CBD Oil for Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

At this point, you’ve likely been inundated with information surrounding CBD oil and its fantastic benefits. But, what about CBD oil for dogs? As with any pet wellness trend, there is an abundance of information floating around online. This article dives into the magical world of CBD for dogs. We’ll explain a brief history of cannabis, the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp, what CBD oil is, how CBD oil affects dogs,  potential side effects and the benefits CBD oil can have on your dog’s overall health. Now… enough jibber jabber, let’s get into it.

Brief History of Cannabis

With the amount of buzz surrounding CBD oil lately, one would think that it was just recently discovered. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Cannabis and hemp are among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. Many cultures and civilizations throughout history have grown different strains of cannabis and hemp for fiber production and medicinal benefits. When the thirteen U.S. colonies were getting established, farmers were required to produce crops consisting of at least 25% hemp. This is because sails, ropes, paper and clothing were all commonly made from hemp fiber. It wasn’t until the great depression era, that the war on ‘drugs’ was heightened. With the help of big dollar lobbying from the cotton, paper and tobacco industry, cannabis was successfully criminalized in 1937.

In 2014, U.S. Farm Bill, Section 7606 was passed which stated that industrial hemp was approved for research by state agriculture departments and universities. Although the Farm Bill of 2014 was passed, most universities and agriculture departments were prevented from researching industrial hemp and its benefits because hemp was still classified a schedule I controlled substance. If a university or agriculture department wanted to research industrial hemp, they did so at the risk of losing their federal funding, so unsurprisingly very little research was conducted. On December 20, 2018 the “2018 farm bill” became law which legalized the production of hemp as an agricultural commodity and removed it from the list of controlled substances.

We are now at the forefront of an exciting period where social acceptance of CBD and other cannabis related products are at an all-time high – no pun intended. CBD and hundreds of other cannabinoids are finally receiving the recognition they deserve for the healing capabilities they possess. This is just the tip of the iceberg – cannabis carries so much potential with regards to its healing potential and sustainability.

What is the Difference Between Marijuana and Industrial Hemp?

Before we can dive into the details about CBD, it is important that you understand the difference between CBD derived from marijuana and CBD derived from industrial hemp.

CBD for Industrial Hemp:

  • High levels of CBD
  • Federally legal
  • Non-intoxicating
  • Can be purchased online or in stores

CBD from Marijuana:

  • Contains high levels of THC
  • Legal only in certain states
  • Intoxicating
  • Available only at dispensaries

CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp contains less than .3% THC – this is what allows for it to be federally legal and safe for your dog to consume. CBD extracted from marijuana on the other hand is ONLY for human consumption. Marijuana contains high levels of THC which is known to be toxic and deadly for dogs – even in small doses. The importance of this can not be overstated. When you decide to begin your dog on a CBD regimen, ensure that the product comes from industrial hemp, that the company has 3rd party lab test documents to validate their claims and that the product has a batch number to reference.

What is CBD?

 CBD which is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. A Cannabinoid is defined by dictionary.com as “any of the chemical compounds that are the active principles of cannabis”. CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid found within cannabis – the second being tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is better known as the cannabinoid that gets users “high”.

How Does CBD Affect Dogs?

Dogs respond to CBD in the same manner that humans do. The presence of CBD in your dog’s system activates their CB1 and CB2 receptors which stimulates their endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system regulates several of the most important physiologic pathways in the body, including:

  • Gastrointestinal activity
  • Cardiovascular activity 
  • Modulation of neurotransmitter release
  • Maintenance of bone mass
  • Protection of neurons
  • Metabolism control
  • Immune system function

 

Potential Side Effects of CBD Oil for Dogs

While the side effects of CBD are FAR less than any pharmaceutical drug out there, it is still important to understand the signs and symptoms, so you know what to look out for.

There are four potential side effects that are associated with CBD use:

  • Dehydration: Research has shown that CBD can decrease the production of saliva. For dogs, this would manifest as an increased thirst. 
  • A slight drop in 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. 
  • Increased hunger
  • Drowsiness which will lead to less activity and more snoozing. 

If you’ve started giving your dog our CBD and noticed that they’ve become drowsy, you are likely giving them too much. We highly recommend starting your dog off with a low dose in order to prevent over-administering. All dogs are different and respond to our CBD oil differently. Some dogs require very little CBD oil while other may carry a higher natural tolerance (typically based on weight).

What Dog Health Problems Can CBD Oil Treat?

As stated above, there has been little research on dogs with regards to CBD consumption and its benefits, but we are able to take a glimpse into potential benefits by analyzing anecdotal information in addition to human studies. At the time there are at least seventeen supported benefits of CBD oil for dogs.

CBD for dogs is:

In conclusion, there is still much research to be done regarding the benefits of CBD oil with dogs – yet there is no doubt that dogs absolutely do benefit from this magical oil. Now that laws are in line with peoples’ interests, CBD for dogs will eventually be fully understood and millions of dogs (and their owners) will be able to reap the benefits of this miracle plant and fully understand its capabilities. 

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