Nobody can love you like a dog. If you own a dog, you will agree to it. Most of us cannot call it a day before cuddling with our dogs and be grateful for them. Our dogs are family and thus, we don’t want to see them sick or in pain. Of course, you want the medication which is best for your pup. So, why not go for the most natural and authentic form of it? CBD is slowly making its way to the top of CBD industry and has successfully proven to help many dogs in various mental and physical health issues.
If you are living in America, you must have heard about the therapeutic and healing qualities of CBD. From a physiological perspective, CBD as similar health effects on dogs as well since these canine animals have the same endocannabinoid receptors in their bodies. Even so, a lot of research is required to put an official stamp on the papers that CBD in fact does help in reducing physical and mental health ailments. Anyway, there are anecdotes across the USA where people’s pets have shown miraculous results in terms of health problems after a regular dosage of CBD. For dog owners who are considering giving CBD to their friend, here’s everything that you need to know about CBD and dogs.
What should you know about CBD?
CBD or Cannabidiol is a unique compound found in cannabis and hemp plant. What makes it different from other compounds that are also extracted from these plants is that it is used for medicinal purposes. How? Well, in most cases, CBD is non-psychoactive in nature. This means that it doesn’t create a high in the mind and thus, keeps you safe. Why doesn’t it? Well, most CBD compounds do not contain the ‘high’ creating chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This compound gives marijuana its high-inducing traits.
Now let’s come to the legality of CBD consumption in America. Well, use of CBD has been made legal across all the 50 states in America under 2018 Farm Bill. Yes, you read that right. Since it doesn’t create the ‘high,’ it has been excluded from the list of ‘controlled substance’ as well. So, do not worry about the law when consuming CBD yourself or giving the same to your dog.
How does CBD affect dogs?
Just like humans, dogs also have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), whose receptors interact with cannabinoids to maintain the balance in the body. These receptors are found in the brain, nervous system of the body. They help in regulating the entire health system of the body. So, CBD affects dogs in the same way it affects humans—therapeutically.
What health problems in dogs can be treated by CBD?
As mentioned above, the cannabinoids of CBD interact with a series of receptors that run through our bodies and modulate many problems. These problems might include anxiety, inflammation, depression, and more. These are the health conditions that many dogs suffer with. However, there are a lot many physical, mental, and emotional ailments that CBD has successfully treated in dogs. Some of them are listed below-
- Seizures
- Gastronomical issues
- Symptoms of Cancer
- Anxiety
- Hyper-activeness
- Stress
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Arthritis
- Neuropathic pain
- Body pain
- Inflammation
There is no definitive evidence that states the above mentioned problems are treated by CBD consumption in dogs. However, there are stories and anecdotes around the nation where dog owners claim that their pets have shown signs of improvements in their health after regular intake of CBD. Mark Verdino, MD, senior vice president and chief of veterinary staff at North Shore Animal League America, explains, “Does it actually help with pain, or does it just make them not care? We don’t know, but they seem to be less reactive to low level pain stimuli, for example arthritis and things like that, when they take the product.”
Mark claims that he uses CBD treats for his own dog, which gets quite jumpy in the evenings, but relaxes after a small dosage of CBD. So, is it really helping him or just making drowsy? Verdino replies, “I don’t know, but it seems to help. So we have a symptom, and it helps with that symptom.” So, what should be done? Well, there is no conclusive proof to support the statement but anecdotally, CBD has shown no side effects in treating dogs suffering from the above mentioned problems. The results are positive as well.
What are the potential risks or side effects of this treatment?
There are no known life-threatening risks of CBD. However, there are possible side effects of CBD in dogs, even though there are no records of the same, not yet. Following are the main potential side effects of the same
- Dry mouth
- Lowered blood pressure
- Drowsiness
- Change in appetite
- Change in sleep patterns
It is imperative to consult with your vet or medical professional about the dosage of CBD for your dog. It should come to your notice that the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved the dosage of CBD, not yet. Thus, no dosage chart has been issued for public perusal. It is advisable to start with small dosage of CBD for your dog and keep increasing it until you feel you have found the perfect dose for our dog. Once you have reached the optimum dosage, start decreasing it and see if the benefits remain intact on the smaller dosage as well.
Will CBD make your dog high?
Absolutely not. Period. CBD products contains less than .3% of THC, which is primarily responsible for creating high in the body. Your dog or any pet for that matter will not get high on CBD.
How much CBD should you administer to your dog?
It is recommended to buy CBD products that are formulated especially for dogs. It is suggested to not buy standard CBD products to treat your dog. The dosage of CBD products is not regulated by FDA yet. Thus, you will have to start with a small amount of CBD and reach the optimum dosage by checking the effects of the same on your dog. Try to start with 1mg for a dog weighing 10 pounds or less. Keep adding extra 0.5 mg for every 10 pounds of added weight. Also, the easiest way to give them CBD is orally. There are various flavors of treats available exclusively for dogs in the market. Focus on the quality when you choose the CBD for your dog before anything else.
Closing thoughts
The bottom line is that the research on this topic is still in fancy and yet dog owners are in no way stopping themselves in treating their furry friends with a dose of CBD. However, one must make sure that the CBD they buy from the market is of high-quality and safe for dogs to consume. You must connect with a vet before starting the CBD course for your dog. Nonetheless, in most cases, the owners are delighted with the results their dogs show after a regular dosage of CBD.
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