Does CBD for dogs live up to all the hype? Here’s what every pet owner must know about the benefits of CBD oil for dogs with anxiety, seizures, chronic pain, and much more.
Your dog is your baby. He loves you unconditionally, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and happy. If you’re reading the Fuzzy Butts Blog, it’s probably safe to say that you’re interested in safer, natural holistic pet care. Research shows that CBD for dogs is a fantastic way to relieve anxiety, arthritis, pain, seizures, and much more. Here’s what every pet owner must know about the benefits of CBD oil for dogs.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
Much like humans, our dogs suffer from illness and disease related to genetics, environment, and nutrition. While we can’t control and prevent every illness, it is our responsibility as pet owners to be open-minded and educate ourselves about new therapies and treatments as they become available.
Research into the effects of CBD shows that it, directly and indirectly, activates the endocannabinoid system of all animals, including humans and dogs. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating the nervous system, immune system, and many other essential bodily functions.
Targeting the endocannabinoid system with CBD can benefit the overall well being and health of dogs and humans by sending signals throughout the body that:
- Promote the growth of healthy cells to speed recovery from injury and illness.
- Regulate neurological responses that contribute to pain, seizures, and inflammation.
- Slow down and prevent the aging and cancer-causing effects of free radicals.
- Support the body’s ability to fight tumor growth and cancer.
- Improves digestion to improve or prevent anti-inflammatory bowel syndrome and colitis.
Salve & Natural Tincture Combo
from: Swell CBD
Note: Swell CBD is in the process of rebranding to Smylin Wellness. When you click one of their links, it will take you to their new site. They still carry the same amazing, high-quality products, so you can shop with confidence! As soon as they finish rebranding, I will update the photos and links on this page. 🙂
Is CBD Oil Safe for Dogs?
Absolutely! However, not all CBD oil products are created the same, and you need to choose the CBD product you give your dog carefully.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound that is extracted from the cannabis plant, which is the same plant that hemp and marijuana come from. THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoid compounds of the cannabis plant.
THC is not safe to give to dogs because it produces psychoactive side effects. Dogs may be especially sensitive to these effects because they have an abundance of cannabinoid receptors in their brains.
On the other hand, CBD does not cause any psychoactive side effects (such as the ones associated with marijuana). There are no known negative side effects of CBD, even at high doses over long periods of time. CBD is completely safe for dogs, as long as the product is pure and free of contaminants.
CBD for dogs should meet these requirements:
- CBD products for dogs should contain only trace amounts, or be completely free, of THC.
- They should be certified organic. Be cautious of products made from industrial hemp because they may contain toxic herbicides, pesticides, chemical solvent residues, or heavy metals.
- Always choose high-quality CBD oil. The cheap stuff is risky because it’s often contaminated with toxins and they sometimes contain too much or too little CBD.
- Look for a chemical analysis provided by a third-party lab. This will verify how much CBD, or possibly THC, is in the product. It will also verify that the product is pure.
CBD Oil for Anxiety, Stress, and Depression in Dogs
CBD oil can be a tremendous help for dogs who suffer from anxiety. Separation anxiety is an issue that many pet owners deal with on a day to day basis. Other dogs suffer from anxiety during thunderstorms, while traveling, or during holiday fireworks.
CBD helps with anxiety by binding with receptors in the brain (both human and animal) that are responsible for anxiety caused by stress. This means that CBD oil can be very beneficial to dogs who suffer from stress, trauma, and separation anxiety.
CBD also binds with the neuroreceptors that balance hormones and emotional stability. This makes it useful for humans and animals that suffer from depression because it can lift the mood. Dogs who exhibit irritability and stress-related aggression may feel more balanced emotionally if they take CBD.
CBD Oil for Chronic Pain and Inflammation in Dogs
Chronic inflammation is linked to many health conditions, including arthritis, joint pain, and heart disease. Pain often accompanies inflammation, but our dogs don’t show pain the way we do, so their pain levels are difficult to assess.
If your dog suffers from limited mobility or lacks the motivation to be active, he could be suffering from chronic inflammation and pain. Dogs who suffer from chronic illness, such as cancer, may also be in pain that we’re not aware of. Pain also accompanies surgery and injury.
Thankfully, CBD for dogs addresses pain and inflammation, whether acute or chronic. CBD targets special pain receptors throughout the body and signals those receptors to send fewer pain signals to the brain. Some evidence also indicates that CBD may trigger the immune system to produce less inflammation, limiting the damage and pain associated with chronic inflammation.
When your dog has less inflammation and pain, his quality of life will be improved, and he may become more active. While it may be difficult to determine if your dog is in pain, it should be pretty obvious if he is feeling better after receiving CBD oil.
CBD Oil for Cancer in Dogs
There have been several studies that show the benefits of CBD oil for slowing and even shrinking certain cancerous tumors. Cannabinoids actually target cancer cells over normal cells, supporting the immune system’s efforts to kill off cancerous cells.
When combined with conventional treatments for cancer, CBD oil may reduce the toxicity and improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. Not only that, but CBD fights the effects of free radicals in the body, possibly preventing your dog from getting cancer in the first place.
CBD Oil for Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs
The conventional treatments for seizures include phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Although these drugs are often effective, they come with dangerous side effects for your dog’s organs and liver. CBD oil has shown to be beneficial in cases where these drugs don’t work, with as many as 7 out of 8 patients with drug-resistant seizures showing significant improvement with CBD oil.
How to Dose CBD for Dogs
CBD for dogs should be dosed by weight. The recommended dose is 0.1 mg to 0.2 mg of CBD per pound of weight. Most products recommended for dogs will have dosing instructions on the label. Always start with the minimum dosage and increase it slowly until you reach an effective level. It’s also a good idea to consult with a holistic vet about the best course of treatment for your dog.
CBD for Dogs: Products I Use and Recommend
There are literally hundreds of CBD products flooding the market right now, but these are the products I have used personally and am comfortable recommending to my readers. These products also meet my requirements for safe and effective CBD products for dogs.
Note: Swell CBD is in the process of rebranding to Smylin Wellness. When you click one of their links, it will take you to their new site. They still carry the same amazing, high-quality products, so you can shop with confidence! As soon as they finish rebranding, I will update the photos and links on this page. 🙂
CBD Dog Chews from Swell CBD
CBD Dog Chews from Swell CBD are super convenient, and I love them for my dog who suffers from anxiety due to thunderstorms and being home alone. She gets her special treats about half an hour before we are expecting to have a storm or leave the house, and I have seen a significant improvement! I honestly don’t know how we would get by without them now.
CBD Pet Tincture from Swell CBD
CBD Pet Tincture from Swell CBD is an organic pharmaceutical grade, THC-free pet tincture. I give this tincture to my elderly poodle every day, and it has made a huge difference in his mobility. I have also noticed an increase in his energy levels and overall health with this tincture, as well. Not only that, but his digestion has improved, allowing him to gain back some of the weight he lost in his old age.
CBD Softgels from Swell CBD
Swell CBD Softgels are pharmaceutical grade, organic, and THC-free. I have not used these for my dogs, but I bought them for my neighbor who gives them to her two large great pyrenes dogs who suffer from hip and joint problems. These soft gels have made a huge difference in their mobility. The male had a noticeable limp when he walked and was a candidate for hip surgery, but he has improved so much with CBD oil that surgery may no longer be necessary.
King Kalm Soothe Spray by King Kanine
King Kalm Soothe Spray by King Kanine is an all-natural anti-itch spray made from CBD, aloe, chamomile, tea tree oil, and colloidal silver. This product is absolutely amazing for the occasional hot spots my dogs get in the springtime. I also sprayed this on my boxer’s incision after she was spayed, and it healed amazingly fast with no redness. King Kanine offers a full range of CBD products for pets that receive very good reviews, so I will be trying more from their line for sure.
CBD for Dogs: The Takeaway
CBD for dogs definitely lives up to the hype! CBD oil is a safe, effective, natural alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals that often come with harmful side effects. High quality CBD oil for dogs can be administered in a tasty chew, a tincture, a gel capsule, or a topical spray to improve your dog’s overall health and treat a variety of conditions.
