Author: Michael Jacobs
Dogs are one of our favorite pets. CBD has become known for its ability to help our favorite pets. There are a few different ways CBD can help. We will look at the ways that CBD can help your dog as well as some things to watch out for. You will also learn where to source your CBD and how to administer it. Lastly, we will look at how to pair with other medicine your dog might be taking. Use this guide in offering your dog a healthy and happy life.
What is CBD?
Let’s be clear. CBD is not going to get your dog high. It contains no THC, the psychoactive compound that characterizes Delta-9 marijuana. CBD stands for cannabinoid. It comes in many forms. Among the most popular for humans is used in vaporizers. For dogs, the most popular use is in the form of oil. It is a convenient and useful way to provide relief for different ailments. Dosage and delivery can be altered depending on the size of your pet as well as the condition.
What Dog Illnesses can CBD Treat?
CBD is very good at treating illnesses related to pain; specifically, pain that is associated with the joints. Some examples of this include:
- Patellar Luxation
- Legg-Perthes Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Intervertebral Disc Disease
The reason why CBD is helpful in this regard is that it helps to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is associated with arthritis as well as most pain. By reducing the inflammation it is possible to reduce pain and alleviate the further aggravation of the condition.
Epilepsy is another condition that CBD assists with. This is as true in dogs as it is in humans. This is due to the anticonvulsant properties of CBD. Seizures may be eliminated or at the very least reduced in their severity and frequency. This occurs due to the way CBD interacts with the receptors in your dog’s brain.
Potential Side Effects of CBD
Even though CBD is considered safe for your pet, there are some side effects. The majority of the side effects occur in 5% or fewer dogs. The most common is sedation which is a side effect in 19% of dogs. Other side effects may include:
- Overactive appetite
- Panic
- Excessive thirst
- Nausea
With the remaining side effects occurring in less than 1% of dogs, they are hardly worth mentioning. The most important thing is to make sure the CBD product is free of THC. Your dog’s body will react to THC like a toxin.
How to Give CBD to Your Dog
One of the easiest ways to give CBD to your dog is by adding oil to the food they already consume. There are also plenty of treats on the market that include CBD. In this section, we will take a closer look at the different options and considerations when giving CBD to your dog.
Consider Your Dog’s Condition
There are some claims on the market about how CBD may help your dog. While these claims have not been proved incorrect, they have also been yet to be substantiated in any way. A good suggestion would be to discuss with your vet your dog’s condition. Let your vet know you are planning to utilize CBD products to alleviate the condition. Your vet may side with you on handling such things as anxiety, but offer you alternatives when dealing with skin irritation.
Go to the Source
The best CBD products for you to give your dog are extracted through CO2. Everything should be processed in a manner that will have your pet’s safety in mind. Given that the companies selling CBD are unregulated, you may not be able to find all the information you are looking for online. Take some time to contact the producer of the CBD products you are interested in. Find out how they extract the CBD, how it is processed, packaged, stored, and shipped. If they are unwilling to provide you with the desired information, it is best to look elsewhere for your CBD needs.
Give It With Food
As mentioned above, giving CBD to food is one of the best practices. This works best when the food has a decent fat content to it. The fat works in two different ways. For one, the fat will help to mask the flavor of the CBD oil. Additionally, the fat will aid with absorption. It is suggested to limit these doses to a later day meal just in case it may cause drowsiness in your dog.
Pairing up with other Medicine
Traditional medicine can have an interaction with CBD. Be sure to consult your vet if your dog is already taking any medication. This will avoid complications. On the other end of the spectrum, CBD pairs nicely with many alternative forms of medication. Such things as omega-3 fatty acids as well as turmeric paste can assist with arthritis and kidney disease. These will also not have a negative interaction with CBD.
The Bottom Line
As you can see CBD offers your dog a surprising number of benefits. The adverse reactions to CBD are almost too insignificant to worry about. It is easy to administer to your dog. The main thing to make sure of when you are using CBD for your dog is to be conservative when dosing. You can keep gradually increasing the dosage until you are getting the results you desire. As always, make sure that you are consulting with your vet whenever you are starting to use CBD with your dog.
Bio
Michael is a marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com with a primary focus on customer satisfaction. Technology and fitness combined with healthy lifestyle obsession are his main talking points.
