What Are Some Common CBD Oil Questions That Dog Owners Tend to Ask?
In 2018, pet owners spent $33 billion on food and treats for their furry friends.
Americans care a great deal for their pets and go to greats lengths to make sure they’re happy and healthy. To that end, more and more pet owners are looking to CBD to help with everything from pain to stress.
For dog owners looking for the latest and greatest in pet care, CBD might be a solution. But, like anything you give your pup, you should know everything about it before you start using it.
Keep reading as we go through the top questions that dog owners have about CBD.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
CBD oil for your dog works the same way it does in the human body. In fact, it works the same way as it does in all mammals.
Mammals have something called the endocannabinoid system, which is made of endocannabinoids and their receptors. CB1 and CB2 receptors located in our immune and nervous systems react to endocannabinoids naturally produced by our bodies. The reaction is homeostasis: an internal balance between all of our other bodily systems and functions.
But these receptors also react to external cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD). And that’s how CBD can benefit everything from your dog’s appetite to stress.
Is CBD For Dogs Safe?
Recreational cannabis, also known as marijuana, isn’t safe for dogs. That’s because marijuana contains high levels of THC. This cannabinoid has psychoactive properties that are dangerous for your dog.
CBD for pets, on the other hand, is derived from hemp plants. Hemp has very small amounts of THC. So small, in fact, that they won’t affect your dog in any way.
CBD is completely non-toxic. And while it’s possible to overdose on CBD, the effects of overdosing are non-fatal. Typically, an overdose of CBD leads to an over-active appetite and sedation.
What Are The Benefits of CBD For Dogs?
CBD offers a variety of potential health benefits for your pup. We’ll go through some of the most common benefits in more detail below.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Nutrients
Full-spectrum CBD oil has a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are beneficial to your pet’s health. It’s a great source of:
- B complex vitamins
- Calcium
- Essential fatty acids
- Magnesium
- Vitamins A, C, and E
All of these dietary nutrients contribute to your pet’s well-being and help your body and digestive system function optimally.
Pain
Many pet owners don’t like the idea of treating their dog’s pain with pharmaceutical medications that have nasty side effects. But CBD is an all-natural alternative with no risk of those severe side effects.
CBD works on pain by stopping the absorption of a chemical called anandamide. Through this process, CBD helps with pain of all sorts. It’s useful when your pet is recovering from surgery or an injury, suffers from acute pancreatitis or intestinal inflammation, or has problems with their joint pain – which we’ll talk more about next.
Inflammation
Dogs suffer from joint pain as they get older, just like humans do. One way to help control that inflammation and make your dog more comfortable is to administer CBD.
The CBD receptors are located inside immune cells. When you give your dog CBD, those receptors create immune responses. And one of the main immune responses it evokes is fighting inflammation.
Stress
When your dog is stressed or anxious, it presents itself in different ways. Some of these ways include:
- Chewing furniture, shoes, rubbish, or anything besides their chew toys
- Urinating and defecating inside the home
- Persistent barking
- Tremors
- Aggression
CBD is known to reduce stress and anxiety through its interaction on the nervous system.
Glaucoma
CBD may also be a neuroprotectant, which is directly related to treating glaucoma, among other things. Treating glaucoma early is incredibly important because this condition worsens over time and can lead to spatial of complete blindness.
Seizures
Epilepsy is more common in dogs than you might think. But there is promising research to show that CBD can reduce epileptic seizures in dogs. In one study, 89% of the dogs who were given CBD had a reduction in the frequency of their seizures.
How Do You Give Your Dog CBD Oil?
How you give your dog CBD depends on the type of CBD product you have. And choosing the right CBD product depends on what you’re treating as well as your dog’s preferences.
You can find CBD for pets in the form of oil, pills, dog treats, and topicals. Of course, pills, oils, and treats are given orally.
Oil is a great option because it has the fastest absorption rate and it can even be put over food or treats. Topical CBD works as a cream and is massaged into the skin where and when it’s needed.
How Long Does CBD Take to Work?
The amount of time it takes for CBD to do its job depends on the product you’re using as well as your pet and what you’re treating. Keep in mind that it will take some time to figure out the dose for your pet.
For example, if you’re employing CBD to help ease stress, anxiety, or pain, you might notice a difference in as little as 5 minutes or as many as 30. If you don’t notice a change within 45 minutes, you can give them another dose.
Is It Legal for Dog Owners to Purchase CBD Oil?
The Agricultural Improvement Act that passed in 2018 made hemp legal. It’s no longer a controlled substance and, as such, CBD products of all kinds that are made from hemp are now available across the US.
Ready To Try CBD For Your Dog?
CBD has an impressive list of health benefits for your dog. It can help treat things like pain, stress, and even seizures. The best parts of CBD are that it’s completely safe, legal, and natural.
Dog owners who prefer to go the natural route when it comes to their dog’s health should try CBD oil. Check out our shop to get started.
