Many pet parents don’t want to see their dogs suffering from stress, arthritis, insomnia, and lack of appetite. However, this happens, and even after seeing their vets, the canines don’t still seem to respond to medications and changes in their lifestyles.
As an owner, if you’re unsure of what to do next to your furry friend, you may want to try CBD Oil. Cannabidiol or CBD is effective for treating pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and other medical conditions. You can go to this source to know more about the ingredients of this product and how they are manufactured. The evidence about CBD may be anecdotal for now, but ongoing research is on how to know more about this seemingly miraculous cure.
What Does Research Find Out about Dogs and CBD?
Today, there’s still a lot of research and studies needed to know the exact effects of cannabidiol inside a canine’s body. However, some of these studies are already in existence, like the ones in 2019. These published papers have shown that the oil extracts from cannabidiol have helped the dogs reduce the frequency of their seizure episodes.
In 2020, some researchers wanted to know more about how cannabidiol oil extracts affect the pain related to osteoarthritis in canines. The people involved have found out that the oil can improve mobility in older dogs, and they can help with pain relief without any side effects.
Another research in 2020 has looked at the effects of CBD-related products related to loud noises and anxiety. It consisted of 16 pet dogs. There’s this suggestion that the oil can alleviate aggressive behaviors, fearful responses, and more as long as the dosage and time are followed correctly. It’s worth noting that the sample size of these laboratory studies is limited, and further research is needed.
How Much Is CBD Oil Right for Your Pet?
It’s best if you could talk to a veterinarian and do in-depth research yourself before giving CBD to your canine. However, it’s best to note that most vets, especially in countries like the United States, are not allowed to prescribe and dispense cannabis products. Learn more about cannabis here: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-cannabis.
Still, you can have a higher chance of finding a holistic one that had experienced the therapeutic effects of CBD when they tried it in their canines. Go to your vet if you’re hesitant about a product and ensure that it won’t interfere with any medications that your canine is currently taking.
If you are not getting much luck on obtaining information about the dose, you can go to the manufacturers’ website or check the product’s packaging. The best place to start is with the minimum dose that considers the breed and size of your pet. With a premium product, many canines have been able to tolerate the first weeks well, and when owners start to see improvements, then that’s the time that they increase the dose.
Side Effects and Safety Reminders for Cannabidiol
Many products are manufactured exclusively for canines, so it’s not a surprise that they smell like beef or chicken. Since the goodies smell so good, your furry friends may think that they can have whatever amount they want, and they may eat more of what’s intended for them.
Similar to the effects in humans, cannabidiol can also have side effects in canines. However, these tend to be mild, but the potential signs to look for are the following:
- Instant weight loss
- Enlargement in the liver that can be checked through x-rays
- Diarrhea and stomach upsets
- Higher doses that result in lower blood pressures
- Extreme drowsiness
- Increased thirst and dry mouth
CBD is different from marijuana, even if it comes from the same genus of plants. There’s the cannabis Sativa or hemp where it produces edible seeds, paper, fiber, clothes, and more, and this is safer than cannabis indica, where marijuana often originates. However, since CBD and phytocannabinoids are generally coming from the hemp plants, they are usually safe as long as the oil contains less than 0.3% of THC.
The whole point is to ensure that your pet is only consuming products that were made from pure hemp and look for companies that only manufacture products with less than 0.3% THC. Read the ingredient list and see if some potential allergens or substances can give side effects to your canines.
With this said, the organic and high-quality ones are pretty effective in reducing anxiety, stress, back pain, arthritis, and insomnia in dogs. This is why you need to do the research and only purchase tinctures, treats, and creams from trustworthy manufacturers in the industry.
Choosing the Best Products
You need to know the criteria on how to choose the best oil extracts out there. This is because CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA. Fortunately, the indications that you need to include when looking include transparency, quality, safety, and more. Other things to look for are the following:
- Products were made from hemp grown in the US
- Manufacturers should have proof that their products undergone third-party testing
- Laboratories that have tested the oil should be ISO 17025-compliant
- The bottles should not contain any more than 0.3% THC, and this is indicated in a certificate of analysis available to customers
- CBD oil should have passed the tests, and there should be no presence of toxic metals, pesticides, molds, and other contaminants in them. All of these pieces of information should be available in the COA.