What is the Best CBD Oil for Dogs?
Pet parents are fanatical people, and as dog owners ourselves, we completely understand. Daily, our little four-legged companions are excited to see us, no matter how bad your day was. If you’re not a dog person, you should be. Dogs have a love for their owners that is unwavering and unconditional.
If you’ve had the pleasure of owning a dog growing up, we all know that a day will come when age starts setting in. Maybe you’ll notice when they start eating less or not wanting to play the same way they used to. Its nature’s way of saying “time to let go and let life move on”.
With the emotion aside, being the parent of a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It is only natural for us to reciprocate that back to our dog. We seen it, pet owners willing to pay large medical bills and try to outspend any issues. It is a common theme around the world and it is our own hesitation to embrace the fact that time marches on.
This article is all about helping you as a dog owner. The tactic of preying on a person and the love they have for their dog is something we can’t be a part of. With that being said, and to gain your trust on this subject, we will be as transparent as possible.
In this article, we will talk about CBD oil for dogs and how to find the best one. We will also give you some basic information on how to pick a product, what to watch out for and the safety concerns surrounding it. We will also give you our best advice for how to administer it for the best results possible. CBD oil for dogs is a real thing, and we’ve seen it help in tremendous ways. But this isn’t a sales pitch, this is here to help you make the best choice possible. Let’s begin.
A Brief Intro into What CBD Is
CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. It is a component of the hemp plant and one of the most studied compounds found in it.
In the past 10 years, science has been finding strong supporting evidence of purported benefits offered by using CBD. Major studies have found CBD to reduce pain and inflammation, reduce stress, lower anxiety and improve sleep function. CBD has been studied as an anti-cancer agent, an antibiotic and even as an antidepressant. It is very important to understand the scientific community is very careful not to confirm these results until more information is found.
And while that is the typical stance of science, people have forgone the risk and tried it for themselves. CBD is generally legal across the UK, EU and the USA. Its safety profile was studied by the World Health Organisation with which deemed it posed no public safety concerns and was not habit forming.
The reported benefits of CBD are not exclusive to humans with many tests taking place on other mammals. This is possible because as mammals, we all have something called the endocannabinoid system. This system is a large network of receptors found across the brain and body and regulates sensations, mood and everything in between.
It is important to know that animals and humans create their own cannabinoids internally and that we can use CBD as a supplement for these compounds. Typical pets products can come in the form of CBD oil or edibles like treats and chews.
To keep us on track, CBD for pets is a growing market which has achieved a lot of success recently.
Why Should I Give My Dog CBD?
If you’re not a CBD user yourself you may not know any of the reasons why you should give your dog CBD. The fact that you’re here tells us you’ve probably heard something about it recently. This could also mean you might have a dog who is suffering. Let’s take a moment to relax. Our goal is to help you.
Mentioned earlier, CBD has a large number of benefits both science and users are reporting. But what distinguishes humans from dogs is when it comes to CBD is habits. Yes, that’s right, habits.
Habits we have as humans can vary and, for long periods of time, change. It could be your diet, your work schedule, your physical activity level or something else. We as humans change, adapt and drop old habits for new ones relatively quickly.
Dogs are not the same.
If we as dog owners were forced to write down our dog’s daily schedule, chances are, we wouldn’t be too far from the truth. Dogs wake up around the same time. They get about the same amount of rest daily. They generally have the same level of daily activity during the week. Their diet is usually the same. I mean, they usually have their own potty schedule too!
It is precisely this fact that makes the best CBD for dogs so effective. Small changes to a dog’s daily routine shows up with amplification.
Small Changes with Powerful Results
So what does this mean for your dog? Well, it means that you stand in a good place to directly judge whether something is making a difference or not.
CBD and all of its reported benefits don’t mean anything if it doesn’t benefit you. So, instead of talking purely benefits, let’s talk outcomes for a second. Remember reading about the habits in humans earlier? That we can change quickly and how dogs are more consistent. Humans have a whole host of complications when it comes to verifying if something works for them. One of the most important ones is “placebo effect”.
But when it comes to dogs, there is no placebo effect. Dog’s do not place any emotional baggage on a product. And while that may be kinda cute, it’s the truth and one that serves you well in this instance.
Removing the placebo effect allows us to objectively see what the outcome of a product is. We have a clearly defined conception whether something is working or not.
This is an important realisation for you as a pet owner to have because it allows you to move quickly and make well informed choices about the health of your pet.
What do Scientific Say about CBD for Dogs?
Now that we have shown you the potential in trying CBD for your dog, let’s look at a few studies.
A 2018 study by Cornell University found that CBD can relieve pain and increase activity in dogs with arthritis. The study administered just 2 mg of CBD twice daily to achieve these results. It is important to know that the dogs in the study had no side effects by taking CBD.
Stephanie McGrath, assistant professor of neurology at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has published a study showing CBD may help reduce the number of seizures experienced by epileptic dogs.
If your dog regularly experiences joint pain, CBD oil may be a way to relieve their pain and give them newfound energy. Many people who have used CBD say that it has transformed the lives of their dogs, enabling them to enjoy many more years at their full potential.Â
Studies done by the American Kennel Club (AKC) show great promise in the positive effects CBD can produce. According to Dr Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the club, CBD for pets is also used because of its cardiac benefits, anti-nausea effects, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-anxiety impact, appetite stimulation, and possible anti-cancer benefits.Â
If your dog suffers from anxiety, CBD can help to calm their behaviour and if they regularly have a reduced appetite or suffer from nausea, CBD may be able to help them.
A quick note, these findings so far match the same findings for CBD in humans. This is because of the endocannabinoid system we mentioned earlier. While more conclusive data is needed, it is impressive to see the caliber of research institutions interested in the power of CBD for dogs.
What About Safety? Is There Anything to Know?
The safety of CBD products and your dog is a highly important issue. CBD has been deemed generally safe to use but there are some things to know.
CBD can interact with medication and that includes medication for your pet. If you’re thinking about trying CBD, be sure to talk to your vet to see if any current medication will be a problem.
Also, because of the sheer number of companies jumping on the CBD for animals band wagon, product safety is important. Find a brand that only sell organic products which are lab tested by a 3rd party. Be sure the company has excellent reviews. It would also help if the company stocks their products in any vet offices.
Be sure to go slow when you start, less is more when it comes to CBD oil so build up gradually. Here is an example dosing schedule for a 10 kg dog using our CBD for Dogs 6% product:
- Days 1, 2 and 3 start with one drop once a day.
- Days 4, 5 and 6, use one drop in the morning and one in the evening.
- Day 7 and up, adjust the dosage either up or down in 3 day increments.
This schedule will allow you to be safe and introduce CBD gently. The goal is to use as little product as possible until your dog starts feeling better. It can take some time, but stick with it. Being consistent is vitally important to monitor any changes.
Is it Important to Use Organic CBD Oil for My Dog?
Absolutely! Certified organic CBD oil is guaranteed to be free from nasty pesticides and toxic compounds which can harm your dog.
The hemp plant that produces CBD is known as a phytoremediator which is a plant that absorbs everything from the soil below it. The cleaner the soil, the more safe the product is.
Organic products tend to be more expensive, but the cost is well justified by the peace of mind your giving your dog the best CBD possible.
A side note, if you do choose to go the organic route, be sure to look at our products. They are all certified by Bio-Suisse.
How Do I Give my Dog CBD Oil?
CBD Oil is the best way to give your dog the CBD it needs because you can control the exact quantity and dosage. Each drop is well calibrated to deliver a consistent amount of product. This is important for dosing but also important for your budget.
To give you dog CBD oil, what we like to do is place the drops on our fingers and rub them on the the dog’s tongue. CBD absorbs into the bloodstream via the membranes in the mouth. They can ingest CBD, but it is far less effective.
Ingestion causes the product to pass through the stomach where it is broken down, then the liver for further processing. At best, ingested products are only 12% absorbed; compare that to 30% from the tongue method.
If your dog won’t allow you to place your finger in its mouth, adding the drops to a treat can be a secondary option. But, be sure to increase the number of drops (gradually) to account for the lower absorption.
We want to stress the point to go slow in all circumstances. Dogs can not overdose from too much CBD, but it can affect the liver in large amounts so slow is the way to go if you want to be safe.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give my Dog?
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. What works for a small chihuahua probably won’t work for a Saint Bernard.
We recommend that you start by giving your dog 1 to 2 drops per day and then increasing the amount depending on the resultant effect.
Large dogs will generally need more product but, certain ailments could see you giving a bit more as well. The best advice we can give here is to trust your gut and go slow. Your searching for the magic number of drops per day to be effective. It will take time, but it is worth the trouble.
Conclusion On How to Find the Best CBD for Dogs
CBD oil for dogs is a great way to improve the life of your furry friend and restore them to their past selves. CBD oil is a brilliant way to safely reduce the anxiety and joint pain of your dog whilst ensuring they’re not ingesting any nasty chemicals. Using Certified Organic CBD is the best way to know exactly what you’re giving your dog.
Our CBD Oil for Pets is specifically designed for dogs ensuring that there is no THC content and meaning it also contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Simply give your dog a few drops everyday and watch them transform before your eyes. CBD oil is completely legal in the UK and is considerably less expensive than canine prescription painkillers.Â
At Pure Organic CBD we understand how the happiness and health of your dog is one of the most important things in life and we consider it a great privilege to be able to help improve the lives of so many dogs who are in pain or struggling. The stories we hear from our clients about the improvements in the lives of their dogs demonstrates to us that CBD Oil can be transformative for your dogs.Â
If you have any questions or concerns we would recommend asking a registered veterinarian or getting in touch with one of our team.