How to Use CBD for Your Dog
There are a myriad of conditions that can afflict dogs which can by helped by the use of CBD. Although veterinarians can’t prescribe CBD, some are willing to talk about the possible benefits of CBD for your dog, and even give you advice about using it.
How CBD Works in Dogs
All animals have an endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system in dogs is part of what maintains the natural balance in the body and it is stimulated by endocannabinoids, which are produced in the body. However, the endocannabinoid system can also be stimulated by external cannabinoids, such as Cannabidiol (CBD.)
The endocannabinoid system is made up of two types of receptors. Your dog has:
- CB1 receptors– located in the brain, nervous system, glands and organs
- CB2 receptors– located in the regulatory cells of the immune system
Humans have these same receptors as well, but dogs actually have the highest concentration of CB1 and CB2 receptors of any animal!
CBD works by targeting the endocannabionid receptors, restoring balance when things are out of whack. That’s why CBD so good for so many different ailments.
You can read more about the endocannabinoid system and how it works in our article, How the Endocannabinoid System Works with CBD.
Is CBD safe for your dog?
The first question every dog parent asks is, “is this safe for my dog?” Cannabis has actually been used in veterinary medicine for thousands of years! There is evidence of the ancient Greeks using it to treat colic and horses, and even to treat battle wounds.
However, when speaking specifically about dogs, its vital to make a distinction between CBD and THC. (You can read more about CBD vs. THC in this article.) CBD is 100% safe for animals, but there are some important things to be aware of to make sure you are getting a pet-safe product.
While CBD is safe for your dog, THC is not. A CBD product for dogs should never contain any amount of THC. Even the smallest amount of THC can spell big trouble for your pup.
Dogs are highly sensitive to THC because, as previously mentioned, they have much higher concentrations of receptors in their endocannabinoid system. Even the tiniest amount of THC will quickly overload them and lead to toxicity.
Any CBD product you purchase should clearly state 0 THC on the label. If it is not clear on the label, don’t buy it.
What conditions can CBD help with in dogs?
Because of all the many wonderful benefits of CBD, it’s difficult to think of a condition or ailment that wouldn’t somehow benefit from a CBD regimen! Some of the most common conditions that our customers approach us for are discussed here.
CBD and glaucoma in dogs
One of the neatest things we have seen CBD do for older dogs is help with glaucoma. The compounds in cannabis reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. With my own older dog, her eyes cleared up within 10 days of starting CBD and have stayed clear on a daily dose. This is not an unusual benefit of giving CBD to your dog!
CBD and Fatty Tumors in dogs
These type of tumors are benign but can become quite big and bothersome. A customer reached out and said her dog had a fatty tumor the size of a grapefruit. We worked to find her optimal dose, and she committed to giving CBD twice a day. Within 10 days the tumor shrunk to the size of an orange. We’ve had multiple customers use CBD for fatty tumors with great success.
CBD and dogs with arthritis
Arthritis is a huge issue for dogs. Arthritis is the inflammation of joints that cause aching, pain and other degenerative illnesses. As CBD is a pain reliever, it targets aching joints and gives your dog relief. It also soothes the chronic inflammation that prevents your pet from healing properly. A consistent treatment plan using CBD for arthritis can have huge benefits for dogs.
This is a great study on CBD for arthritis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC16904/
“I have an 11 year old lab that was developing arthritis in her hips. Vet said she will probably always be on meds from now on. My thought was to give this a 30 trial period if it works great if not back to the prescription meds. After 1 week on the medium dose for a 100 lb. dog she has already shown improvements! Can’t wait to see what the next couple of weeks will bring.” – Katie M. (https://hopebotanicals.com/2018/06/arthritis-relief-for-maggie/)
CBD and dogs with allergies
Allergies can be caused by many things including diet and environmental factors. Determining the cause of the allergies is always the first step. Adding CBD to your dog’s diet will help boost the immune system and help with the inflammatory response in the body. CBD will definitely help with the itching and scratching that can plague your dog.
Seizures in dogs and CBD
Seizures in dogs are a debilitating issue and can cause owners much distress. Conventional pharmaceutical drugs have negative side effects. Many owners are seeking other, more natural options. Even with medication, up to 30 percent of dogs with epilepsy continue to experience seizures. CBD has been shown to help reduce seizures substantially.
This article from the National Institutes of Health is very informative and a must read for people dealing with seizures in their dogs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5767492/
If your dog’s ailment isn’t discussed above, additional research links can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Administering CBD to your dog
We offer a couple of convenient ways to administer CBD to your dog. Because dogs are much smaller than humans, and therefore more sensitive to CBD, care must be taken when dosing. We always advise to start with the smallest recommended dose, and wait a couple of days to increase the dose to achieve your desired result.
First, we sell a tincture that can be administered in the side of the mouth. There is no added flavor, and most dogs will accept it without issue. If that can’t be accomplished, then sprinkling the dose on a small amount of bribe food between meals is an option. Learn more about our CBD Tincture for Dogs here: https://hopebotanicals.com/product/cbd-tincture-for-pets-natural-flavor/
We also offer beef-flavored CBD treats. These can be given any time you would normally offer your dog a treat. Each treat has 2mg of CBD. You can use the dosing chart above to figure out how much CBD is appropriate for your dog each day, and then feed treats accordingly. Learn more about our CBD Treats for Dogs here: https://hopebotanicals.com/product/750-mg-pcr-soft-chews-for-dogs/
Finally we offer a salve and a liniment gel that can be used topically on sore joints or muscles. We sell them as people and horse products, but they are safe for use on dogs as well.
CBD will likely be beneficial and a great addition to your dog’s daily regime. I, and my customers, have found it to be very effective for a number of conditions as well. I hope you choose to try this natural alternative for your dog’s health.
