog's mood, appetite, stress level, and sleep cycle.
In addition to this, it's important to note that CBD is generally safe for animals -- dogs included. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by adding it to your dog's diet!
What Does Science Say?
If you thoroughly research every snack, brand of food, and treat that passes your dog's lips, we completely respect that! Due to this, you might also want scientific evidence that CBD can actually help your dog. We understand that!
Therefore, we've put together a list of common canine health conditions, and what research indicates. If you're wondering about the benefits of CBD oil for dogs, we'll tell you all about them!
CBD and Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Osteoarthritis is a part and parcel of ageing in many dog breeds. While it's a sign that your dog has lived a long and happy life, it can also be hard to watch. Your once-limber canine companion now struggles to chase after its favourite ball.
Studies show that all isn't lost. According to a 2018 study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, CBD could ease osteoarthritic pain in dogs.
In the study, dogs treated with cannabidiol exhibited a decrease in pain-related behaviours. They also showed an increase in activity -- running around, chasing after balls, and showing an interest in longer walks. Furthermore, none of the owners reported any side effects from the CBD.
Therefore, if your dog is getting older, and experiencing discomfort from osteoarthritis, you might want to add CBD to their diet.
CBD for Animal Anxiety
Some dogs are more prone to anxiety than others. For example, if you've adopted a rescue, you'll understand that your dog's fight-or-flight response might be triggered by new situations and experiences. Your dog might also suffer from severe separation anxiety, making it impossible for you to leave the house.
The best possible solution is to work through these situations with positive reinforcement and lots of love. However, research shows that CBD could potentially help your dog with its anxiety!
A 2019 study in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behaviour showed that mice treated with CBD experienced a reduction in anxiety-related behaviour. These mice were more open to exploring their surroundings, and showed less anxiety-related behaviour throughout the testing process.
While this study centres on mice at its core, the results are overwhelmingly positive. It also shows that CBD has the potential to ease anxiety in animals. Plus, given that CBD is quite safe, there's no harm trying it out.
Read our related blog on: CBD for Anxiety
CBD and Seizures in Dogs
If your dog suffers from seizures, you'll know how unpleasant it can be. It's not just uncomfortable for your four-legged friend. The feeling of hopelessness can also weigh heavily on you.
However, this doesn't have to be the case. A study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association explored the relationship between CBD and seizures in dogs. The results seemed to speak for themselves.
In the study, dogs treated with cannabidiol experienced a 33% reduction in seizure frequency. Additionally, over 50% of these dogs responded to treatment. Furthermore, none of the owners reported any adverse effects.
Therefore, if your canine companion is prone to seizures, you could consider adding a CBD supplement to their diet.
My Dog Is Chronically Nauseous -- Can CBD Help?
Your dog could experience nausea for a number of different reasons. For example, it could be eating too quickly. Your furry friend could also suffer from motion sickness, making car rides hard for everyone.
Studies show that CBD could help animals with feelings of nausea. In fact, results from a 2002 study in the Neuroreport suggested that CBD could be therapeutic for rats who suffer from chemotherapy-induced nausea.
The next time you're on a road trip with your canine companion, consider reaching for some CBD oil, instead of sedating them.
How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog?
When it comes to the right CBD dosage for dogs, there are specific guidelines to follow. To calculate how much CBD to give your four-legged friend, you need to know how much it weighs.
Generally, you want to give your dog 0.2 mg of cannabidiol, per pound. You can figure out the right amount by multiplying 0.2 with their weight. This will help establish the approximate amount of CBD your dog can take.
However, as with humans, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for how much CBD to give your pet. Therefore, you can monitor their behaviour, and then adjust their dose accordingly.
We'd also recommend consulting with a veterinarian. Given their understanding of your dog's disposition, they'll be able to offer helpful solutions, and an in-depth understanding of the right dose to use.
Read our related blog on: How much cbd should i take?
Can My Dog Have CBD Oil Made for Humans?
Before adding cannabidiol to your dog's diet, we'd recommend doing some research. This is because not all forms of CBD are safe for canine consumption.
Additionally, we've established that cannabidiol is safe for dogs. However, THC is toxic to pets, and even small doses can lead to breathing difficulty. Therefore, it's important to choose a form of CBD that's completely free from THC.
When choosing CBD oil for dogs, opt for one that has been third-party lab tested. This will help to establish whether it contains THC. We'd also recommend using products made with broad-spectrum CBD, or CBD isolate.
Generally, these options are free from THC. You'll be able to add these options to your dog's diet without worrying about the adverse effects of THC.
My Dog Is a Picky Eater -- What Are My Options?
With the multitude of dog food, treats, and snacks available on the market and targeted towards devoted pet-parents, your dog could be fussy with food.
Furthermore, dogs famously have a much better sense of smell and taste than we do. This means that a CBD capsule in a spoon of peanut butter could be sniffed out in seconds. If your furry friend is a picky eater, how can you introduce CBD to its diet?
Well, we're pleased to report that all isn't lost. As the dog food industry has expanded, so too has the CBD industry. In fact, there's a good bit of overlap between the two. If your dog hasn't taken to the taste of cannabidiol-infused oil, there are a number of other options to try.
CBD-Infused Treats for Your Furry Friend
A number of reputable food brands have ventured into CBD-infused treats. These CBD dog treats are available across the UK -- both online and in a selection of stores.
You can even make your own CBD-infused pooch-friendly treats. All you have to do is source some good-quality CBD isolate and combine it with the ingredients of your choice. Depending on your dog's preferred treats, this could be anything from peanut butter, bone broth, or pumpkin purée!
Consider CBD-Infused Dog Food
More and more people choose to feed their dogs home-cooked food. This helps you establish just how many nutrients your dog is getting with every meal. By cooking your dog's food, you'll also ensure that they're eating healthy meals, tailored to their needs and disposition.
If you already make your canine companion's food at home, you could add a few drops of CBD isolate oil to the recipe. Many people add CBD to their own meals, so why not try making your own CBD dog food?
By doing this, you'll be able to make sure that your dog gets regular doses of cannabidiol. You can also continue to monitor their diet, and feed them pawrent-approved meals!
How Often Should My Dog Take CBD?
As with every other supplement, consistency is key. You can add CBD to your furry friend's meals on a daily basis. By doing this, you can ensure that your dog is getting a consistent amount of cannabidiol, which will then bind to their ECS.
Plus, once you establish just how much CBD to give your pooch, you'll be able to decide how often to administer doses. Divide it into small doses with CBD-infused treats, or add a CBD oil into your canine companion's meal -- the choice is yours!
Key Takeaways
Studies show that your dog could only stand to benefit from CBD in their diet. Plus, CBD is a natural option -- it won't tax your dog's liver, get them high, or reduce their quality of life.
Consulting with a vet will also give you a variety of options when it comes to CBD products. This will ensure that you give your friend only the best.
If you liked reading this, be sure to check our other blog: The Ultimate Guide To CBD
