A fancy acronym, hmm, I wonder what the heck that actually means. I’ve been seeing a lot of mention of CBD this, CBD that.
And as we’re a Doggy FAQ site, we obviously want to know can dogs have CBD?
Turns out, CBD stands for cannabidoil, strange acronym. I’ve seen better.
As to whether your dog can have CBD is entirely at your discretion and perhaps your vet’s advice. CBD is reported to help dogs alleviate some symptoms and anxieties, particularly for senior dogs.
Time to answer some questions (vaguely).
What Is CBD?
CannaBiDoil. I wonder who came up with that acronym, it is mildly bothersome to me. Anyhoo, CBD is a huge trend in the market these days, claiming to cure or alleviate quite a few bothersome symptoms, don’t worry, we will dive into some of those, best to our knowledge.
CBD is a compound found in cannabis and hemp. Ooh, cannabis, sound familiar? (wink-wink).
Yep yep. It’s the same cannabis that gets you sky high, that treats a lot of issues, or, does it?
CBD does not contain the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), (ok that is an acronym I can work with). So, not to worry, this particular compound will not get you high. Also, most CBD products are obtained from hemp and not marijuana. Hemp is not high in the THC compound department.
So, anything derived from hemp is also going to not suffer the same scrutiny as anything that would be derived from marijuana.
Affects Of CBD On Dogs
Alas, there is no conclusive, decisive, all informative study or research or report that indicates how good or how bad CBD can be for your best friends. FDA needs to catch up to this. Life needs to be made easier.
However, scientists to claim to understand that cannabinoids interact with something called the endocannabinoid receptors located in the central and peripheral nervous systems, which help maintain balance in the body and keep it in a normal healthy state.
So, that’s got to be good, right?
When Can I Use CBD Oil On My Dog?
Hmm hmm. This is a tough one. We cannot provide anything that could be written in stone. There are some personal accounts from dog owners who have “experimented” with CBD oil to treat pain and control seizures in elder dogs.
Allegedly, CBD does provide certain beneficial benefits, so to speak, which is why it is gaining traction among communities to bring it into normal every-day use. These benefits include its anti-inflammatory properties, help with cardiac issues, anti-nausea effects, appetite stimulation, anti-anxiety impact, and for possible anti-cancer benefits, although there’s no conclusive data on this use.
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is currently sponsoring a study through the Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to evaluate the use of CBD in treatment-resistant epileptic dogs.
Hopefully, after this study, we will have better knowledge and actual scientific data to bring into light the uses of CBD in dogs with this condition.
Are There Any Side Effects Of CBD?
The lack of scientific data on risks and side effects of CBD for dogs is lacking, we can, however, propose that dogs might react similarly to CBD as us humans. Drawing upon that idea, we can list few side effects or symptoms of overdose in dogs. Proper dosage is extremely important to minimize risk/side effects.
• Your dog may become drowsy. some dog owners who have used CBD to treat anxiety also report slight drowsiness in their dogs, especially with higher doses. The calming effect goes too far, it would seem.
• Your dog may reduce salivation. some Research has found that CBD could decrease the amount of saliva your dog produces, inducing dry mouth and constant thirst.
• A drop in blood pressure: some High doses of CBD have been known to cause a temporary dip in blood pressure, causing some light-headedness.
Risks Of Using CBD Oil For Dogs
FDA has some serious catching up to do in this department. It is a fairly unregulated world of new things being concocted and sold to the average consumer. There hasn’t been any research to figure out the health and safety assessment for use of CBD in dogs.
There is no dosage supplied by the FDA, neither is CBD oil an approved drug for commercial use.
Hence, we cannot really tell you exactly what amount of dosage is good or inherently bad for your dog. Every medication or supplement has a variety of side effects that can come into play, even with extensive research.
If you must supply your dog with CBD oil, make sure to begin with an infinitesimal amount, and go from there. If all goes well, there’s your green signal right there. If your pooch is happy, all is well.
Also, do make sure to ask your veterinarian before diving head-first into introducing your dog to something new.
Why Is CBD So Popular Now?
The more we shall hear of legalization of marijuana, the more the associated compounds will start to come into our lives. The increasing rate at which marijuana is being authorized for recreational and medicinal purposes, has triggered interest in potential beneficial qualities of the plant, and its derivatives.
This is only the beginning of a trend. Hopefully, we will get to learn more about it as we go along this journey.
What Type Of CBD Oil Should I Buy For My Dog?
If you are determined to try CBD oil for your suffering dog, as is understandable, and your vet is on board, try and follow a few guidelines before jump starting this adventure. Every oil is made differently. It should go without saying that higher quality oil will work better than a cheaper one.
• Get the analysis. Any decent manufacturer will provide you with a certificate that certifies the amount of CBD that is in the product. Many CBD products contain only small amounts of CBD. Also be very careful about any THC (the “fun” chemical of marijuana) being present in the product.
• Be prepared to spend a decent amount. Needless to say, any compound with higher purity could very nearly empty your wallet. But, it is crucial to know that cheaper alternatives could be hiding pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, all things you do NOT want your dog, (or anyone, for that matter), to ingest.
• The liquid form is better. There are dog treats that have CBD inside them, but the safer option, where you are in control of the exact dosage, is to use an oil or a tincture.
• Opt for something organic. If at all you want to go the non-organic route, make sure it does not include nasty stuff like pesticides, fungicides, and solvents. Yes. Do your own little chemical research. It pays off.
Summary
Let’s be honest we’ve played it safe. We certainly don’t want to encourage you harming your dog. What you do yourself in terms of the wacky baccy is your call but pooch has no say in the matter.
As with everything dog related, watch out for anything out of the ordinary for our dog. contact the vet immediately if something is off, it could be a wild goose chase, but better safe than sorry.