CBD for dogs and cats currently is all the rage, but here are the seven things that you should know before you start giving CBD to your dog.
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is the largest component of the hemp plant, and also non-psychoactive. Before you start giving it to your puppy, there are several things you should be aware of.
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Source
First, you need to ask questions about the source of CBD. Where have these plants come from? Is it the company that is actually growing their plants or just getting them from the cheapest available seller? On the labels, they may say it’s organic, but how do you know its real?
So what you want to look for is verified third-party testing and that they’re using a thing called green extraction methods.
You want to make sure that they are using CO2 to break down the green plant leafy material then extract that essential oil.
Companies that are cutting corners use solvents such as acetone, and the residues of those solvents can still be in the CBD oil. These residues can be carcinogenic, and some are even neurotoxins.
Make sure there is enough evidence of third-party testing.
Extraction
If you’re going to be giving CBD oil to your dog, you want to make sure that its a whole plant extract. Think about it, like taking vitamin C. Is it more nutritious taking a vitamin C tablet or eat an orange? Eating an orange is more nutritious.
It is based on a principle called the entourage effect. There are over a hundred and different separate ingredients within the cannabis plant. They all interact with each other in a very positive way. So you cannot promote health and wellness in your dog just by singly isolating a single part or a single compound.
So, if you’re not clear, think orange better versus tablets, not so good.
Accurate dosage
It is often hard with most liquid tinctures to get an accurate dose when treating your dog with CBD. So you want to look for companies that are using like a medical-grade tincture bottle where one drop can be carefully measured and is accurate.
Carrier oil
CBD comes in a very concentrated form from the hemp plant and later added in with a carrier oil to help with dilution and preservation. The carrier oil makes it easier for you to dose it adequately to your dog.
Most people are using MCT oil, but there are a couple of problems with that. First of all, many animals, as with many people, can get stomach upset from MCT oil. The last thing you want to have is dosing your dog, and they have vomiting or diarrhea.
Secondly, you’re also asking the body to metabolize completely different oil from a completely different plant. So if you want to get the best benefit from using CBD Cannabidiol, you want it to also come from the hemp plant. In my opinion, the ideal carrier oil for CBD is the hemp seed oil.
Drug interaction
Can there be any drug interactions? It’s a great question. If you read on the internet, most of the sites will say its safe and has zero interaction with other drugs. But Cannabidiol is metabolized in the liver by an enzyme called Cytochrome p450. It is the same enzyme that metabolizes many of the veterinary medicines that your dog may be on. Fortunately, most dogs that are on CBD are on a low enough dose that there should not be any significant interactions.
So if you’re dosing your dog the suggested dose of about one milligram per 10 pounds of body weight, in all likelihood, there won’t be any significant interactions.
Always talk to your veterinarian before starting on CBD if your dog is on any other veterinary medications.
Best way to give CBD to your dog
CBD Cannabidiol is edible. You can squirt it into their mouth or put it in their food to encourage them to eat it. CBD in an oil form is best absorbed just on your pet’s gum or just underneath the tongue. Ideally, you want it to bypass the stomach and get it into the bloodstream quicker.
Benefits of CBD for dogs
What is CBD?
So, what is CBD?
There are about hundreds of different ingredients found in the cannabis plants are called Cannabinoids. CBD is called Cannabidiol that has specific therapeutic properties, but unlike THC, it is non-psychoactive.
There’s a thing called the Endocannabinoid System, or ECS, found in all mammals like humans, cats, and dogs. Like our brains, dogs’ brains also produce Cannabinoids, and they attach to different cells throughout the body called cb1, cb2 receptors. These receptors regulate sleep, memory, immune response, and they also interact with plant Cannabinoids that can have an array of positive benefits such as:
Pain relief
First, CBD can be a powerful pain reliever. It is a great alternative option for traditional veterinary anti-inflammatory if you have an aging dog who has arthritic pain. It accomplishes this in several ways. Most importantly, it’s a natural anti-inflammatory. It is great for dogs that having a hard time breaking down any Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. There’s a pile of research that has been done in this field. [CBD for Arthritis]
Seizure control
The second significant therapeutic benefit of CBD is its natural seizure control. Approximately one-third of dogs treated for seizures don’t respond well to conventional medication. But surprisingly, many people with difficulty to control epilepsy and many dogs are now responding to this CBD oil.
There are currently some significant studies going on at Colorado State University, and they’re actually studying epileptic dogs and how well they are responding to CBD. In some cases, relatively low doses are being effective. [CBD for Seizures]
Disease prevention
The third big important point is disease prevention. CBD is naturally anti-inflammatory, along with having different properties that just being with anti-cancer, and there’s a pile of research backing all this. [CBD as Anti-inflammatory and Cancer Prevention/Treatment]
So those specific anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial for things such as helping prevent brain disease, and an array of different organ dysfunction.
Animals are becoming diabetic, and dogs seem to be getting high rates of cancer these days. There’s a pretty big correlation with inflammation, and things that can decrease the level of chronic inflammation can play such a big role and, ultimately, disease prevention.